I had a chance to review this book, written for grades 2-6. My slightly-older daughter really enjoyed the story - she likes fantasy, and loves mythology, so she was drawn in to the world created by Alane Adams. As an adult reader, the book was obviously somewhat less complex than a richer fantasy world, but for middle grade readers it's great - introducing themes of friendship and loyalty, doing what's right even when it's hard. The ending also left itself very open to future installments. It's a great, quick read for avid young fantasy readers, and an engaging read that is still accessible for reluctant readers.
I had a chance to post this interview to learn more.
Where did you get the idea for Book 3?
Since Witch Wars is part of a series, the previous book helps shape the next story idea. As the conflict is resolved in one book, the actions the characters take tend to lead to another problem arising. Thus at the end of The Rubicus Prophecy, Abigail and Hugo fight to save their friend Robert, but Odin’s Stone is destroyed and the evil Vertulious is fully restored, leading to the threat of war in book three. Witch Wars forces them to try to fix the problems they created in Rubicus, but triggers its own set of problems leading to the set-up for book four! Also, after having written five books around Norse mythology, I finally decided it was time to let the ever-popular Thor play a role in the story!
Why did you decide to weave in Norse mythology into this series?
When I first started writing children’s books, it was to please my son who was a huge fan of series that dealt with mythology. At the time, there weren’t any children’s books dealing with Norse mythology, and as a huge fan of the Lord of The Rings series growing up, it seemed a natural fit for the kind of writing that I wanted to do. The nice part about my Orkney series is the mythology is woven into but it is not the only magic in the story, given the abundance of witches, and the focus is not on the gods and goddesses themselves, but on the magical realm of Orkney.
Can you share a little bit about your partnership with Rise Up Foundation?
I founded the Rise Up Foundation in 2008 when I stepped away from a family business and began pursuing ways in which I could use my time and talents to make a difference in the world. The foundation focuses on children’s literacy as its core impact and supports teachers and classrooms around the country with grants, school supplies, and new books. I am also able to use my children’s books as a platform to visit schools and give author talks that focus on the importance of reading, and getting children hooked on the magic of how books are written. So far I’ve visited over 300 schools in thirty states, seeing over 100,000 students.
Why is it so important to have early and continued access to engaging books?
Reading is an often-unappreciated skill! There is such a world of difference between reading a book and watching a movie. So often people think they know a story from the movie, but the experience of reading is completely different. As I tell kids in my talks, authors invite you into the character’s point of view, allowing you to not only read their thoughts but know their every emotion, every pain, every lie, every doubt and insecurity. It’s one of the only times we can really imagine what it is like to be someone else, and it not only teaches us empathy, but allows us to experience first-hand the problem-solving process as the characters struggle to achieve their happy ending. To capture children’s interest today in this saturated media-filled world, books must continue to engage their imagination and offer them diverse characters that they can see themselves in.
Alane Adams is founder of Rise Up Foundation, dedicated to providing support to classrooms across the country by donating toward literacy projects targeting high-poverty inner-city and rural schools. In just the last few years, the foundation has donated over $650,000 in grants, classroom supplies, new books, and other funding to schools and teachers in need, including recent COVID-19 related relief efforts. More about her efforts below my signature. I look forward to hearing from you!
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