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Atherton #1
Atherton #1: The House of Power
From the creator of the Land of Elyon comes a riveting adventure set in an extraordinary satellite world?created as a refuge from a dying Earth?that begins to collapse and forever change the lives of its inhabitants. Edgar, a gifted climber, is a lonely boy scaling the perilous cliffs that separate the three realms of a humble fig grove; a mysterious highland world of untold beauty and sinister secrets; and a vast wasteland where he must confront an unspeakable danger that could destroy the people of Atherton. When Edgar discovers a book which contains the history of Atherton's origins and ultimate apocalypse, his world?quite literally?begins to turn inside out.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2005
123 people are currently reading
3443 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Carman
91 books1,602 followersI have been a lifelong writer and storyteller. Salem, Oregon is where I spent my formative years and I graduated from Willamette University. After college, I spent a decade living in Portland, Oregon where I worked in advertising, game design, and technology.
I've written young adult and children's books for Scholastic, Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins Publishers.
I've been fortunate enough to have had some bestselling series work: The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, and Skeleton Creek. Here's a fun note...the books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages. Currently I'm developing a few new-media projects. Check out DARK EDEN to experience this type of cross-platform project.
When I'm not writing or creating a story, I spend my free time supporting literacy campaigns and community organizations, fly fishing, playing basketball and tennis, doing crosswords, watching movies, dabbling in video games, reading (lots), and (more than anything else) spending time with my wife and two daughters.
I've written young adult and children's books for Scholastic, Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins Publishers.
I've been fortunate enough to have had some bestselling series work: The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, and Skeleton Creek. Here's a fun note...the books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages. Currently I'm developing a few new-media projects. Check out DARK EDEN to experience this type of cross-platform project.
When I'm not writing or creating a story, I spend my free time supporting literacy campaigns and community organizations, fly fishing, playing basketball and tennis, doing crosswords, watching movies, dabbling in video games, reading (lots), and (more than anything else) spending time with my wife and two daughters.
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January 6, 2022Oh my god I found it. I read this book when I was like 10 or 11 and remembered it today but couldn't think of any details but "boy lives on floating tiered city" and all google was giving me was The Edge Chronicles (which I also read around the same time I think which made this all the more confusing). I'm giddy with this discovery
And now it's all so familiar!! Atherton! The fig trees!! Edgar climbing around the base of the city!!
And now it's all so familiar!! Atherton! The fig trees!! Edgar climbing around the base of the city!!
March 29, 2013
I read this book forever ago, or at least it felt like it. It was probably only 5 years ago, but for the past 5 years, I always remembered the book I'd read of a 3-story world whose name started with an A, a climbing boy, and the interesting pictures illustrating the world. Unfortunately, if you type "book climbing 3 story world sinking A..." into Google, Atherton: The House of Power does not come up as a search result. It was a complete shock when I finally found the book again when browsing through lists of books available at the library. So I checked it out and read it during my classes and in bed and while I was walking until I'd finished it, and it was just as good as I had remembered it being 5 years ago.
I had created such high expectations of this book after such a long time of wanting to read it again, and this book held up all of them. So, 5 stars for everyone! (;
The world is creative, a man-made world where everything works but isn't so much anymore. Edgar and other characters are lovable, and you can't help but root for them all throughout the storyline. Since it is targeted to be understood by a somewhat younger audience, it is written in a very light and playful way; this makes it a very easy read, and a bit of humor to make it all the more enjoyable. I had never read a book like this one when I first read it, and I still have never read a book like this one. Yeah, there are books where There are plenty stories where one orphan boy uses his talents to help save the day. This book was created with such a detailed fantasy (satellite) world that just sucks you right in, and I would read it again in a heartbeat.
I had created such high expectations of this book after such a long time of wanting to read it again, and this book held up all of them. So, 5 stars for everyone! (;
The world is creative, a man-made world where everything works but isn't so much anymore. Edgar and other characters are lovable, and you can't help but root for them all throughout the storyline. Since it is targeted to be understood by a somewhat younger audience, it is written in a very light and playful way; this makes it a very easy read, and a bit of humor to make it all the more enjoyable. I had never read a book like this one when I first read it, and I still have never read a book like this one. Yeah, there are books where There are plenty stories where one orphan boy uses his talents to help save the day. This book was created with such a detailed fantasy (satellite) world that just sucks you right in, and I would read it again in a heartbeat.
November 23, 2008
I absolutely loved this book! This would be a great book for getting young readers into the wonderful world that books can take you. Edgar lives on Atherton, a world made up of three levels. Each level is made up of different classes of people and the distinction that comes with it. Edgar finds himself asking himself who the people on the top are and what makes them so important that they control the water for everyone? Edgar finds himself in an adventure to save Atherton and himself and maybe learn who he really is. A great read that grabs you and wants to make you keep reading all night long!
November 7, 2012
Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com
Edgar knows that he should be working rather than climbing and swinging in the trees, but he just can't seem to help himself -- even if it does earn him a beating from Mr. Ratikan's stick. It would hardly be the first time and it isn't likely to be the last. He also knows he shouldn't be climbing the cliffs, but he has to.
Edgar's world is shaped sort of like a three-leveled top. The top level, the Highlands, are populated by the well-to-do people. They control the water for all of the other levels. If you fell off of the Highlands, and didn't die, you would land on the middle level, Tabletop, which is the level Edgar lives on. They are the workers who harvest food and raise animals. They receive water based on how well they feed the people above. If you fell off of Tabletop and weren't killed by the fall to the Flatlands, you would either be eaten by the monsters that live there, or die of starvation. If you could survive long enough to fall off of the Flatlands, you would fall off of the earth.
Edgar's father fell off of the middle level when Edgar was just a small boy. Edgar has one memory of him, though. The older he gets, the weaker the memory becomes, but he knows that it has to do with a book that he is supposed to find. It's hidden in the cliffs between the top and middle levels. So Edgar climbs, and searches, whenever he can.
In one day Edgar finds the book, climbs all the way to the Highlands (forbidden), and makes a friend (hopefully) there. The biggest discovery Edgar makes that day could be he most dangerous of all. The Highlands are sinking. If the cliffs keep shuddering, eventually the Highlands and Tabletop could be level with each other! That thought alone sends Edgar off on the adventure of a lifetime.
Edgar is off. He is on a search for answers, for the right questions, for his destiny. It's going to get far worse before it gets better.
This book is a fantastic mix of mad scientist, alternate worlds, and realistic people. Patrick Carman hasn't missed a trick in this one; believable characters, a fully imagined and realized world, and an absorbing plot. I had a hard time putting this book down. I can't wait to see what happens next! Though while you're waiting you should check out the very cool, interactive website www.athertonseries.com.
Edgar knows that he should be working rather than climbing and swinging in the trees, but he just can't seem to help himself -- even if it does earn him a beating from Mr. Ratikan's stick. It would hardly be the first time and it isn't likely to be the last. He also knows he shouldn't be climbing the cliffs, but he has to.
Edgar's world is shaped sort of like a three-leveled top. The top level, the Highlands, are populated by the well-to-do people. They control the water for all of the other levels. If you fell off of the Highlands, and didn't die, you would land on the middle level, Tabletop, which is the level Edgar lives on. They are the workers who harvest food and raise animals. They receive water based on how well they feed the people above. If you fell off of Tabletop and weren't killed by the fall to the Flatlands, you would either be eaten by the monsters that live there, or die of starvation. If you could survive long enough to fall off of the Flatlands, you would fall off of the earth.
Edgar's father fell off of the middle level when Edgar was just a small boy. Edgar has one memory of him, though. The older he gets, the weaker the memory becomes, but he knows that it has to do with a book that he is supposed to find. It's hidden in the cliffs between the top and middle levels. So Edgar climbs, and searches, whenever he can.
In one day Edgar finds the book, climbs all the way to the Highlands (forbidden), and makes a friend (hopefully) there. The biggest discovery Edgar makes that day could be he most dangerous of all. The Highlands are sinking. If the cliffs keep shuddering, eventually the Highlands and Tabletop could be level with each other! That thought alone sends Edgar off on the adventure of a lifetime.
Edgar is off. He is on a search for answers, for the right questions, for his destiny. It's going to get far worse before it gets better.
This book is a fantastic mix of mad scientist, alternate worlds, and realistic people. Patrick Carman hasn't missed a trick in this one; believable characters, a fully imagined and realized world, and an absorbing plot. I had a hard time putting this book down. I can't wait to see what happens next! Though while you're waiting you should check out the very cool, interactive website www.athertonseries.com.
January 4, 2021
World building. Class divide. "Social climber."
"Cliff hanger."
"Cliff hanger."
December 21, 2016
This was a great hidden gem. I'd never heard of it and just randomly picked it up on Overdrive because it was available. This reminds me of several books - City of Ember, Goose Girl, etc. What I really liked about this book is its simple, straightforward communication. The characters were direct and honest. Most books use lack of proper communication to provide the tension and suspense. Those books drive me crazy. It was refreshing to read a book with a different style. It is a good example for kids on a subconscious level. Warning! It is a huge cliffhanger!
June 3, 2021
One of my earlier books
September 20, 2012
The House of Power is the first installment of the Atherton trilogy; written and imagineered by Patrick Carman. This first installment details the many dangerous and revolutionary events on the mysterious land of Atherton. The plot itself is fairly simple and decent, being a fantasy written with an adolescent audience in mind. A likable protagonist named of Edgar is presented whose various endeavors and exploits the story revolves around.
