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The Farwalker Trilogy #1
The Farwalker's Quest
Ariel has always been curious, but when she and her best friend Zeke stumble upon a mysterious old telling dart she feels an unexplained pull toward the dart, and to figuring out what it means. Magically flying great distances and only revealing their messages to the intended recipient, telling darts haven't been used for years, and no one knows how they work. So when two strangers show up looking for the dart, Ariel and Zeke realize that their discovery is not only interesting, but very dangerous. The telling dart, and the strangers, leads them to a journey more perilous and encompassing than either can imagine, and in the process both Zeke and Ariel find their true calling.
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2009
20 people are currently reading
1187 people want to read
About the author
Joni Sensel
17 books45 followersJoni Sensel is the author of more than a dozen non-fiction titles for adults and five novels for young readers from Macmillan imprints, as well as two picture books. Her fiction titles include a Junior Library Guild selection, a Center for Children’s Books “Best Book,” a Henry Bergh Honor title, and a finalist for several other awards. Her adventures have taken her to the corners of 15 countries, the heights of the Cascade Mountains, the length of an Irish marathon, and the depths of love. She lives at the knees of Mt. Rainier in Washington State with a puppy who came into her life as a birthday gift that reflected afterlife influence. Sign up for her creativity newsletter on her website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
December 28, 2009
I'll confess something to you. I'm a children's librarian who reads a lot of children's books in a given year. I don't get a chance to review them all, which is too bad. So my To Be Reviewed shelf in my office gets fuller and fuller as the seasons go by. Sometimes I'll read a book for kids in one month and then immediately review it. Other times I'll read a book, put it on the shelf, and pick it up a few months later, a little fuzzy on some of the finer details. Rarest of all is the book I read, place on the shelf for TEN MONTHS, and still remember like it was yesterday when I get ready to review it. The Farwalker's Quest by novelist Joni Sensel was one of those books that I sort of assumed I'd never get around to reviewing but over the months I found that I couldn't forget it. I kept thinking about it, and darned if I didn't remember it long after it was over. That, to me, is what middle grade chapter book fantasy fans are really looking for. They may devour book after book like lightning, but why do they do it? They do it because they're searching for the story that touches them, stays with them, and remains with them for years and years. The Farwalker's Quest is one of those books. It reuses a lot of old tropes we've seen many times before, but it also will stick with you long after the memory of other fantasies has faded from your mind.
Who hasn't wanted to find a secret message meant just for them? It sounds exciting, like the start of an adventure. But when Ariel pulls an ancient artifact called a telling dart from the bark of a tree, she has no idea where this simple action might lead. Before she knows it two scary looking men have come to town looking for the dart. Suddenly Ariel is kidnapped, rescued, and now she and her friend Zeke must find out where the dart has come from, and what it might all mean. Along the way they'll make enemies, unexpected friends, and Ariel will discover her true calling.
I've called this book a fantasy already in my opening to this review but is it? I'm not sure. Certainly there are some fantastical elements at work here. I think that it could also be called post-apocalyptic fiction, in the style of The Giver, though. Lines that discuss sending, "fire through a string as people were said to have done in the old days," is one such tip-off. It's not hard and fast, though. Unlike books like Raiders' Ransom, this could either be the Earth's future, or it could be another world entirely. You could argue it either way. Really, this book falls into an already big category of children's books about kids in a society where they get their jobs at 12 and then discover that society is not as neat and ordered as they'd thought it was. The City of Ember, Below the Root, The Wind Singer, the aforementioned The Giver, and now Farwalker's Quest.
The language is a lot of fun too. Descriptive without ever overdoing it (which is a frequent temptation in epic quests like this one). There are just little jabs of color here and there. Lines like, "The water drained from the gulch like blood from a scratch, the slopes above too loose with shale for easy walking." Sentences like that one really work for me because they briefly take you out of the narrative, then plunge you right back in again.
So I like the writing in general very much. Less so the all too frequent foreshadowing. More than one or two chapters end with sentences along the lines of, "Even his courage would have failed if he'd known where the Farwalker's path would take them. By then, though, Ariel had taken the lead." It's not so much that there is foreshadowing as it that it's entirely unnecessary. Sensel is a enjoyable writer with a voice distinctive enough not to need rely on these little glimpses into the future. Kids are going to enjoy her writing. They won't need an extra pull to keep them going, or to ramp up the tension. My two cents.
It's definitely middle grade and not solely teen fare, though a fantasy/sci-fi loving teenager could probably get something out of it. Really the only moment that suggests at an older audience is when Scarl removes his shirt and Ariel realizes, "how little resistance she could offer if he'd decided that her clothes would be coming off next." They don't, as it happens. So we're still in the all clear. Kids looking for a book that stretches the imagination without relying on the usual dragon/magic/vampire motifs will find a lot to love here. Sensel has done a stand-up job of creating a new world from scratch. Some of it will be familiar. Some, not so much. Whatever the case, prepare to read something memorable.
Ages 9-12
Who hasn't wanted to find a secret message meant just for them? It sounds exciting, like the start of an adventure. But when Ariel pulls an ancient artifact called a telling dart from the bark of a tree, she has no idea where this simple action might lead. Before she knows it two scary looking men have come to town looking for the dart. Suddenly Ariel is kidnapped, rescued, and now she and her friend Zeke must find out where the dart has come from, and what it might all mean. Along the way they'll make enemies, unexpected friends, and Ariel will discover her true calling.
I've called this book a fantasy already in my opening to this review but is it? I'm not sure. Certainly there are some fantastical elements at work here. I think that it could also be called post-apocalyptic fiction, in the style of The Giver, though. Lines that discuss sending, "fire through a string as people were said to have done in the old days," is one such tip-off. It's not hard and fast, though. Unlike books like Raiders' Ransom, this could either be the Earth's future, or it could be another world entirely. You could argue it either way. Really, this book falls into an already big category of children's books about kids in a society where they get their jobs at 12 and then discover that society is not as neat and ordered as they'd thought it was. The City of Ember, Below the Root, The Wind Singer, the aforementioned The Giver, and now Farwalker's Quest.
The language is a lot of fun too. Descriptive without ever overdoing it (which is a frequent temptation in epic quests like this one). There are just little jabs of color here and there. Lines like, "The water drained from the gulch like blood from a scratch, the slopes above too loose with shale for easy walking." Sentences like that one really work for me because they briefly take you out of the narrative, then plunge you right back in again.
So I like the writing in general very much. Less so the all too frequent foreshadowing. More than one or two chapters end with sentences along the lines of, "Even his courage would have failed if he'd known where the Farwalker's path would take them. By then, though, Ariel had taken the lead." It's not so much that there is foreshadowing as it that it's entirely unnecessary. Sensel is a enjoyable writer with a voice distinctive enough not to need rely on these little glimpses into the future. Kids are going to enjoy her writing. They won't need an extra pull to keep them going, or to ramp up the tension. My two cents.
It's definitely middle grade and not solely teen fare, though a fantasy/sci-fi loving teenager could probably get something out of it. Really the only moment that suggests at an older audience is when Scarl removes his shirt and Ariel realizes, "how little resistance she could offer if he'd decided that her clothes would be coming off next." They don't, as it happens. So we're still in the all clear. Kids looking for a book that stretches the imagination without relying on the usual dragon/magic/vampire motifs will find a lot to love here. Sensel has done a stand-up job of creating a new world from scratch. Some of it will be familiar. Some, not so much. Whatever the case, prepare to read something memorable.
Ages 9-12
August 23, 2009
In Ariel's world, there is no technology at all - not even a simple machine like a bike or a wheelchair. Oh, once there were marvelous gadgets - but then there was a terrible war that rendered everyone blind. Eventually, sighted children were born and the world returned to normal - except that folks had lost most of the knowledge they'd had before the war. And perhaps that wasn't such a bad thing, especially if that knowledge had led to the war.
When Ariel and her friend Zeke find a telling dart, a communication device from the old days, their world changes. Instead of settling into their chosen calling as every 13-year-old does, Ariel is kidnapped by two strange men who come to the village looking for the dart. Zeke follows - and from then on, their lives are completely upended.
This isn't just a post-apocalyptic novel - there is magic in the world, from the way trees and stones communicate with Zeke to a ghost who follows the children around. If the darts are a form of technology rather than magic, then it's one never seen in our own world. Unfortunately for Ariel's people, magic isn't enough to sustain her society. Due to her culture's distrust of new ideas and therefore of travelers and outsiders, even what little knowledge each village possesses - not just historical matters but such practical things as medicine and agriculture - is dwindling. Ariel's dart leads her and her companions to the realization that there is a great storehouse of knowledge from the past that could inject vital new life into the world, if only they could find it and then disperse it.
These are intriguing ideas, but they take a backseat to the more immediate action of the story, which involves Ariel's kidnapping, escape, and search for the Vault of knowledge. Her relationships with Zeke and with the enigmatic Scarl (one of her kidnappers) are always first and foremost in Ariel's thoughts, and this makes sense for a 13-year-old who always thought she'd be a healer like her mother, not some pivotal piece of a scary and all-important quest. Ariel's anguish and joy are always on-target and sometimes even move the plot forward - and yet I kept wondering about her world. How could each village stay so insular - didn't they need to trade with each other and even intermarry? Wouldn't they rely on goods from afar - and wouldn't new ideas arrive with those goods? (Reading Patricia Wrede's worldbuilding questions probably has made me a very picky reader of fantasy, indeed) I also got no sense of Ariel's culture - its religion, cuisine, dress, attitudes toward women. As a result, the action is vivid but all else is a bit hazy. Oh, and one more thing - at one point, Zeke says "geez." As a short form of "Jesus," this seemed out of place in a book that, whether or not it takes place on an Earth of the far future, certainly doesn't mention the existence of Christianity. Just a quibble, seeing as how I was nattering on about language last week.
Thanks to fine writing, interesting characters, and an imaginative plot, I stuck with this pleasant fantasy all the way to the end. However, I couldn't help thinking it could have been a great fantasy if more care had been taken with the details. I will definitely read whatever she writes next - which may well be The Timekeeper's Moon, a sequel that will be out in early 2010.
Recommended for fantasy fans in grade 5 - 8.
When Ariel and her friend Zeke find a telling dart, a communication device from the old days, their world changes. Instead of settling into their chosen calling as every 13-year-old does, Ariel is kidnapped by two strange men who come to the village looking for the dart. Zeke follows - and from then on, their lives are completely upended.
This isn't just a post-apocalyptic novel - there is magic in the world, from the way trees and stones communicate with Zeke to a ghost who follows the children around. If the darts are a form of technology rather than magic, then it's one never seen in our own world. Unfortunately for Ariel's people, magic isn't enough to sustain her society. Due to her culture's distrust of new ideas and therefore of travelers and outsiders, even what little knowledge each village possesses - not just historical matters but such practical things as medicine and agriculture - is dwindling. Ariel's dart leads her and her companions to the realization that there is a great storehouse of knowledge from the past that could inject vital new life into the world, if only they could find it and then disperse it.
These are intriguing ideas, but they take a backseat to the more immediate action of the story, which involves Ariel's kidnapping, escape, and search for the Vault of knowledge. Her relationships with Zeke and with the enigmatic Scarl (one of her kidnappers) are always first and foremost in Ariel's thoughts, and this makes sense for a 13-year-old who always thought she'd be a healer like her mother, not some pivotal piece of a scary and all-important quest. Ariel's anguish and joy are always on-target and sometimes even move the plot forward - and yet I kept wondering about her world. How could each village stay so insular - didn't they need to trade with each other and even intermarry? Wouldn't they rely on goods from afar - and wouldn't new ideas arrive with those goods? (Reading Patricia Wrede's worldbuilding questions probably has made me a very picky reader of fantasy, indeed) I also got no sense of Ariel's culture - its religion, cuisine, dress, attitudes toward women. As a result, the action is vivid but all else is a bit hazy. Oh, and one more thing - at one point, Zeke says "geez." As a short form of "Jesus," this seemed out of place in a book that, whether or not it takes place on an Earth of the far future, certainly doesn't mention the existence of Christianity. Just a quibble, seeing as how I was nattering on about language last week.