The fabric of The House of Power is rich and textured, and coupled with a breeze-to-read writing style, it should greatly appeal to younger readers. Upon starting the first chapter, I was pleasantly enthralled by a gentle mystery. The ingenious Dr. Harding is portrayed as a mad scientist, which subsequently offered a glimpse into his experiment gone wrong—Atherton itself. Indeed, the world Carman imagined is both beautiful and tragic, a success and a disaster.
The satellite world of Atherton was constructed in the 22nd century, following the environmental collapse of Earth. Overbearing pollution and technological dominance ravaged Earth for many years, until it became known as simply The Dark Planet. The original plan of Atherton was to be a refuge from The Dark Planet, but its prime creator, Dr. Harding, held secret intentions. He held specific notions how a new utopia should be created. The Doctor even developed strict guidelines on how the biological and socio-political environments should be structured. In turn, Atherton was constructed based on a three-tier layout. The top level, called the Highlands, was the location of the only water source in Atherton, and the ruling class of citizens. Next is Tabletop, the middle tier and home of the lower class. In Tabletop, the residents farm sheep, rabbits, and a certain hybrid of figs. Most of these resources sent to the Highlands. The third and final level is called the Flatlands. This dark and barren place is filled with mystery and intrigue. No one from the top two levels has ever been to the Flatlands, and any past records are nonexistent.
As you can see, a dynamic power-play is evident between the two classes of residents on Atherton. The Highlanders control the only water source, and in turn take advantage of the power to invoke harsh demands on the lower class. Tabletop struggles to cater to their lords and must contend with living in near-poverty and intensive labor. Later in the novel, readers should recognize the stirrings of discontent and rebellion as the two classes fall closer together than anyone could imagine. The mystery of Atherton is finally revealed, and mind-blowing is truly the only way to describe the surprises sure to come.
The House of Power is a quick, entertaining read sure to win the hearts of any audience. Adolescents and tweens will especially enjoy the high level of excitement and action within its pages. I tip my hat to Patrick Carman, who is a master at building enjoyable fantasies.
Overall Grade: A-
Atherton: The House of Power is a most interesting exploration of an alternative world—and the social relationships between its inhabitants. Despite Edgar's admirability, the characters of the book were lacking on a few fronts. Fortunately, the unique environment and well-rounded plot are plenty enough satisfy most readers.
The fabric of The House of Power is rich and textured, and coupled with a breeze-to-read writing style, it should greatly appeal to younger readers. Upon starting the first chapter, I was pleasantly enthralled by a gentle mystery. The ingenious Dr. Harding is portrayed as a mad scientist, which subsequently offered a glimpse into his experiment gone wrong—Atherton itself. Indeed, the world Carman imagined is both beautiful and tragic, a success and a disaster.
The satellite world of Atherton was constructed in the 22nd century, following the environmental collapse of Earth. Overbearing pollution and technological dominance ravaged Earth for many years, until it became known as simply The Dark Planet. The original plan of Atherton was to be a refuge from The Dark Planet, but its prime creator, Dr. Harding, held secret intentions. He held specific notions how a new utopia should be created. The Doctor even developed strict guidelines on how the biological and socio-political environments should be structured. In turn, Atherton was constructed based on a three-tier layout. The top level, called the Highlands, was the location of the only water source in Atherton, and the ruling class of citizens. Next is Tabletop, the middle tier and home of the lower class. In Tabletop, the residents farm sheep, rabbits, and a certain hybrid of figs. Most of these resources sent to the Highlands. The third and final level is called the Flatlands. This dark and barren place is filled with mystery and intrigue. No one from the top two levels has ever been to the Flatlands, and any past records are nonexistent.
As you can see, a dynamic power-play is evident between the two classes of residents on Atherton. The Highlanders control the only water source, and in turn take advantage of the power to invoke harsh demands on the lower class. Tabletop struggles to cater to their lords and must contend with living in near-poverty and intensive labor. Later in the novel, readers should recognize the stirrings of discontent and rebellion as the two classes fall closer together than anyone could imagine. The mystery of Atherton is finally revealed, and mind-blowing is truly the only way to describe the surprises sure to come.
The House of Power is a quick, entertaining read sure to win the hearts of any audience. Adolescents and tweens will especially enjoy the high level of excitement and action within its pages. I tip my hat to Patrick Carman, who is a master at building enjoyable fantasies.
Overall Grade: A-
Atherton: The House of Power is a most interesting exploration of an alternative world—and the social relationships between its inhabitants. Despite Edgar's admirability, the characters of the book were lacking on a few fronts. Fortunately, the unique environment and well-rounded plot are plenty enough satisfy most readers.
April 18, 2019
Personal Response:
I think that The House of Power was a good book, because it always kept things interesting. When you thought this were almost over there were plot twists or surprises. I really like how the sequence of events in this book and how the characters dealt with there problems. I also liked the idea of how Atherton was laid out and how it all changed. I think that this was a good book.
Plot Summary:
The book The House of Power starts off with a boy named Edgar in a grove in Tabletop. He finds a book and goes up to the Highlands to try to find someone to read it. Edgar meets Samuel and he reads the book to Edgar and they find out the Highlands is sinking. Then the Highlands sink down to Tabletop and the Highlanders and Tabletop fight. Edgar leaves to go search for a second book, but ends up down in the Flatlands and finds out there is no second book. He also finds out that Tabletop and the Highlands are falling together down to the Flatlands.
Characterization:
The main character and the protagonist of the book is Edgar. He starts off as an orphan from the grove. He makes his way on an adventure to the highlands and flatlands. He grows a lot as a character along the way. He never gives up no matter how hard the challenges he has to overcome such as climbing the cliffs, fighting the cleaners, or making friends.
One of the antagonists of the book is Lord Phineus. He starts off as the leader of the Highlands. He runs everything and controls the water. He does his best to keep everything running smoothly and keeping himself in charge. When the highlands falls down, he raises an army and tries to fight and poison the people of Table top. Table top starts winning so Lord Phineus becomes afraid and hides behind his walls.
Setting:
The books setting is in the future, but without much technology. The Earth is to dirty to live on so a scientist creates a not so perfect place know as Atherton. Atherton has three levels. The Highlands is at the very top where everyone in power lives and controls the water. The middle is Tabletop and this is where all the workers and Edgar live. The very bottom and the most dangerous is the Flatlands. The Flatlands is where all the waist goes and it is disposed of by oversized centipedes known as Cleaners. This affects the story, because it is like levels of power. But when Atherton starts becoming flat it bring problems such as the people of table top wanting more power and the cleaners coming into table top.
Thematic Connection:
The main theme of this book was to never give up. Edgar climbs the wall every night just to find the book. After he finds the book he climbs all the way to the Highlands just to find someone to read it to him, even though it's forbidden. After everything starts falling apart in Atherton he brings everyone together to help fix what's happening. He figures out a way to stop the cleaners and turn on the water when no one else can.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to both genders who like fictional books about other worlds, because it is a good read about a made up place. The book makes you want to keep reading it to find out what will happen next. This book would be a good read for anyone 12 and older. I gave this book a five out of five, because I really liked the book and the way everything happens to Atherton.
I think that The House of Power was a good book, because it always kept things interesting. When you thought this were almost over there were plot twists or surprises. I really like how the sequence of events in this book and how the characters dealt with there problems. I also liked the idea of how Atherton was laid out and how it all changed. I think that this was a good book.
Plot Summary:
The book The House of Power starts off with a boy named Edgar in a grove in Tabletop. He finds a book and goes up to the Highlands to try to find someone to read it. Edgar meets Samuel and he reads the book to Edgar and they find out the Highlands is sinking. Then the Highlands sink down to Tabletop and the Highlanders and Tabletop fight. Edgar leaves to go search for a second book, but ends up down in the Flatlands and finds out there is no second book. He also finds out that Tabletop and the Highlands are falling together down to the Flatlands.
Characterization:
The main character and the protagonist of the book is Edgar. He starts off as an orphan from the grove. He makes his way on an adventure to the highlands and flatlands. He grows a lot as a character along the way. He never gives up no matter how hard the challenges he has to overcome such as climbing the cliffs, fighting the cleaners, or making friends.
One of the antagonists of the book is Lord Phineus. He starts off as the leader of the Highlands. He runs everything and controls the water. He does his best to keep everything running smoothly and keeping himself in charge. When the highlands falls down, he raises an army and tries to fight and poison the people of Table top. Table top starts winning so Lord Phineus becomes afraid and hides behind his walls.
Setting:
The books setting is in the future, but without much technology. The Earth is to dirty to live on so a scientist creates a not so perfect place know as Atherton. Atherton has three levels. The Highlands is at the very top where everyone in power lives and controls the water. The middle is Tabletop and this is where all the workers and Edgar live. The very bottom and the most dangerous is the Flatlands. The Flatlands is where all the waist goes and it is disposed of by oversized centipedes known as Cleaners. This affects the story, because it is like levels of power. But when Atherton starts becoming flat it bring problems such as the people of table top wanting more power and the cleaners coming into table top.
Thematic Connection:
The main theme of this book was to never give up. Edgar climbs the wall every night just to find the book. After he finds the book he climbs all the way to the Highlands just to find someone to read it to him, even though it's forbidden. After everything starts falling apart in Atherton he brings everyone together to help fix what's happening. He figures out a way to stop the cleaners and turn on the water when no one else can.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to both genders who like fictional books about other worlds, because it is a good read about a made up place. The book makes you want to keep reading it to find out what will happen next. This book would be a good read for anyone 12 and older. I gave this book a five out of five, because I really liked the book and the way everything happens to Atherton.
August 17, 2019
3.5/5, rounded up. This was read as part of the /r/fantasy book bingo challenge.
I read a lot of Carman's The Land of Elyon growing up, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that he had *gasp* multiple series come out after it. It definitely has a similar feel to the Elyon series (at least with my nostalgia goggles on, as I haven't touched the books in years), though with a different world and different stakes.
The book features Edgar, a lad who likes climbing in a world that has particularly strict no-climbing laws. The land of Atherton is divided physically into three plains: Highlands (the smallest and highest up), Tabletop (in between the two), and Flatlands (ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE), where one can posit the people who live in each of these realms. As it happens, strange things are afoot: earthquakes, odd illnesses, and a mysterious tome on the face of a cliff.
The plot moves quickly and generally is a fun read. It's told in a psuedo-storytelling mode, where the boring bits are brushed over by the narrator. It's a bit like someone telling you a story orally, highlighting the important points and glossing over the dull parts, which I think works pretty well. It does ruin immersion a bit, though. There are neat pictures every so often, which are super-cool to help with worldbuilding and make it visual. The last ~50 pages of the book are basically worldbuilding documents, which is pretty neat, as well as a website challenge which may or may not still be active.
(Kids' books that have challenges in them are always so fun. Yes, I want to decrypt the message at the bottom of the Artemis Fowl books and take your Seemsian quiz. C'mon, adult books, get on their level!)
The problems and discussions raised in the text are both a bit dated and oddly (and unfortunately) still relevant to the world at large; specifically classism and ecological/environmental sustainability. It's kind of deep, heavy, and depressing, but offering it up in a kid-friendly way. Some of the ideas are pretty neat and awesome.
Characters are pretty solid, although they do go a bit 2.5D at times rather than a fully fleshed-out 3D. Hopefully this is just a book 1 problem and they will get fully fleshed-out in books 2 and 3.
For those playing along with book bingo, this'll qualify you for middle grade, book with 4+ words, final book (if you make it to book 3), and local author for Washington/Oregon (US).
I'm interested to see where this one goes. Not committed quite yet (Mt. TBR requires a sacrifice), but interested.
I read a lot of Carman's The Land of Elyon growing up, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that he had *gasp* multiple series come out after it. It definitely has a similar feel to the Elyon series (at least with my nostalgia goggles on, as I haven't touched the books in years), though with a different world and different stakes.
The book features Edgar, a lad who likes climbing in a world that has particularly strict no-climbing laws. The land of Atherton is divided physically into three plains: Highlands (the smallest and highest up), Tabletop (in between the two), and Flatlands (ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE), where one can posit the people who live in each of these realms. As it happens, strange things are afoot: earthquakes, odd illnesses, and a mysterious tome on the face of a cliff.
The plot moves quickly and generally is a fun read. It's told in a psuedo-storytelling mode, where the boring bits are brushed over by the narrator. It's a bit like someone telling you a story orally, highlighting the important points and glossing over the dull parts, which I think works pretty well. It does ruin immersion a bit, though. There are neat pictures every so often, which are super-cool to help with worldbuilding and make it visual. The last ~50 pages of the book are basically worldbuilding documents, which is pretty neat, as well as a website challenge which may or may not still be active.
(Kids' books that have challenges in them are always so fun. Yes, I want to decrypt the message at the bottom of the Artemis Fowl books and take your Seemsian quiz. C'mon, adult books, get on their level!)
The problems and discussions raised in the text are both a bit dated and oddly (and unfortunately) still relevant to the world at large; specifically classism and ecological/environmental sustainability. It's kind of deep, heavy, and depressing, but offering it up in a kid-friendly way. Some of the ideas are pretty neat and awesome.
Characters are pretty solid, although they do go a bit 2.5D at times rather than a fully fleshed-out 3D. Hopefully this is just a book 1 problem and they will get fully fleshed-out in books 2 and 3.
For those playing along with book bingo, this'll qualify you for middle grade, book with 4+ words, final book (if you make it to book 3), and local author for Washington/Oregon (US).
I'm interested to see where this one goes. Not committed quite yet (Mt. TBR requires a sacrifice), but interested.
Read
September 19, 2018Personal Response
I enjoyed The House of Power by Patrick Carman, because the author used descriptive words that helped me imagine what was going on. I enjoyed how the author kept the story interesting by changing it up. I also enjoyed how the author wasn't afraid to severely injure the main character.
Plot
The main events of the story were about Atherton becoming flat and how it affected everybody's lives. As Atherton was becoming flat, the people on the Highlands readied their troops to fight the people from Tabletop. Tabletop was tired of the Highlands treating them so badly and decided to fight the people from the Highlands. When the Highlands became level with Tabletop, there was a battle between the Highlands and Tabletop. This battle affected everybody’s lives on Atherton. Near the end, there was a new discovery made which would change Atherton forever.
Characterization
Edgar was the main character of the book. In the beginning, he was an eleven year old boy who was living on Tabletop of Atherton. He had no friends and his caretaker was Mr. Ratikan. Edgar liked to be mischievous and got himself into a lot of trouble. At the end of the book, Edgar had four friends, and his caretaker was dead. All three levels of Atherton were now level, and Edgar had a missing finger.
Lord Phineus was another important character in the story, and he controlled all the water in Atherton. Lord Phineus was an evil man who would stop at nothing to dominate Atherton. In the end, Lord Phineus had locked himself inside the castle and shut off all the water to Atherton.
Setting
The setting of this book was in the year 2105 on an artificial landmass called Atherton. Atherton had three levels: The Highlands, Tabletop, and the Flatlands. The book began in Tabletop where the reader met Edgar, the main character. The importance of this place was where a couple hundred people got to live off earth, because earth was covered in pollution so it's almost uninhabitable.
Thematic Connection
There are a lot of themes in The House of Power, but a main one is showing courage when times get tough. This is proven when Edgar breaks the rules and climbs to the Highlands and finds out what a book says. It is also proven when all three villages of Tabletop unite against the Highlands.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to mature high schoolers and young adult males, because there are some graphic scenes. The lexile score of the book is high also, so the book can be a little more challenging to follow. Teenage males would like this book because there is fighting in this book.
I enjoyed The House of Power by Patrick Carman, because the author used descriptive words that helped me imagine what was going on. I enjoyed how the author kept the story interesting by changing it up. I also enjoyed how the author wasn't afraid to severely injure the main character.
Plot
The main events of the story were about Atherton becoming flat and how it affected everybody's lives. As Atherton was becoming flat, the people on the Highlands readied their troops to fight the people from Tabletop. Tabletop was tired of the Highlands treating them so badly and decided to fight the people from the Highlands. When the Highlands became level with Tabletop, there was a battle between the Highlands and Tabletop. This battle affected everybody’s lives on Atherton. Near the end, there was a new discovery made which would change Atherton forever.
Characterization
Edgar was the main character of the book. In the beginning, he was an eleven year old boy who was living on Tabletop of Atherton. He had no friends and his caretaker was Mr. Ratikan. Edgar liked to be mischievous and got himself into a lot of trouble. At the end of the book, Edgar had four friends, and his caretaker was dead. All three levels of Atherton were now level, and Edgar had a missing finger.
Lord Phineus was another important character in the story, and he controlled all the water in Atherton. Lord Phineus was an evil man who would stop at nothing to dominate Atherton. In the end, Lord Phineus had locked himself inside the castle and shut off all the water to Atherton.
Setting
The setting of this book was in the year 2105 on an artificial landmass called Atherton. Atherton had three levels: The Highlands, Tabletop, and the Flatlands. The book began in Tabletop where the reader met Edgar, the main character. The importance of this place was where a couple hundred people got to live off earth, because earth was covered in pollution so it's almost uninhabitable.
Thematic Connection
There are a lot of themes in The House of Power, but a main one is showing courage when times get tough. This is proven when Edgar breaks the rules and climbs to the Highlands and finds out what a book says. It is also proven when all three villages of Tabletop unite against the Highlands.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to mature high schoolers and young adult males, because there are some graphic scenes. The lexile score of the book is high also, so the book can be a little more challenging to follow. Teenage males would like this book because there is fighting in this book.
March 21, 2025
I remembered this book for the fourth time when I found a copy of it on my bookshelf while packing. I finally reread it (had been wanting to for a while) and it's pretty good. As an adult reader, there are flaws. There are books geared towards a similar audience that I enjoyed more than this one, but this book gets a 4/5 star rating because I remember liking this book and vaguely understanding the concepts even in elementary school (though I was definitely an advanced reader).
This book had a really interesting way of explaining socio-economic classes and the way they interact when they're afraid of each other due to societal collapse. It's... a little dark for a kids book when you think it about it. But it did some things really well. The main character Edgar was heroic, but any kid who likes climbing could easily relate to him. The villains in this book are frightening, and the main cast was generally fun to follow. The plot and pacing were good.