Thanks to fine writing, interesting characters, and an imaginative plot, I stuck with this pleasant fantasy all the way to the end. However, I couldn't help thinking it could have been a great fantasy if more care had been taken with the details. I will definitely read whatever she writes next - which may well be The Timekeeper's Moon, a sequel that will be out in early 2010.
Recommended for fantasy fans in grade 5 - 8.
Want to read
November 26, 2016I am so happy I found this book again. I read it when it first came out, I was in the 3rd or 4th grade, I was thinking about it while laying in bed and couldn't remember what it was call all I knew was the it had a tree on the cover and after ten minute searches through the list 'books with trees on the cover' the title popped in my head and now I plan on reread this book and re-experience what made this book stick in my head after seven years.
March 7, 2017
The Farwalker's Quest is billed as a Middle Grade Fantasy, but aside from the age of the main characters (12), I really found it quite mature. It's grim (lots of death) and even gruesome at times, so I'm not sure I would recommend it for the younger Middle Grade readers. It's more adventure than introspection or romance, though, so I'm guessing that's why it's not classed as YA.
The story is set in the far future of Earth after a war of technology killed off most of the population. Technology is basically legend, and humans have returned to an isolated village sort of existence so it has more of a Fantasy feel than Sci Fi or Dystopia.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the world, and grew attached to the main characters. I'm looking forward to picking up the sequels sometime soon.
The story is set in the far future of Earth after a war of technology killed off most of the population. Technology is basically legend, and humans have returned to an isolated village sort of existence so it has more of a Fantasy feel than Sci Fi or Dystopia.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the world, and grew attached to the main characters. I'm looking forward to picking up the sequels sometime soon.
November 4, 2018
this was pretty good as i remember. it's a middle grade novel but there's a scene where a main character stitches up another character's wound with a fishhook that is the most vivid memory i have of the whole book so idk
January 8, 2009
Zeke's tree wouldn't speak to him.
The Humming of Numbers was one of my favorite 2008 reads, so I was ecstatic to get a chance to read her newest book The Farwalker's Quest. The book stars two kids--twelve year olds: Zeke and Ariel. They're approaching an important date: Namingfest. Soon they'll take tests to determine what paths their futures will take. Zeke hopes to become a Tree-Singer. Ariel hopes to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a Healtouch. Each person in the community has a gift; a gift that contributes to society as a whole. Of course, for those that fail to pass the test, there is the shame of wearing the name 'Fool' til the next year's festivities. (Though there are a few unfortunate souls that wear that name for life.)
Three days before Namingfest, the two find something in a tree. Something ancient. Something fascinating. Something dangerous. (Though it takes a full day for that to be realized.) Something that will bring strangers into their town. Something that will change both of their lives forever. That something is a magical artifact, a "telling dart" that is capable of flying hundreds of miles and revealing its message only to the intended recipient. That this 'dart' found the girl, Ariel, speaks volumes. It will be the best and worst thing that ever happened to her in her short life.
It brings adventures and dangers and new friends...and enemies...her strength and will be tested every step of the way.
I loved this one. Loved the world Sensel created. Loved that it's set so far into the future that society has collapsed upon itself, entered a dark ages of sorts, and is only just beginning to revive again. Loved the characters. How these relationships are built and developed through the novel. How easy it was to care about them all. Loved that so many of the characters were developed. There is a richness to the characters, to the world. (That's not always the case.) Loved the adventures. Loved the pacing. The intensity of it. Each chapter kept me hooked and wanting more.
I'd say this is perfect for fans of The Giver, City of Ember, and Ursula K. Le Guin's Annals of the Western Shore series (Gifts, Voices, Powers).
I know it's not saying much being as how it's only the first full week of January, but this is my best read so far!
© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
December 9, 2011
Anyone who read and loved Lois Lowry's The Giver and the accompanying books, will see some obvious similarities with the idea of occupations in this fascinating fantasy by Joni Sensel. I appreciated that the book was longer and the plot much more intricate than The Giver (which I also loved) but I still finished it in about a day because I just couldn't put it down!
The story opens with Ariel and Zeke, 12-year-olds (almost 13) in a small coastal town, preparing to take their Naming test. This will determine their last names, which is also the occupation they will be apprenticed in until they become a master. But when Ariel finds a telling dart (a mysterious relic from a past that was much more scientifically advanced) and two strangers come to the town, things start unraveling.
This story is sparkling with imagination, and I relished every moment of it. But I've read stories that are gripping and interesting, but the characters themselves kill any inspiration that could have come from the story. Here, Joni Sensel writes an exciting story with perfect characters to match. They are young, but brave. And they are thrown into a situation where courage is their only option other than giving up--which meant death. They grown and learn as the story progresses, both through their natural raw talents and through the experiences that press them to be bold and courageous. I love how the story shows young teens that see the contrast of talent and calling and are willing to do what is good and important, not just what they know they can already do well.
For the rest of my review (and a peek at the sequel) see my blog: http://skippingbarefoot.blogspot.com/
The story opens with Ariel and Zeke, 12-year-olds (almost 13) in a small coastal town, preparing to take their Naming test. This will determine their last names, which is also the occupation they will be apprenticed in until they become a master. But when Ariel finds a telling dart (a mysterious relic from a past that was much more scientifically advanced) and two strangers come to the town, things start unraveling.