The main thing I didn't like was the writing. It was really direct, which is fine for a kids book when you need to be direct for them to understand, but that doesn't mean adult me has to like it. Actually, I think child me didn't like it either because I never read the rest of the series despite knowing I liked this book. All the villains laid out their evil schemes very clearly and it didn't have much mystery. Also, child characters and adult characters spoke very similarly. That is to say the younger characters felt too intelligent the adults spoke like children acting like adults. The dialogue was easy to understand, but also more complex than it had to be. For example, one of Edgar's lines is "What is the place you've taken me to?" The words alone are simple, but together? "Where have you taken me?" or "where am I?" would have sufficed, especially from an eleven year old.
The plot really stuck with me. Going in, I remembered the name of the book, the general plot, and very specific scenes (black and green, fig dust conspiracy, broken window, etc). I think the main thing I liked about this book was the ideas behind it. Honestly, this book was not nearly as enjoyable as an adult, but it was worth reading again.
This book had a really interesting way of explaining socio-economic classes and the way they interact when they're afraid of each other due to societal collapse. It's... a little dark for a kids book when you think it about it. But it did some things really well. The main character Edgar was heroic, but any kid who likes climbing could easily relate to him. The villains in this book are frightening, and the main cast was generally fun to follow. The plot and pacing were good.
The main thing I didn't like was the writing. It was really direct, which is fine for a kids book when you need to be direct for them to understand, but that doesn't mean adult me has to like it. Actually, I think child me didn't like it either because I never read the rest of the series despite knowing I liked this book. All the villains laid out their evil schemes very clearly and it didn't have much mystery. Also, child characters and adult characters spoke very similarly. That is to say the younger characters felt too intelligent the adults spoke like children acting like adults. The dialogue was easy to understand, but also more complex than it had to be. For example, one of Edgar's lines is "What is the place you've taken me to?" The words alone are simple, but together? "Where have you taken me?" or "where am I?" would have sufficed, especially from an eleven year old.
The plot really stuck with me. Going in, I remembered the name of the book, the general plot, and very specific scenes (black and green, fig dust conspiracy, broken window, etc). I think the main thing I liked about this book was the ideas behind it. Honestly, this book was not nearly as enjoyable as an adult, but it was worth reading again.
Read
April 27, 2018Personal Response:
I thought this book was a decent book. It kept me entertained and was a good storyline, but I do not think I would recommend it to a friend. I just was not fulfilled when I read the book and the rest of the series.
Plot Summary:
Edgar is a boy living in the grove that farms figs. They grow them and then send them up to the Highlands, which is a circular chunk of land raised above the rest. Edgar secretly climbs up the cliffs at night, which he isn’t supposed to do. One night, he discovers a book hidden in the cliffs, but he cannot read. He climbs up to the Highlands to find someone to read it for him, and he meets Samuel. Samuel is a boy whose father went missing, and he lives with his mother the baker. He reads the book to Edgar, who discovers that the Highlands is sinking into Tabletop. One of the residents of the Highlands finds Edgar, and tricks him into thinking that there is another book down in the Flatlands, so Edgar starts climbing down. Once the Highlands are level with Tabletop, they come to a horrible realization. That Tabletop in now sinking down to the level of the Flatlands.
Characterization:
Edgar is a boy who continually pushes the boundaries of what is allowed. He constantly caused trouble in the Grove, then climbed to the Highlands, finally climbing down to the Flatlands. He has accomplished many amazing feats despite being only 11 years old. No one expects someone to be able to climb up to the Highlands, or down to the Flatlands, but he does both. He has to mature much past his 11 years of age.
Mr Ratikan started the book as someone who ruled with an iron fist. Towards the end of the book, however, he lost complete control of the grove and ended up dying to the Highlanders who he followed. He started to lose control when he began poisoning the the water as an experiment.
Setting:
This book is set on Atherton, which is a manmade planet of sorts that orbits the Earth. It is important to know that the man made planet is not on earth, and that it is away from all conflicts of Earth. It is set in the future, but I don’t believe there was a specified date. It is so far down the road that the Earth is barely habitable, and they are researching how to fix it.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to middle schoolers of both genders. I believe that particular age group would get the most enjoyment out of the book. I think the older the readers are, the less fulfilled they feel after reading it.
I thought this book was a decent book. It kept me entertained and was a good storyline, but I do not think I would recommend it to a friend. I just was not fulfilled when I read the book and the rest of the series.
Plot Summary:
Edgar is a boy living in the grove that farms figs. They grow them and then send them up to the Highlands, which is a circular chunk of land raised above the rest. Edgar secretly climbs up the cliffs at night, which he isn’t supposed to do. One night, he discovers a book hidden in the cliffs, but he cannot read. He climbs up to the Highlands to find someone to read it for him, and he meets Samuel. Samuel is a boy whose father went missing, and he lives with his mother the baker. He reads the book to Edgar, who discovers that the Highlands is sinking into Tabletop. One of the residents of the Highlands finds Edgar, and tricks him into thinking that there is another book down in the Flatlands, so Edgar starts climbing down. Once the Highlands are level with Tabletop, they come to a horrible realization. That Tabletop in now sinking down to the level of the Flatlands.
Characterization:
Edgar is a boy who continually pushes the boundaries of what is allowed. He constantly caused trouble in the Grove, then climbed to the Highlands, finally climbing down to the Flatlands. He has accomplished many amazing feats despite being only 11 years old. No one expects someone to be able to climb up to the Highlands, or down to the Flatlands, but he does both. He has to mature much past his 11 years of age.
Mr Ratikan started the book as someone who ruled with an iron fist. Towards the end of the book, however, he lost complete control of the grove and ended up dying to the Highlanders who he followed. He started to lose control when he began poisoning the the water as an experiment.
Setting:
This book is set on Atherton, which is a manmade planet of sorts that orbits the Earth. It is important to know that the man made planet is not on earth, and that it is away from all conflicts of Earth. It is set in the future, but I don’t believe there was a specified date. It is so far down the road that the Earth is barely habitable, and they are researching how to fix it.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to middle schoolers of both genders. I believe that particular age group would get the most enjoyment out of the book. I think the older the readers are, the less fulfilled they feel after reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2025
3.5 stars! a reread from my childhood—this was just as fun and dystopian and intriguing as i remembered, but also somewhat slow-moving and redundant in the latter half. maybe my imagination isn’t as sharp as it used to be, but i had a hard time tracking with all the various characters, perhaps in part because they were only somewhat developed.
i don’t remember reading the rest of the series, so will do that and report back.
i don’t remember reading the rest of the series, so will do that and report back.
June 27, 2023
This was just what I wanted. The kids and I read Carman's series, The Land of Elyon, and they were fantastic. The audiobooks of that series were as well. This didn't disappoint, and had great pacing and wonderful characters. Great sci-fi read for 4th-7th grade. Recommend.
June 4, 2017
Don't really know what I would review this book bc I just remembered that I read it over 3 years ago. I remember not hating it tho I honestly barely remember anything about it.
September 17, 2017
"The House of Power (Atherton #1)" is an amazing book! I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy!
February 25, 2015
"he House of Power" by Patrick Carman
Personal Response: "The House of Power" was a book of high interest and adventure. I liked the book as far as storyline and length go but feel as if it could have been much better if the author didn't include himself or a character narrating the whole book. The interruptions between chapters and breaking the fourth wall were just enough to get me to stop reading but didn't.
Plot: The story takes place throughout the satellite world of Atherton; a small chunk of earth floating 22,300 feet above the surface above a dying earth. On this satellite, a boy named Edgar is off climbing trees when an old man yells at him to get down and get to work on more fig trees. Edgar is just a small boy that can work extremely fast and loves to climb. This is his biggest secret that he has kept all his life. His love for climbing is forbidden among the people of Tabletop. Edgar soon breaks a second rule by finding a book inside the cliffs going to the Highlands. Owning a book in Tabletop is like having the biggest bar of gold to those in the Highlands. Isabel, a small girl who lives in the same grove as Edgar, is spying on Edgar from afar when she gets the urge to go talk to him. Edgar is usually a solitary boy and Isabel didn't like that at all. She wants to be his friend and get him to socialize. She soon shows him that she has known his secrets for a long time, even the sling that he made from fig tree bark and twigs. Samuel, a lonely boy from the Highlands, is staring down the side of the cliff when he thinks he sees something moving up the side. Upon a closer look he sees a boy of his age. When the boy reaches the top, the two exchange names and talk to each other as if they didn't have many things separating from one another; one thing being that they are from two completely different worlds and are forbidden to acknowledge one another. When something strange happens to Atherton, Edgar is the first to notice it; the Highlands are moving down into Tabletop. When the Highlands hit Tabletop, Tabletop starts moving downward into the Flatlands. Edgar went to the Flatlands to find something that was not there but was. When Edgar gets twenty feet from the Flatlands he slips and falls into a crevice. When he is finally done falling, Edgar realizes that he's dislocated his shoulder and severed his pinky from his hand. After some time, creatures follow the scent of blood and find Edgar hanging completely unaware of the hunter that was stalking them. Vincent kills the last of the Cleaners and picks up Edgars unconscious body and brings him back to his living space. When Edgar wakes up he is in a different place than what he remembered. He was in a cave and a person came up to him. This person explained what happened and told Edgar his name; Dr. Luther Kincaid and his assistant, Vincent. After a few days, Tabletop was in chaos against the Highlands when war spread. In the House of Power, Lord Phineas has sealed himself into the water control room with a huge stock of food. Samuel finds Isabel and they take off to find Lord Phineas and get him to turn the water back on. Samuel leaves Isabel in a tunnel because he hears a superior of the House of Power coming. Edgar goes back to the grove to find that his two friends left for the House of Power. Once back at the grove Edgar unveiled his adventure to the people though people were still speculating that he was just spinning wild stories.
Setting: The story takes place on a satellite world 22,300 feet from the surface of Earth in the year 2105. The satellite world also has three different places on it: the Flatlands, Tabletop, and the Highlands.
Characterization: Edgar, Isabel, Samuel, Lord Phineas, Sir Philip, Sir Emerik, Mr. Ratikan, Dr. Kincaid, and Vincent. Edgar is an eleven year old boy who is unaware that his entire life is about to change with the discovery of a book and a person in an uninhabitable place. Isabel and Samuel are the first two friends Edgar really has and are willing to risk their lives for him. Lord Phineas is the main antagonist and is the cruel oppressor of the people of Tabletop. Sir Philip and Sir Emerik are the two subordinates of Lord Phineas and follow his every whim. Mr. Ratikan is the leader o the grove that Edgar lives in and has it in for Edgar but has other plans for the rest of the grove. Dr. Kincaid is a man who is found in the Flatlands after Edgar climbs down and is the man who set Edgar on his quest to find the book of secret things. Vincent is the protector of others and is a hunter of the destructive Cleaners which eat everything in their path.
Theme: The theme the author was expressing through the main character was that of loneliness and sadness. Through other characters there was stubbornness and anger and hatred.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good book to read and is optimistic about the changes of the world and don't take much for granted. Anyone who is over the age of 12 should read this as well as any gender.
Personal Response: "The House of Power" was a book of high interest and adventure. I liked the book as far as storyline and length go but feel as if it could have been much better if the author didn't include himself or a character narrating the whole book. The interruptions between chapters and breaking the fourth wall were just enough to get me to stop reading but didn't.
Plot: The story takes place throughout the satellite world of Atherton; a small chunk of earth floating 22,300 feet above the surface above a dying earth. On this satellite, a boy named Edgar is off climbing trees when an old man yells at him to get down and get to work on more fig trees. Edgar is just a small boy that can work extremely fast and loves to climb. This is his biggest secret that he has kept all his life. His love for climbing is forbidden among the people of Tabletop. Edgar soon breaks a second rule by finding a book inside the cliffs going to the Highlands. Owning a book in Tabletop is like having the biggest bar of gold to those in the Highlands. Isabel, a small girl who lives in the same grove as Edgar, is spying on Edgar from afar when she gets the urge to go talk to him. Edgar is usually a solitary boy and Isabel didn't like that at all. She wants to be his friend and get him to socialize. She soon shows him that she has known his secrets for a long time, even the sling that he made from fig tree bark and twigs. Samuel, a lonely boy from the Highlands, is staring down the side of the cliff when he thinks he sees something moving up the side. Upon a closer look he sees a boy of his age. When the boy reaches the top, the two exchange names and talk to each other as if they didn't have many things separating from one another; one thing being that they are from two completely different worlds and are forbidden to acknowledge one another. When something strange happens to Atherton, Edgar is the first to notice it; the Highlands are moving down into Tabletop. When the Highlands hit Tabletop, Tabletop starts moving downward into the Flatlands. Edgar went to the Flatlands to find something that was not there but was. When Edgar gets twenty feet from the Flatlands he slips and falls into a crevice. When he is finally done falling, Edgar realizes that he's dislocated his shoulder and severed his pinky from his hand. After some time, creatures follow the scent of blood and find Edgar hanging completely unaware of the hunter that was stalking them. Vincent kills the last of the Cleaners and picks up Edgars unconscious body and brings him back to his living space. When Edgar wakes up he is in a different place than what he remembered. He was in a cave and a person came up to him. This person explained what happened and told Edgar his name; Dr. Luther Kincaid and his assistant, Vincent. After a few days, Tabletop was in chaos against the Highlands when war spread. In the House of Power, Lord Phineas has sealed himself into the water control room with a huge stock of food. Samuel finds Isabel and they take off to find Lord Phineas and get him to turn the water back on. Samuel leaves Isabel in a tunnel because he hears a superior of the House of Power coming. Edgar goes back to the grove to find that his two friends left for the House of Power. Once back at the grove Edgar unveiled his adventure to the people though people were still speculating that he was just spinning wild stories.
Setting: The story takes place on a satellite world 22,300 feet from the surface of Earth in the year 2105. The satellite world also has three different places on it: the Flatlands, Tabletop, and the Highlands.
Characterization: Edgar, Isabel, Samuel, Lord Phineas, Sir Philip, Sir Emerik, Mr. Ratikan, Dr. Kincaid, and Vincent. Edgar is an eleven year old boy who is unaware that his entire life is about to change with the discovery of a book and a person in an uninhabitable place. Isabel and Samuel are the first two friends Edgar really has and are willing to risk their lives for him. Lord Phineas is the main antagonist and is the cruel oppressor of the people of Tabletop. Sir Philip and Sir Emerik are the two subordinates of Lord Phineas and follow his every whim. Mr. Ratikan is the leader o the grove that Edgar lives in and has it in for Edgar but has other plans for the rest of the grove. Dr. Kincaid is a man who is found in the Flatlands after Edgar climbs down and is the man who set Edgar on his quest to find the book of secret things. Vincent is the protector of others and is a hunter of the destructive Cleaners which eat everything in their path.
Theme: The theme the author was expressing through the main character was that of loneliness and sadness. Through other characters there was stubbornness and anger and hatred.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good book to read and is optimistic about the changes of the world and don't take much for granted. Anyone who is over the age of 12 should read this as well as any gender.
April 22, 2024
I am excited to see how my 5th graders react to this book. I think they will like the action and unique dystopian plot. They will hate that it ends on a cliffhanger
March 21, 2016
PERSONAL RESPONSE
House of Power was one of the most grabbing books I’ve read. Once I got past all the less intriguing introductions and explanations, It was really hard for me to put the book down.
PLOT
Edgar is a young boy who lives on a tiny planet called Atherton. There are three main parts to Atherton: the Highlands, Tabletop, and the Flatlands. No one lives in the Flatlands. Tabletop has the larger population among three villages, the Village of the Grove, the Village of Sheep, and the Village of Rabbits. The Highlands are home to all the people in power and the only source of water on Atherton. The only problem with the planet is that the three levels are sinking. Soon the planet will be completely flat. Edgar lives and works for Mr. Ratikan in the grove. More often than not, he spends his days hungry because Mr. Ratikan is constantly punishing Edgar for some silly thing he did. One day, he actually tries to get into trouble by walking across a branch suspended between two of the trees. That night, he runs off to the cliffs and climbs all the way to the top with his book of secret things. There we meet Samuel, a boy the same age as Edgar. Together, they make a deal to have Samuel read the book to Edgar. While Edgar sleeps under Samuel’s bed, Samuel is brought to Lord Phineus and the book taken from him. From the last remaining page, Edgar forces Sir Emerik to read it while on a visit to the Village of Rabbits. As result, Edgar climbs down to the Flatlands. More events unfold, such as the revelation of the sinking of the Highlands and eventually Tabletop. A couple days later, Lord Phineus and his closest advisors Sir Philip and Sir Emerik start putting together an “army” to defend the Highlands from the villages of Tabletop. The battle goes poorly for the Highlanders; Sir Philip is injured, Lord Phineus is hit and made sick, and many of his court turn sides. Edgar makes more friends in the Flatlands, where no one was thought to live before. Vincent and Dr. Kincaid are in charge of regulating the Cleaner population in the Flatlands. One night, they start planning a long journey, but they don’t tell Edgar where they are going. As they are travelling, they pass over a spot of bare dirt. When they examine it, they find that Atherton has become completely flat.
CHARACTERIZATION
Edgar is a small boy, not more than twelve years old. He looks like a bunch of pale sticks stuck together in the shape of a boy, but this doesn’t stop him from his love of climbing stuff. Every few nights, he has gone to the cliffs and climbed steadily higher. Mr. Ratikan is master of the grove and typically hates everyone. We also find that he is one of the few people who is actually close to Lord Phineus. Also in his court, Sir Emerik can be regarded as “the dumb one that every group of friends has.” He is constantly getting yelled at by Lord Phineus, and is slowly plotting some way to overthrow him. Isabel is Samuel’s best and only friend from the grove. She somehow managed to figure out and build a slingshot before Edgar. Not only is she better with the sling, but she can sneak her way through the grove undetected. This allows her to listen in on private conversations and generally spy on others. Samuel is the first person to have met, face to face, a person from a different level of Atherton. He is the first person Edgar would trust with any business in the Highlands.
SETTING
To some, this story could be seen as a possible route into the future. Earth, aka the Dark Planet, is visibly coated with pollution. As the head of a group of scientists and the smartest man alive, Dr. Maximus Harding has created another place for humans to live. Away from all pollution and machines, Atherton is a small but dense planet in geostationary orbit above Earth. After some 15 years in the making, Dr. Harding places people there to start taking care of the planet.
THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This book has a strong theme of constant danger. Atherton is constantly changing, and as the changes take place, they also progress faster and more violent. The stronger the quakes from these changes, the greater chance that something could happen to especially the people of Tabletop where the homes are just wood and piled stones. There is also an obvious theme of adventure. Edgar is the first person to have visited all three of Atherton’s layers. Against all the rules, he climbs the cliffs to the Highlands and back down in one night. Later he also half climbs, half falls down to the Flatlands.