This story is sparkling with imagination, and I relished every moment of it. But I've read stories that are gripping and interesting, but the characters themselves kill any inspiration that could have come from the story. Here, Joni Sensel writes an exciting story with perfect characters to match. They are young, but brave. And they are thrown into a situation where courage is their only option other than giving up--which meant death. They grown and learn as the story progresses, both through their natural raw talents and through the experiences that press them to be bold and courageous. I love how the story shows young teens that see the contrast of talent and calling and are willing to do what is good and important, not just what they know they can already do well.
For the rest of my review (and a peek at the sequel) see my blog: http://skippingbarefoot.blogspot.com/
November 3, 2015
I have to say, I'm impressed. It was interesting to see a world where people have lost the knowledge of many technologies used today and have reverted to living in small villages. I also thought the relationships between the characters was very heartwarming. No spoilers! so you'll have to read it yourself :)
November 11, 2017
It's been a really long time since I've found a book this satisfying. It was both simple in it's story line, but complex in it's characters. And it didn't shy away from the more emotional things: death and failure.
Story
This is the story of a world that is somewhat changed from this one. It's not a post apocalyptic world, but it definitely has a feeling of what the world would look like if we took our modernity out of the equation via war. In the case of this world, it was a "disease" that caused blindness. And while people were blind, many things, like machinery, fell to the wayside and people became more in tune with their innate abilities. Abilities such as telling stories (teachers, historians), healing people, talking with trees or animals, etc.
So, you end up with a world that has a distinct fantasy feel without the triteness of magic to solve all plot hole problems.
And in this world the kids take on a trade at age 13, and this becomes their name. Ariel failed her test for a good reason ─ her skill lies in connecting people, ideas, and spreading information. She just has her test in the way of finding a lost vault that has knowledge in it.
She is joined by her best friend and a man she sees as her father figure.
Characters
Scarl starts out as a bit of a mystery. Sensel presents him when he first comes in as a mysterious, foreboding figure that scares Ariel. Over the course of the story you find out his true intentions and more of the man that Ariel begins to see as a replacement to her dead father. (And I seriously hope it stays that way in the other books of the series, and does not develop into some creepy paedophile crap between a 13-year old and a 27-year old.)
Ariel is a "farwalker," which is a trade that died out when people stopped caring about what happened from village to village and didn't want to spread knowledge any longer. She is the first of the trade after the rest died out. But to get there she has to go from a carefree child, through some harsh realities, and learn to trust her instincts. She also has to mature past the impetuousness of a child if she hopes to do be very good at her new role.
Zeke is the stable best friend that talks to rocks. He's kinda like the clue-by-four that usually pushes stories along. His character is written as strong, stable, and relatively quiet. He's the one that notices things and speaks up when necessary. You know, the strong, silent hero type? That one. Except not in-your-face so you don't roll your eyes at the cliches. His character feels pretty natural instead of the obvious ex machina.
The Rest of the characters aren't really worth noting individually. They exist as supporting characters to either carry the story along or cause any of the main characters to develop into something more than a 2D name. They really did flush out the story, too, in a fairly natural way.
Thoughts
At no point in time did I put this book down in exasperation. I didn't feel like there were huge jumps in logic or emotion, and while there might have been a plot hole I didn't catch it. The story carried both the characters and itself through while not feeling like anything was forced.
Story
This is the story of a world that is somewhat changed from this one. It's not a post apocalyptic world, but it definitely has a feeling of what the world would look like if we took our modernity out of the equation via war. In the case of this world, it was a "disease" that caused blindness. And while people were blind, many things, like machinery, fell to the wayside and people became more in tune with their innate abilities. Abilities such as telling stories (teachers, historians), healing people, talking with trees or animals, etc.
So, you end up with a world that has a distinct fantasy feel without the triteness of magic to solve all plot hole problems.
And in this world the kids take on a trade at age 13, and this becomes their name. Ariel failed her test for a good reason ─ her skill lies in connecting people, ideas, and spreading information. She just has her test in the way of finding a lost vault that has knowledge in it.
She is joined by her best friend and a man she sees as her father figure.
Characters
Scarl starts out as a bit of a mystery. Sensel presents him when he first comes in as a mysterious, foreboding figure that scares Ariel. Over the course of the story you find out his true intentions and more of the man that Ariel begins to see as a replacement to her dead father. (And I seriously hope it stays that way in the other books of the series, and does not develop into some creepy paedophile crap between a 13-year old and a 27-year old.)
Ariel is a "farwalker," which is a trade that died out when people stopped caring about what happened from village to village and didn't want to spread knowledge any longer. She is the first of the trade after the rest died out. But to get there she has to go from a carefree child, through some harsh realities, and learn to trust her instincts. She also has to mature past the impetuousness of a child if she hopes to do be very good at her new role.
Zeke is the stable best friend that talks to rocks. He's kinda like the clue-by-four that usually pushes stories along. His character is written as strong, stable, and relatively quiet. He's the one that notices things and speaks up when necessary. You know, the strong, silent hero type? That one. Except not in-your-face so you don't roll your eyes at the cliches. His character feels pretty natural instead of the obvious ex machina.
The Rest of the characters aren't really worth noting individually. They exist as supporting characters to either carry the story along or cause any of the main characters to develop into something more than a 2D name. They really did flush out the story, too, in a fairly natural way.
Thoughts
At no point in time did I put this book down in exasperation. I didn't feel like there were huge jumps in logic or emotion, and while there might have been a plot hole I didn't catch it. The story carried both the characters and itself through while not feeling like anything was forced.
October 8, 2017
This is the first book in the Farwalker’s Quest trilogy. It ended up being a good fantasy story that starts out a bit slow and then ends a bit slow. I did enjoy the characters and some of the events that happened in the middle. Nothing is really resolved in this book though. Honestly I didn't care enough about the story to continue reading this series.