RECOMMENDATION
For those with a liking to realistic fiction, this book would be perfect. Pre-teens would probably find it especially grabbing as they can better relate to characters like Edgar, Samuel, and Isabel.
House of Power was one of the most grabbing books I’ve read. Once I got past all the less intriguing introductions and explanations, It was really hard for me to put the book down.
PLOT
Edgar is a young boy who lives on a tiny planet called Atherton. There are three main parts to Atherton: the Highlands, Tabletop, and the Flatlands. No one lives in the Flatlands. Tabletop has the larger population among three villages, the Village of the Grove, the Village of Sheep, and the Village of Rabbits. The Highlands are home to all the people in power and the only source of water on Atherton. The only problem with the planet is that the three levels are sinking. Soon the planet will be completely flat. Edgar lives and works for Mr. Ratikan in the grove. More often than not, he spends his days hungry because Mr. Ratikan is constantly punishing Edgar for some silly thing he did. One day, he actually tries to get into trouble by walking across a branch suspended between two of the trees. That night, he runs off to the cliffs and climbs all the way to the top with his book of secret things. There we meet Samuel, a boy the same age as Edgar. Together, they make a deal to have Samuel read the book to Edgar. While Edgar sleeps under Samuel’s bed, Samuel is brought to Lord Phineus and the book taken from him. From the last remaining page, Edgar forces Sir Emerik to read it while on a visit to the Village of Rabbits. As result, Edgar climbs down to the Flatlands. More events unfold, such as the revelation of the sinking of the Highlands and eventually Tabletop. A couple days later, Lord Phineus and his closest advisors Sir Philip and Sir Emerik start putting together an “army” to defend the Highlands from the villages of Tabletop. The battle goes poorly for the Highlanders; Sir Philip is injured, Lord Phineus is hit and made sick, and many of his court turn sides. Edgar makes more friends in the Flatlands, where no one was thought to live before. Vincent and Dr. Kincaid are in charge of regulating the Cleaner population in the Flatlands. One night, they start planning a long journey, but they don’t tell Edgar where they are going. As they are travelling, they pass over a spot of bare dirt. When they examine it, they find that Atherton has become completely flat.
CHARACTERIZATION
Edgar is a small boy, not more than twelve years old. He looks like a bunch of pale sticks stuck together in the shape of a boy, but this doesn’t stop him from his love of climbing stuff. Every few nights, he has gone to the cliffs and climbed steadily higher. Mr. Ratikan is master of the grove and typically hates everyone. We also find that he is one of the few people who is actually close to Lord Phineus. Also in his court, Sir Emerik can be regarded as “the dumb one that every group of friends has.” He is constantly getting yelled at by Lord Phineus, and is slowly plotting some way to overthrow him. Isabel is Samuel’s best and only friend from the grove. She somehow managed to figure out and build a slingshot before Edgar. Not only is she better with the sling, but she can sneak her way through the grove undetected. This allows her to listen in on private conversations and generally spy on others. Samuel is the first person to have met, face to face, a person from a different level of Atherton. He is the first person Edgar would trust with any business in the Highlands.
SETTING
To some, this story could be seen as a possible route into the future. Earth, aka the Dark Planet, is visibly coated with pollution. As the head of a group of scientists and the smartest man alive, Dr. Maximus Harding has created another place for humans to live. Away from all pollution and machines, Atherton is a small but dense planet in geostationary orbit above Earth. After some 15 years in the making, Dr. Harding places people there to start taking care of the planet.
THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This book has a strong theme of constant danger. Atherton is constantly changing, and as the changes take place, they also progress faster and more violent. The stronger the quakes from these changes, the greater chance that something could happen to especially the people of Tabletop where the homes are just wood and piled stones. There is also an obvious theme of adventure. Edgar is the first person to have visited all three of Atherton’s layers. Against all the rules, he climbs the cliffs to the Highlands and back down in one night. Later he also half climbs, half falls down to the Flatlands.
RECOMMENDATION
For those with a liking to realistic fiction, this book would be perfect. Pre-teens would probably find it especially grabbing as they can better relate to characters like Edgar, Samuel, and Isabel.
July 26, 2021
Great story . Still haven't figured out the codes that unlock Dr. Harding's brain . One of my definite read-again books .
February 10, 2017
Nelson Mandela once stated, “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” in other words, everybody in the world must be equal for everybody to be content. Author Patrick Carman focuses on this idea in his book, The House of Power, which takes place on an oddly shaped planet named Atherton. Atherton is like a tiered cake with the lowest level being the Flatlands, the middle level called Tabletop, and the highest level called the Highlands. The lower people are on Atherton, the poorer they are. The people in the Highlands rule Atherton and control all the water from the House of Power, their capital building. The story focuses on the adventures of Edgar, an eleven-year-old boy who has a memory of a strange man telling him that a secret exists for him in the cliffs between the Highlands and Tabletop, where he lives in Mr. Ratikan’s fig grove. Every night, Edgar illegally climbs the cliffs and while doing so, discovers a book. However, he cannot read, so he must sneak into the highlands to find somebody to read it for him. While there, he finds a young boy named Samuel who reads it for him but before he reads the last page, Samuel gets caught and gives Edgar the last page which contains the biggest secret of the mysterious book. The book demonstrates that a dictatorship can have disastrous consequences.
I would rate this book five stars because of its message about greed and immorality among the higher social classes. The author reveals this idea when Sir Emrik, an assistant to the leader, Sir Phineas, is trying to convince Sir Phillip to help him overthrow their ruler: “Sir Phillip, you and I both know that Lord Phineus is simply too powerful. You will never be able to surpass him, nor will I. But together we could bring him under our control. Or better still, we could move him aside.” Here, the author demonstrates how the highlands are corrupt with people trying to overthrow the dictator. Both the dictator and the people trying to overthrow him are nefarious because they all want power. When Sr. Phillip does not agree, Sir Emrik pushes him off a ledge. This instance reveals how people in the higher class society are treacherous. Sir Emrik also reveals that “He had his sights set on ruling Atherton alone, and he began to plot in his mind how he might discover the source of water and do away with Lord Phineus when the time was right.” Sir Emrik’s goals demonstrate that all he wants is the power to control other people even though he is clearly in a better situation than most people. His desire for power shows that people in the higher classes want control because they are never satisfied.
Overall, the book illustrates the idea that people with power usually want more power and to control everybody below them. However, these greedy individuals do not always get what they think they deserve, but instead get what they actually deserve. Patrick Carman is trying to convey the message that people should not give absolute power to one person but should instead have equality in society.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2014
Edgar is an excellent climber, which is a problem in Tabletop because no one is allowed to climb the cliffs and the punishment for trying is severe. But Edgar is looking for something, a treasure left to him by a man he can barely remember. And for that, he is willing to go places where no one from Tabletop has ever gone before: the mysterious Highlands, the land above Tabletop which rules them. When their world is turned on its head, though, Edgar's boldness brings the two worlds together in ways no one anticipated.
This is a dystopian novel, so certain elements of the society are practically standard fare: a regimented society, a culture struggling to make it day to day, and a boy who has no regard for the traditional boundaries. In this case, the boundaries are physical as well as social, as gigantic cliffs separate the Flatlands, Tabletop, and the Highlands. Illustrations provided throughout offer a nice set of visuals for various places and things.
I'm not a huge fan of dystopian books, and some elements of the society and lifestyle felt oversimplified. Oversimplification is a flaw in dystopian novels generally, that I've noticed. For example, there was an attempt to explain the lack of variety in food and animals, but it's still hard to believe most of the humans aren't dying of malnutrition since the only plants eaten on Tabletop appear to be the figs and fig tree inner parts, and it didn't seem to be something they shared with their neighbors who raised rabbits or sheep. And even the fig-farmers don't eat most of their figs. So where are the vegetables? As long as they're growing grass (which presumably the sheep and rabbits aren't after every square inch of it) why not have gardens too?
Another frustration is that the book makes no attempt at resolving much of anything. This is better understood as part one, and it more stops than ends. The oddest part of this is that it almost feels like it could tie up in a few more chapters, once the water supply is reached, and provide a better ending, or at least a more solid cliffhanger. At this point I suppose this would be a more minor irritation because the rest of the trilogy has been published, but be forewarned: this will leave off at an odd place and more or less require the second book to be on hand.
Overall, the book itself isn't that bad, but I don't buy into the overall system presented. And it's annoying to read about extremely cruel bullies who are at best offered a minor setback (presumably he will go down by the end of the trilogy but I don't know that I want to wait that long). I rate this book Neutral.
This is a dystopian novel, so certain elements of the society are practically standard fare: a regimented society, a culture struggling to make it day to day, and a boy who has no regard for the traditional boundaries. In this case, the boundaries are physical as well as social, as gigantic cliffs separate the Flatlands, Tabletop, and the Highlands. Illustrations provided throughout offer a nice set of visuals for various places and things.
I'm not a huge fan of dystopian books, and some elements of the society and lifestyle felt oversimplified. Oversimplification is a flaw in dystopian novels generally, that I've noticed. For example, there was an attempt to explain the lack of variety in food and animals, but it's still hard to believe most of the humans aren't dying of malnutrition since the only plants eaten on Tabletop appear to be the figs and fig tree inner parts, and it didn't seem to be something they shared with their neighbors who raised rabbits or sheep. And even the fig-farmers don't eat most of their figs. So where are the vegetables? As long as they're growing grass (which presumably the sheep and rabbits aren't after every square inch of it) why not have gardens too?
Another frustration is that the book makes no attempt at resolving much of anything. This is better understood as part one, and it more stops than ends. The oddest part of this is that it almost feels like it could tie up in a few more chapters, once the water supply is reached, and provide a better ending, or at least a more solid cliffhanger. At this point I suppose this would be a more minor irritation because the rest of the trilogy has been published, but be forewarned: this will leave off at an odd place and more or less require the second book to be on hand.
Overall, the book itself isn't that bad, but I don't buy into the overall system presented. And it's annoying to read about extremely cruel bullies who are at best offered a minor setback (presumably he will go down by the end of the trilogy but I don't know that I want to wait that long). I rate this book Neutral.
February 9, 2015
I read “The House Of Power” by Patrick Carman. The book is full of adventure and always kept me wanting to read more. The story is about a young boy who is part of a changing world. The world is made of three tiers; the Highlands, Tabletop, and the Flatlands. Travel between the tiers is forbidden. However, the young boy knows of a secret hidden in the cliffs between Tabletop and the Highlands. So at night, he sneaks away and practices his climbing skills. He finally finds the secret one day, but it is a book. He has to illegally climb to the Highlands to find someone to read it to him, for no one in Tabletop knows how to read. He finds a boy in the Highlands who becomes his friend and reads him the book. On the way back down to Tabletop he is caught and must flee to the Highlands. When he gets there he is misled and travels down to the Flatlands. There he finds a mysterious man who informs him that Atherton is collapsing in on itself.
The main character in the book is Edgar. He goes through many changes throughout the story. He starts out as a playful young boy, but is suddenly forced to grown up when he discovers he has knowledge vital to the survival of his home. He is an orphan, eleven years old, and the best climber in all of Atherton.
The book is set in the future. You can tell this because it talks about how Earth became uninhabitable, and people were forced to this new place. The story takes place on a planet called Atherton. Is was designed to have three tiers and to orbit the Earth. The top tier is for the rich and knowledgeable, the middle is for the workers, and the bottom is where all the waste from the other tiers collects.
I believe that the theme the author was trying to portray was the value of friendship. In the beginning, Edgar had no friends and was always lonely. Later, however, he makes several great friends who greatly assist him in his adventures. I can relate that to my life in several ways. I can surround myself with people who have the same goals as me and who will push me to do my best. I can also surround myself with a close group of friends to keep me going when I am in a tough spot.
I would give “The House Of Power” four out of five stars. The book had a great plot and flowed well. The author always held my interest and kept me wanting to read more. Some of the vocabulary was difficult, but nothing a good reader could not handle. For these reasons I would recommend the book to more mature readers who are looking for a suspenseful book that is packed full of action.
The main character in the book is Edgar. He goes through many changes throughout the story. He starts out as a playful young boy, but is suddenly forced to grown up when he discovers he has knowledge vital to the survival of his home. He is an orphan, eleven years old, and the best climber in all of Atherton.
The book is set in the future. You can tell this because it talks about how Earth became uninhabitable, and people were forced to this new place. The story takes place on a planet called Atherton. Is was designed to have three tiers and to orbit the Earth. The top tier is for the rich and knowledgeable, the middle is for the workers, and the bottom is where all the waste from the other tiers collects.
I believe that the theme the author was trying to portray was the value of friendship. In the beginning, Edgar had no friends and was always lonely. Later, however, he makes several great friends who greatly assist him in his adventures. I can relate that to my life in several ways. I can surround myself with people who have the same goals as me and who will push me to do my best. I can also surround myself with a close group of friends to keep me going when I am in a tough spot.
I would give “The House Of Power” four out of five stars. The book had a great plot and flowed well. The author always held my interest and kept me wanting to read more. Some of the vocabulary was difficult, but nothing a good reader could not handle. For these reasons I would recommend the book to more mature readers who are looking for a suspenseful book that is packed full of action.
Read
January 15, 2015I read the book “The House of Power.” It was written by Patrick Carman. I thought it was a very good book about an artificial world that was meant to save mankind, but like most things that are first of their kind they don’t always work.
The book starts out in a place called the grove with a boy named Edgar. He lives of an artificial world called Atherton. On this world there are three levels. The lowest level is call the Flatlands, the second level is called Tabletop, and the third is called the Highlands. Edgar is an orphan who lives with the leader of the grove called Mr. Radkin. The grove is on the second level of this world. One day while Edgar is climbing the cliffs that separate the three levels he finds a book. He takes the book up to Highlands, because he can’t read. He learns that the highlands are sinking from a boy he meets in the highlands. While they are deciphering the book it gets taken by a man and Edgar doesn’t get to find out what the last page says. He is then lied to and told there is another book in the flatlands and he climbs down to find it. While he is down there Tabletop sinks to the flatlands, but what the people of the upper two levels don’t know is that there are monsters in the flatlands that devour everything in their paths.
The main characters of the book are Edgar, Isabel, and Samuel. Edgar is an orphan boy who lives in the grove. Isabel is a young girl that has a crush on Edgar and also lives in the grove. Samuel is a boy from the highlands that Edgar meets to translate the book.
The setting is on the world Atherton. It is an artificial world created to save the human race. There are three levels of the world, but the book mostly takes place on the second level, Tabletop. The time of the book is not stated.
The book has a good message about a friend can mean all the difference. Edgar starts out alone on the world and learns that having friends to help him on his adventures is much nicer and more fulfilling. I thought it really fit into my life, because I think life would just not be worth living if I didn’t have someone to share it with.
I thought this was a very good book about an artificial world and how not everything may be as wonderful as it seems. I would recommend this book to anyone at the middle school level and above that enjoys reading science fiction books. I would rate this book four out of five stars.
The book starts out in a place called the grove with a boy named Edgar. He lives of an artificial world called Atherton. On this world there are three levels. The lowest level is call the Flatlands, the second level is called Tabletop, and the third is called the Highlands. Edgar is an orphan who lives with the leader of the grove called Mr. Radkin. The grove is on the second level of this world. One day while Edgar is climbing the cliffs that separate the three levels he finds a book. He takes the book up to Highlands, because he can’t read. He learns that the highlands are sinking from a boy he meets in the highlands. While they are deciphering the book it gets taken by a man and Edgar doesn’t get to find out what the last page says. He is then lied to and told there is another book in the flatlands and he climbs down to find it. While he is down there Tabletop sinks to the flatlands, but what the people of the upper two levels don’t know is that there are monsters in the flatlands that devour everything in their paths.
The main characters of the book are Edgar, Isabel, and Samuel. Edgar is an orphan boy who lives in the grove. Isabel is a young girl that has a crush on Edgar and also lives in the grove. Samuel is a boy from the highlands that Edgar meets to translate the book.
The setting is on the world Atherton. It is an artificial world created to save the human race. There are three levels of the world, but the book mostly takes place on the second level, Tabletop. The time of the book is not stated.
The book has a good message about a friend can mean all the difference. Edgar starts out alone on the world and learns that having friends to help him on his adventures is much nicer and more fulfilling. I thought it really fit into my life, because I think life would just not be worth living if I didn’t have someone to share it with.
I thought this was a very good book about an artificial world and how not everything may be as wonderful as it seems. I would recommend this book to anyone at the middle school level and above that enjoys reading science fiction books. I would rate this book four out of five stars.
December 30, 2014
Atherton is a series containing three books that I re-read over the break and is one of my all-time favorite book series. The books, though written to be accessible even to younger audiences discuss major adult themes throughout.
Dr. Harding, a brilliant but mad scientist creates Atherton, a satellite world orbiting the remains of Earth. Though the inhabitants of Atherton don't know of its existence or their responsibility for Earth, Edgar and many others are forced to learn the truth about where they come from as Atherton suddenly begins to change. Edgar's finding of a mysterious book in a cliff hundreds of feet above the ground is the first of many revelations about his home, as well as what he and others must do to save it. But without Dr. Harding, whose unstable mind seems to hold all the answers, Edgar's choices and the people affected by them become much more complex than he anticipated.
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. I particularly enjoyed the themes of bildungsroman within the story as they related not only to Edgar but to the entire cast of characters as it teaches lessons of stewardship and humility. I also enjoyed the way the plot of these novels was set up. Patrick Carman didn't insert a plot twist for the sake of a plot twist or choose to flatten characters for the sake of exposing the material to a wider range of understanding. He had a purpose for everything he did with the story and I think there are many lessons to be learned from that. These books also have a theme of responsibility they show in an interesting way, questioning what a person can be held responsible for when they are pushed to the breaking point.
Though I have read these books before I enjoyed reading them again as I feel like I have learned something new from them and would recommend them to anyone looking for a somewhat light read that still brings up many interesting questions and teaches lessons everyone should remember.
This book teaches lessons everyone should remember.
Dr. Harding, a brilliant but mad scientist creates Atherton, a satellite world orbiting the remains of Earth. Though the inhabitants of Atherton don't know of its existence or their responsibility for Earth, Edgar and many others are forced to learn the truth about where they come from as Atherton suddenly begins to change. Edgar's finding of a mysterious book in a cliff hundreds of feet above the ground is the first of many revelations about his home, as well as what he and others must do to save it. But without Dr. Harding, whose unstable mind seems to hold all the answers, Edgar's choices and the people affected by them become much more complex than he anticipated.