This book is set in a post-apocalyptic world that has a very traditional fantasy feel to it. At the age of thirteen kids take a test to find out what their lifelong devotion will be. For example you could be a Treesinger (talk to trees to learn info) or a Healtouch (a healer and caretaker). Ariel is desperate to be a Healtouch like her mother, but none of that matters after two strangers kidnap her over an ancient dart device she finds.
I thought the whole story started out really slow and was pretty bored. The friendship between Zeke and Ariel is cute but their town-life is kind of lackluster. Things pick up pace a bit once Ariel is kidnapped and I enjoyed this part of the story. In this portion Ariel finds out more about what she is and how to use her abilities. However the ending was pretty slow again and I ended up just wanting the book to be done.
There’s a lot in here about friendship and family and using your resources wisely. This book is just the start of the adventure, nothing is really resolved by the end. To be honest by the end I just didn’t care enough about the story or characters that I even really wanted to know more.
Overall this is an okay book with some interesting elements. The backstory to the world is interesting and some of the abilities the characters have are also intriguing. The pace of the story is a bit slow and I was disappointed in how little was actually resolved in this book. I would tentatively recommend this to fans of adventure fantasy. This is one that kids may like more than adults.
This book is set in a post-apocalyptic world that has a very traditional fantasy feel to it. At the age of thirteen kids take a test to find out what their lifelong devotion will be. For example you could be a Treesinger (talk to trees to learn info) or a Healtouch (a healer and caretaker). Ariel is desperate to be a Healtouch like her mother, but none of that matters after two strangers kidnap her over an ancient dart device she finds.
I thought the whole story started out really slow and was pretty bored. The friendship between Zeke and Ariel is cute but their town-life is kind of lackluster. Things pick up pace a bit once Ariel is kidnapped and I enjoyed this part of the story. In this portion Ariel finds out more about what she is and how to use her abilities. However the ending was pretty slow again and I ended up just wanting the book to be done.
There’s a lot in here about friendship and family and using your resources wisely. This book is just the start of the adventure, nothing is really resolved by the end. To be honest by the end I just didn’t care enough about the story or characters that I even really wanted to know more.
Overall this is an okay book with some interesting elements. The backstory to the world is interesting and some of the abilities the characters have are also intriguing. The pace of the story is a bit slow and I was disappointed in how little was actually resolved in this book. I would tentatively recommend this to fans of adventure fantasy. This is one that kids may like more than adults.
June 21, 2020
I first read this book when I was eleven. I loved it, wished for a sequel, then promptly forgot the title and author for nine years.
After I'd rediscovered the name, I ordered it (and its sequels!) to relive the magic.
I'm twenty now, so I expected this book to lose some of the charm it had over me. It did not. I still love the characters, still adore the story and world, and while the dialogue isn't always perfect, it carries itself.
I will say that this is one book where I question the target audience. The main characters are 12, nearly 13, and one 29 year old. This book has murder, allusions to rape (without spoilers, 2 characters both allude to it without going into detail or description. Basically used as a "hey these characters are young girls dealing with bad people. It could happen" never a "so this totally happened read between the lines". It would go over the heads of kids who wouldn't know), and physician assisted suicide. I'd say this book is suited to mature kids who can handle reading about death.
It also tackles grief, forgiveness, and finding your own destiny. Its a very good book, one I'll be passing around to my friends. Very glad I bought the series.
After I'd rediscovered the name, I ordered it (and its sequels!) to relive the magic.
I'm twenty now, so I expected this book to lose some of the charm it had over me. It did not. I still love the characters, still adore the story and world, and while the dialogue isn't always perfect, it carries itself.
I will say that this is one book where I question the target audience. The main characters are 12, nearly 13, and one 29 year old. This book has murder, allusions to rape (without spoilers, 2 characters both allude to it without going into detail or description. Basically used as a "hey these characters are young girls dealing with bad people. It could happen" never a "so this totally happened read between the lines". It would go over the heads of kids who wouldn't know), and physician assisted suicide. I'd say this book is suited to mature kids who can handle reading about death.
It also tackles grief, forgiveness, and finding your own destiny. Its a very good book, one I'll be passing around to my friends. Very glad I bought the series.
June 30, 2019
I judged the book by the cover. I looked at it and thought, "Man, that looks adventurous!" And being a sucker for adventure stories, I put it on my TBR list. Unfortunately, it had to stay there for over a year, which allowed me to work up my standards for the book. When I finally got around to reading it, I found it a little...underdeveloped. Don't get me wrong: I loved the book. It was adventurous. It was fun. But it's childish. It's short, so a lot of plot development, character development, and world-building were skipped.
Long story short: It's a good book unless you're looking for some deep and broad fiction.
Long story short: It's a good book unless you're looking for some deep and broad fiction.
January 18, 2018
Very well written coming-of-age novel set in what I would call a "next-society" genre (more time has passed than "post-apocalyptic").
As one gathers from the title, there's a quest involved with all the danger that implies.
I really appreciate that the story is complete in one volume unlike so many series where many things are left hanging to be covered "later".
Read it, you'll like it...
As one gathers from the title, there's a quest involved with all the danger that implies.
I really appreciate that the story is complete in one volume unlike so many series where many things are left hanging to be covered "later".
Read it, you'll like it...
July 4, 2022
Joni Sensel, you have the gift of storytelling! Thank you for this trilogy that I could share with my daughter. The adventure we had together reading this was wild! As a teacher, I also recommend it to my students and you have turned more than one student from the "I don't read books" mentality to, "What else can I read?!"
Thank you!
Thank you!
December 1, 2023
Why is no one talking about this book? I was swept away by this story from chapter one, and I loved everything about it. The only thing I could say that might be considered a critique is that there was an overly convenient resolution to one of the dangers that the main characters faced near the end. But even that wasn't too distracting from the story, and it felt almost right anyway.
September 14, 2019
I enjoyed how this started out, but it really fell apart for me. Not a lot of world-building or explanation of the "magic" system. Felt like there were several plot holes as well as character appearances that didn't make sense.
October 25, 2021
I liked this book quite a lot, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it for the younger readers in its age range (8-12). It was very grim in places, with plot points I think a younger reader would have difficulty with (murders/deaths, a suicide, cruel kidnappers, adults harming children).
July 13, 2022
One of the best stories I’ve read in a long time. The message is a great one and the storyline is engaging and surprising. I seldom reread books, but I will absolutely pick this one back up. A perfect YA fiction.
December 31, 2025
Cool concept, good respect for the reader, great execution. I dropped a point because rough stuff happens to the kids, but I don’t think kids mind that. I’m just a squeamish parent.
These older books seem more demanding. Are we dumbing down kidlit?
These older books seem more demanding. Are we dumbing down kidlit?
April 16, 2020
Second time reading this journey...great for any fan of Dungeons and Dragons! This book is more character based than plot based, but it has great moments and intriguing lore.
February 6, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are fun and engaging, the bad guys are adequately roguish, and the plot twists nicely several times.
September 1, 2025
I read this book a a kid, and rereading it as an adult, it has kept it charm and adventure. It is such a fun, intense, and engrossing story.
January 6, 2022
Beautiful and moving story set in a post-apocalyptic, Dark Ages type of world. I read this book years ago, and finally came back to it a second time out of nostalgia. The world Sensel created really stuck with me - a world where people have specialized gifts and talents, yet are content to live with no further knowledge of human history, despite it being right under their feet sometimes. I came in for the cool abilities like Treesinging, and stayed for the character development and exploration of the world that once was.
In short, this was a moving story of discovery and growth that I would recommend to adults and teens alike (some of the themes and references may not be apparent to younger readers, as I discovered myself after a second reading).
In short, this was a moving story of discovery and growth that I would recommend to adults and teens alike (some of the themes and references may not be apparent to younger readers, as I discovered myself after a second reading).
June 5, 2016
This is a Middle Grade fantasy set in a world that has changed since the "Blind War," though it is unclear if this is our world or another. At twelve, there is a NamingTest that each child takes to see if they will apprentice in their chosen vocation and take a new last name such as Healtouch or Treesinger, or spend a year as a Fool. When Ariel fails her Healtouch test, and is kidnapped by two Finders, the harrowing journey to discover her true vocation begins.
I like to keep my eye out for interesting Middle Grade fiction, especially those that feature a strong female heroine and/or a good model of friendship. On those accounts, this is a pretty good choice. I also look for good writing, and while I did pause a bit over an awkward sentence or two, this is a pretty good choice in that aspect as well.
One of my main issues with this book is with how the relationship between the main character, Ariel, and one of the strangers who kidnaps her develops. Having a seemingly bad character become not so bad after all is fine, having a kidnapper become a sort of father figure is not so fine in my opinion. However, I can appreciate how the story is constructed and the plot is moved forward with this as an integral part.
As an adult reading a Middle Grade book, I enjoyed the story once I got past the almost literally tree-hugging magic that is first introduced. The magic seems to be based on a kind of animism and has references to "the Essence" and Beltane. I appreciated that the book description of Zeke being his friend Ariel's rescuer was not the focus of the story, nor is it completely accurate. I also appreciated that the story included more nuanced characters than other Middle Grade fantasy I've read, and that the typical storyline of a right of passage test was used but did not devolve in the way many recent YA treatments of this have. For an adult reader, this is a quick, fun read with only minor issues.
I am unsure, at this point, if I will continue reading the trilogy. Though I did end up enjoying the story, it is not a book I will be recommending to my middle grade niece.
This (lightly edited) review was previously posted on my WordPress blog at http://wp.me/p5Tcfi-18N
I like to keep my eye out for interesting Middle Grade fiction, especially those that feature a strong female heroine and/or a good model of friendship. On those accounts, this is a pretty good choice. I also look for good writing, and while I did pause a bit over an awkward sentence or two, this is a pretty good choice in that aspect as well.
One of my main issues with this book is with how the relationship between the main character, Ariel, and one of the strangers who kidnaps her develops. Having a seemingly bad character become not so bad after all is fine, having a kidnapper become a sort of father figure is not so fine in my opinion. However, I can appreciate how the story is constructed and the plot is moved forward with this as an integral part.
As an adult reading a Middle Grade book, I enjoyed the story once I got past the almost literally tree-hugging magic that is first introduced. The magic seems to be based on a kind of animism and has references to "the Essence" and Beltane. I appreciated that the book description of Zeke being his friend Ariel's rescuer was not the focus of the story, nor is it completely accurate. I also appreciated that the story included more nuanced characters than other Middle Grade fantasy I've read, and that the typical storyline of a right of passage test was used but did not devolve in the way many recent YA treatments of this have. For an adult reader, this is a quick, fun read with only minor issues.
I am unsure, at this point, if I will continue reading the trilogy. Though I did end up enjoying the story, it is not a book I will be recommending to my middle grade niece.
This (lightly edited) review was previously posted on my WordPress blog at http://wp.me/p5Tcfi-18N
January 3, 2009
Ariel and her best friend, Zeke, are ready for Namingfest, a day when they choose one of the twelve trades and are tested to become an apprentice. When Ariel and Zeke find a telling dart, a long-lost magical artifact from the past once used to send messages, they decide to try to figure out how it works on their own. Before they can determine its message, however, two Finders appear in search of the dart, and they are forced to hand it over. Ariel, however, has a feeling the dart is meant for her, and unfortunately, so do the Finders. When she fails her Namingday test to be a Healtouch, they are sure that Ariel has another purpose, one linked to the telling dart, and they kidnap her. With Zeke secretly tracking the party, Ariel’s quest to find the source of the dart and her true purpose has begun.