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. I particularly enjoyed the themes of bildungsroman within the story as they related not only to Edgar but to the entire cast of characters as it teaches lessons of stewardship and humility. I also enjoyed the way the plot of these novels was set up. Patrick Carman didn't insert a plot twist for the sake of a plot twist or choose to flatten characters for the sake of exposing the material to a wider range of understanding. He had a purpose for everything he did with the story and I think there are many lessons to be learned from that. These books also have a theme of responsibility they show in an interesting way, questioning what a person can be held responsible for when they are pushed to the breaking point.
Though I have read these books before I enjoyed reading them again as I feel like I have learned something new from them and would recommend them to anyone looking for a somewhat light read that still brings up many interesting questions and teaches lessons everyone should remember.
This book teaches lessons everyone should remember.
October 21, 2015
Personal Response
I enjoyed The House Of Power because of the constant feeling of adventure throughout the book. Many times I felt like I was right beside Edgar as he climbed up 200 foot cliffs or fought dangerous monsters. I think that Patrick Carman is a very good author. He drew me into the book and I could not stop reading. I also enjoyed how he wrote from different points of view of other characters in the book.
Plot
Atherton is a planet that is made up of three levels, the three levels are the highest area or The Highlands, the middle or Tabletop, and at the bottom, or The Flatlands. The main character named Edgar is a orphan worker on Tabletop, on Tabletop there are three main areas, first there is the grove where Edgar work’s on the fig trees, that are all over the grove. Secondly, there is the Village of Rabbits, which from its name I could tell that in this village they raise rabbits for food. And lastly there is The Village of Sheep, and as I could tell they raise sheep for wool to make clothes. Edgar has only one memory of his parents he remembers that his father told him that he hid something for him in the cliffs up by the Highlands. Every night he goes out and looks for this book and after many years of looking he found something in the rock wall. He must wait to investigate as the sun is rising and he will be seen. If will be killed if he does not get off of the cliffs fast, so he hurries down and waits a long day for nightfall to come. After a long day he does back to the same spot and reaches his hand into the hole in the wall. He pulls out an old worn book but the only problem is he doesn't know how to read.
Recommendation
I think that this book should be for boys or girls above the age of eight. I give this recommendation because of the mild violence, death, and mild peril. I would say that this book is for anyone that enjoys a good adventure book. I loved this book and I cannot wait to read the second book in the series.
I enjoyed The House Of Power because of the constant feeling of adventure throughout the book. Many times I felt like I was right beside Edgar as he climbed up 200 foot cliffs or fought dangerous monsters. I think that Patrick Carman is a very good author. He drew me into the book and I could not stop reading. I also enjoyed how he wrote from different points of view of other characters in the book.
Plot
Atherton is a planet that is made up of three levels, the three levels are the highest area or The Highlands, the middle or Tabletop, and at the bottom, or The Flatlands. The main character named Edgar is a orphan worker on Tabletop, on Tabletop there are three main areas, first there is the grove where Edgar work’s on the fig trees, that are all over the grove. Secondly, there is the Village of Rabbits, which from its name I could tell that in this village they raise rabbits for food. And lastly there is The Village of Sheep, and as I could tell they raise sheep for wool to make clothes. Edgar has only one memory of his parents he remembers that his father told him that he hid something for him in the cliffs up by the Highlands. Every night he goes out and looks for this book and after many years of looking he found something in the rock wall. He must wait to investigate as the sun is rising and he will be seen. If will be killed if he does not get off of the cliffs fast, so he hurries down and waits a long day for nightfall to come. After a long day he does back to the same spot and reaches his hand into the hole in the wall. He pulls out an old worn book but the only problem is he doesn't know how to read.
Recommendation
I think that this book should be for boys or girls above the age of eight. I give this recommendation because of the mild violence, death, and mild peril. I would say that this book is for anyone that enjoys a good adventure book. I loved this book and I cannot wait to read the second book in the series.
September 19, 2019
En este segundo volumen de esta trilogía, ya no existen los tres mundos, ya es solo uno, y Edgar y sus amigos, nos ayudan a adentramos a las profundidades de la tierra, un guiño a Julio Verne, con su maravillosa novela "Viaje al centro de la tierra".
Cabe decir que si el primero me gustó, este lo hace de igual forma, o un poco más, ya que lo admito me conquistó con ese guiño, soy así de fácil!
Mi parte favorita ha sido cuando salían los pájaros azules puesto que me los imaginaba muy bien gracias a la película aunque cabe destacar que en este libro son eléctricos y te producen una pequeña descarga cuando te tocan y si te pican más de 3 veces te pueden matar... (monos, eh?) me recordaron a los de la película de Brendan Fraser "Viaje al centro de la tierra" (por cierto en esta película sale el futuro Peeta "Los juegos del Hambre").
Los personajes principales, os recuerdo que son 3 niños pequeños, vemos que han madurado para su edad y es que en esas características cualquiera lo hace, pero a veces hay pequeñas incidencias que aún demuestran que son niños. Así que la evolución de los personajes la veo bastante acertada. De igual forma, que algunos de los adultos se comportan de una manera no muy digna, todo esta bien planificado.
Sorprende el giro que aporta el hecho de descubrir algunas incógnitas que nos planteaba el primer libro: La identidad del doctor Harding , la muerte del padre de Samuel y la verdad sobre Edgar.
Aunque nos deja aún con las ganas de saber demasiadas cosas sobre el Planeta Oscuro, que en el próximo libro nos serán aclaradas.
December 14, 2016
Atherton the House of Power is set on the island of Atherton. It was built featuring three levels, the top level, called the Highlands, the location of Atherton’s only water source. Next is Tabletop, the middle level, whose residents harvest sheep, rabbits and hybrid figs for their use and the use of those in the Highlands. The third level, called the Flatlands, is dark and filled with mystery. No one in the top two levels has any idea what wonders or horrors lurk on the bottom level.
This story begins with main character, Edgar, searching for something left behind by Luther, a shadowy father-figure from his past. He finds a prize which turns out to be a book which he cannot read.
He climbs into the Highlands where he finds someone witch turns into a friend, Samuel, who reads the book and together they begin to expose the mysteries of Atherton. As the story continues, Edgar and Samuel learn of the arrogance of the rulers of the Highlands, those who live in the House of Power, a fortress that protects Atherton’s only source of water.
They discover that the leader of the Highlands, a man named of Lord Phineus, has exploited the workers in Tabletop, by rationing and restricting the water supply.
You will have to read the rest of the book to see what happens to the island. I rate this book 4-stars because I thought this book’s ending could be better but there is a 2nd and 3rd book so I am looking forward to reading the remaining of the series. This book made me feel creeped out mid way. People who like One Potato, Two Potato would love Atherton and The House of Power. This book is just like Jedi Academy because of its plot is almost the same.
This story begins with main character, Edgar, searching for something left behind by Luther, a shadowy father-figure from his past. He finds a prize which turns out to be a book which he cannot read.
He climbs into the Highlands where he finds someone witch turns into a friend, Samuel, who reads the book and together they begin to expose the mysteries of Atherton. As the story continues, Edgar and Samuel learn of the arrogance of the rulers of the Highlands, those who live in the House of Power, a fortress that protects Atherton’s only source of water.
They discover that the leader of the Highlands, a man named of Lord Phineus, has exploited the workers in Tabletop, by rationing and restricting the water supply.
You will have to read the rest of the book to see what happens to the island. I rate this book 4-stars because I thought this book’s ending could be better but there is a 2nd and 3rd book so I am looking forward to reading the remaining of the series. This book made me feel creeped out mid way. People who like One Potato, Two Potato would love Atherton and The House of Power. This book is just like Jedi Academy because of its plot is almost the same.
March 22, 2010
I think that House of Power is about change. More specifically, I think it’s about how when change happens, it can be too late to fix it. This refers to earth right now. It’s saying that if we don’t do something to help our planet right now, in the long run we could end up regretting it.
In the story, through neglect, the earth turns into an industrial wasteland. The scientists' solution was to create a world called Atherton to hold the people until earth was fixed. The world was made up of 3 layers, a top layer where scholars lived, a middle layer, where workers lived, and a bottom layer that was just basically a dump for unused items.
About 10 years after Atherton was first inhabited, it started to sink down. And it was too late for the scientists who made Atherton to fix it. In a rush to create a safe haven, the scientists didn't think the idea through completely and the hierarchy fell apart. If the scientists had thought the idea through better, that situation could have been avoided. The same problem that made the earth an industrial wasteland.
I think that this relates to my life because our earth right now is really polluted and needs help. If we had done something earlier, we wouldn't be in this trouble. If we don’t do something soon, then we might never be able to fix it.
In the story, through neglect, the earth turns into an industrial wasteland. The scientists' solution was to create a world called Atherton to hold the people until earth was fixed. The world was made up of 3 layers, a top layer where scholars lived, a middle layer, where workers lived, and a bottom layer that was just basically a dump for unused items.
About 10 years after Atherton was first inhabited, it started to sink down. And it was too late for the scientists who made Atherton to fix it. In a rush to create a safe haven, the scientists didn't think the idea through completely and the hierarchy fell apart. If the scientists had thought the idea through better, that situation could have been avoided. The same problem that made the earth an industrial wasteland.
I think that this relates to my life because our earth right now is really polluted and needs help. If we had done something earlier, we wouldn't be in this trouble. If we don’t do something soon, then we might never be able to fix it.
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