I enjoyed this one. The characters are all well-rounded and believable, and one of the strengths of the book is how Ariel, Zeke, and Ariel’s self-appointed taciturn protector, Scarl, come together as a close-knit group. Scarl ended up being my favorite character, actually, because of his complexity (and what a well-suited name for him, too). Ariel’s world also has an imaginative history. It’s a world struggling to find itself again after a terrible blinding disease that crippled several generations in the past, and as such, much of the old knowledge is lost. There are forces that wish it to stay lost, believing that rediscovering old knowledge will cause bad history to repeat itself, but others see that this leads to stagnation from which their society will not recover. Villages no longer have the means to communicate with each other, and as no one travels, new knowledge is not disseminated. Ariel, as a Farwalker, has the ability to change this, though slowly. It has series potential but, thanks to an epilogue, doesn’t rely on another book to complete the story. I had thought it was intended as a stand-alone (because of the epilogue) but Sensel’s web site says a sequel will be coming in 2010, and she mentions a third book also, so I guess not. I will be glad to read the next one when it comes out. I hope it has lots of Scarl.
I enjoyed this one. The characters are all well-rounded and believable, and one of the strengths of the book is how Ariel, Zeke, and Ariel’s self-appointed taciturn protector, Scarl, come together as a close-knit group. Scarl ended up being my favorite character, actually, because of his complexity (and what a well-suited name for him, too). Ariel’s world also has an imaginative history. It’s a world struggling to find itself again after a terrible blinding disease that crippled several generations in the past, and as such, much of the old knowledge is lost. There are forces that wish it to stay lost, believing that rediscovering old knowledge will cause bad history to repeat itself, but others see that this leads to stagnation from which their society will not recover. Villages no longer have the means to communicate with each other, and as no one travels, new knowledge is not disseminated. Ariel, as a Farwalker, has the ability to change this, though slowly. It has series potential but, thanks to an epilogue, doesn’t rely on another book to complete the story. I had thought it was intended as a stand-alone (because of the epilogue) but Sensel’s web site says a sequel will be coming in 2010, and she mentions a third book also, so I guess not. I will be glad to read the next one when it comes out. I hope it has lots of Scarl.
July 6, 2015
This book was way more intense than I expected. The emotion was raw and the characters real, making it a powerful read. It had a lot of elements of typical fantasy, but also plenty of surprises. It was a perfect combination of familiar and unique.
**I'm not sure how much of the following review contains spoilers. I tried to avoid them, but I'm not good at knowing what's important to keep secret. So read at your own risk.**
Overall, this book was surprising and beautiful. Though it may not be the most original story out there, the emotion in it is real, and I definitely think it's worth a read. I look forward to reading the sequels.
**I'm not sure how much of the following review contains spoilers. I tried to avoid them, but I'm not good at knowing what's important to keep secret. So read at your own risk.**
Overall, this book was surprising and beautiful. Though it may not be the most original story out there, the emotion in it is real, and I definitely think it's worth a read. I look forward to reading the sequels.
November 23, 2020
A magical fantasy, The Farwalker’s Quest, takes place in a futuristic world—a world left devastated and fragmented by the Blind War.
Everyone in Canberra Docks assumes twelve-year-old Ariel will become a Healtouch like her mother. She certainly doesn’t seem talented enough to do anything else. Her best friend, Zeke, hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a village-chief-like Tree-Singer. But just three days before the Namingfest, Zeke’s tree won’t speak to him. Instead, the maple directs Ariel to a magical artifact of old: a telling dart.
Used before the war, the telling dart has a secret message destined for but one. The dart fully captures Ariel’s imagination, and her heart. When a pair of strangers turns up asking questions and making threats, Ariel and Zeke are forced into a treacherous, life-altering journey.
The Farwalker’s Quest, a coming-of-age adventure, is a MUST-READ. Even those who are not generally fans of fantasy are sure to be pleased. No maps or charts are required in the reading of this book. With substantiative characters and a well-woven plot, Joni Sensel weaves a breathtaking tale full of twists and turns that will leave the reader breathless. The pacing is perfect, the prose lyrical and smooth. Readers will quickly find themselves transported to a magical world of danger and loss, of dreams and destiny.
Sensel allows darkness in the story, enough to convey the essence of truth, but not so much as to overwhelm the reader or glorify the darkness. Instead, light shines through. As the characters are forced to reconcile their expectations with reality, they must wrestle with their passions and purpose. The story makes it clear—we are each gifted, we each have a calling. It emphasizes love, hope, trust, compassion, forgiveness and sacrifice. And The Farwalker’s Quest finishes as strongly as it starts, confirming that in spite of hardships, redemption and new beginnings await those who seek.
From the Christian Library Journal; used by permission.
Everyone in Canberra Docks assumes twelve-year-old Ariel will become a Healtouch like her mother. She certainly doesn’t seem talented enough to do anything else. Her best friend, Zeke, hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a village-chief-like Tree-Singer. But just three days before the Namingfest, Zeke’s tree won’t speak to him. Instead, the maple directs Ariel to a magical artifact of old: a telling dart.
Used before the war, the telling dart has a secret message destined for but one. The dart fully captures Ariel’s imagination, and her heart. When a pair of strangers turns up asking questions and making threats, Ariel and Zeke are forced into a treacherous, life-altering journey.
The Farwalker’s Quest, a coming-of-age adventure, is a MUST-READ. Even those who are not generally fans of fantasy are sure to be pleased. No maps or charts are required in the reading of this book. With substantiative characters and a well-woven plot, Joni Sensel weaves a breathtaking tale full of twists and turns that will leave the reader breathless. The pacing is perfect, the prose lyrical and smooth. Readers will quickly find themselves transported to a magical world of danger and loss, of dreams and destiny.
Sensel allows darkness in the story, enough to convey the essence of truth, but not so much as to overwhelm the reader or glorify the darkness. Instead, light shines through. As the characters are forced to reconcile their expectations with reality, they must wrestle with their passions and purpose. The story makes it clear—we are each gifted, we each have a calling. It emphasizes love, hope, trust, compassion, forgiveness and sacrifice. And The Farwalker’s Quest finishes as strongly as it starts, confirming that in spite of hardships, redemption and new beginnings await those who seek.
From the Christian Library Journal; used by permission.
December 4, 2012
The Farwalker's Quest is listed as the first book in the Farwalker trilogy, and starts us off with a young girl, Ariel, and her friend Zeke, who are both looking to taking an important step on the path to adulthood. They, along with their friend (Madeline?) are ready to take tests to get their second name, which will set them into an apprentice role for their life's work.
The tests are apparently something that is done as a rite of passage, and each test, like each person tested, is a little different. Those who pass move to the new role, those who don't, become a Fool, a jester, for a year, until they can retake the test.
Before they can take the test, Ariel and Zeke find a telling dart, a small arrow with a message inscribed on the outside and contained within. From that, the adventure grows, as the two are suddenly thrust into an adventure that may sound exciting from the side of the hearth, or the comfort of a welcome chair, but is difficult and frightening to the two youngsters.
The two are chased across their world, miraculously escaping horrors time after time, but having to deal with the results of their actions and the fallout that comes when a person of some consequence decides that they know best, and refuse to share secrets or knowledge needed by someone else. This tale shows their courage, pitting them against dangerous people and circumstances, forcing them to rely on each other and use their intelligence to solve puzzles large and small, all while growing into their new and unexpected destinies.
I would recommend this for any preteen or teen reader, or just those who want a little frisson without horror. A very good read.
The tests are apparently something that is done as a rite of passage, and each test, like each person tested, is a little different. Those who pass move to the new role, those who don't, become a Fool, a jester, for a year, until they can retake the test.
Before they can take the test, Ariel and Zeke find a telling dart, a small arrow with a message inscribed on the outside and contained within. From that, the adventure grows, as the two are suddenly thrust into an adventure that may sound exciting from the side of the hearth, or the comfort of a welcome chair, but is difficult and frightening to the two youngsters.
The two are chased across their world, miraculously escaping horrors time after time, but having to deal with the results of their actions and the fallout that comes when a person of some consequence decides that they know best, and refuse to share secrets or knowledge needed by someone else. This tale shows their courage, pitting them against dangerous people and circumstances, forcing them to rely on each other and use their intelligence to solve puzzles large and small, all while growing into their new and unexpected destinies.
I would recommend this for any preteen or teen reader, or just those who want a little frisson without horror. A very good read.
December 30, 2009
Joni Sensel’s The Farwalker’s Quest has much to recommend it: a likable and engaging heroine, strong supporting characters and a satisfying theme of finding your mission in an intriguing but imperfect world. Ariel, her central character, is spunky, sometimes grumpy, but kind and empathic and intelligent as well. She lives in a future world in which technology has all but disappeared as the result of a cataclysmic war (even bicycles are mythical mechanisms!) and communication is limited between the small, village-bound communities. Part of what becomes Ariel’s mission is the discovery of “The Vault” a near-mythical place where it is hoped, the secrets of the lost technology may be found. In its development of this theme, the book reminded me of Peter Dickinson’s series from the 1970s (or 1960s?) called “The Changes” (including Children of the Devil, Heartsease and The Weathermonger) though Dickinson paints a darker world than Sensel. Sensel introduces several nasty villains – all excellently creepy – while Dickinson shows us a world of fear and ignorance, where ordinary people lose their critical powers and empathy. In contrast, most of the inhabitants of Sensel’s world are warmhearted though loath to adventure. The exception is Ariel, the Farwalker, who learns that she is to break through the parochialism and isolation of her world, bringing messages of hope to its inhabitants. She is joined in her quest by her friend Zeke, who, like her, discovers an unexpected gift, and the mysterious Scarl, who is nicely multi-faceted. The action can be violent at times; there is heartbreak, as well as heart-mending, and those who enjoy fantasy and adventure will doubtless embrace this imaginative story.
July 4, 2012
This was such a good, classic quest story and such a read. There's nothing flashy about this book, no vampires or romances or dystopian societies, but Sensel's solid writing and the touching characters that she creates in Ariel, Zeek, and Scarl shine through. Really for me this story was about the characters and the relationships between them. Sure, there's a quest that they must finish, riddles that they must solve, and obstacles that they must overcome, but what I loved was reading the emotions and interactions of Sensel's characters. The friendship between Zeek and Ariel is sweet, strong, and deep. The way that they support and encourage each other throughout the journey was such a refreshing change after so many YA romantic-interest-stories. And what held my attention the most was the relationship between Ariel and Scarl, who becomes a kind of father figure to her. Watching them learn to like and then trust each other, with many hitches along the way, was really wonderful.
Now, as for appeal, Ariel and Zeek are barely 13 years old. That and the absence of the elements, like romance, that traditionally appeal to older teens make this book well suited for tweens or younger teens. But, Ariel and Zeek do read a few years older than their 13 years - it is fantasy after all - and have both just taken the test that would move them into the realm of adulthood in their society. Ariel even mentions once that their quest has aged both of them, in appearance and in spirit, by at least two years. Those factors and the fact that many of the obstacles the band encounters are surprisingly - though satisfyingly - dark and dangerous, truly life-and-death and involving much emotional turmoil, would make this book a good read for older teens who like a good fantasy quest.
Now, as for appeal, Ariel and Zeek are barely 13 years old. That and the absence of the elements, like romance, that traditionally appeal to older teens make this book well suited for tweens or younger teens. But, Ariel and Zeek do read a few years older than their 13 years - it is fantasy after all - and have both just taken the test that would move them into the realm of adulthood in their society. Ariel even mentions once that their quest has aged both of them, in appearance and in spirit, by at least two years. Those factors and the fact that many of the obstacles the band encounters are surprisingly - though satisfyingly - dark and dangerous, truly life-and-death and involving much emotional turmoil, would make this book a good read for older teens who like a good fantasy quest.
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