Beyond the Valley of Thorns (Review)

The sinister forces in Land of Elyon have not died away just yet, and it’s up to the young Alexa Daley to save the Land of Elyon and maintain peace. Beyond the Valley of Thorns, published in 2005 by Patrick Carman and Orchard Books is yet again full of thriving events. Suspense fills every moment of Alexa and her friends’ adventure, along with a very special surprise at the end! I believe that this book is even better than the first book since this adventure proves to be a greater challenge than the last book and the new characters are very interesting and well-described.

Alexa’s new adventure soon began after Yipes gave her an old envelope from Thomas Warvold. From there, she again ventured on to the Dark Hills, and gained the last Jocasta. Alexa’s companions and Alexa herself traveled west, far away from Bridewell only to discover their path, the Valley of Thorns, to be full of monstrous giants. With the help from the giant - Armon, Alexa and her friend navigated through the Valley of Thorns and arrived at an old clock tower. They formed new friends and contemplated a plan to overthrow the tenth Victor Grindall. But most importantly, they have to prevent Grindall and his master’s malicious plans to destroy Elyon and bring darkness to the Land of Elyon.

Although this book’s plot is not very complicated, there still includes an extraordinary astonishment in the end (which I cannot tell you). Most part of the book is simply just escaping difficulties and heading for safely, but there are some events where Alexa and others triumph in their battle against the giants. Moreover, Patrick Carman’s creative ideas result the events to be original. The characters are also intriguing, and their personalities are well-described by Carman. Although the events in the book move by quickly, but I think it fits along with the plot with the rhythm of rushing. The simplicity of Beyond the Valley of Thorns makes it all the more enjoyable.

Beyond the Valley of Thorns is another refreshing book with a simple plot containing a huge surprise. Alexa must travel beyond the Valley of Thorns to prevent Elyon of being destroyed. Carman’s descriptive characters again bring the book to life as if you were observing every movement of the adventure. Beyond the Valley of Thorns is an exceptionally unique book and I strongly recommend it for others to read – both adults and children.

Quotes (5) - Beyond the Valley of Thorns

“And then I heard a different noise. A strange noise. It was a faint, almost unnoticeable, knocking.

Knock, knock, knock.

I looked all around, then stood up with the book in my hand and leaned out the window to listen for the sound again.

Knock, knock, knock.

Louder now, but not form outside. I turned and faced the shelves of books and remained very still.

Knock, knock, knock.

The book I held slipped out of my hand and fell to the floor with a pop. I remained motionless, not even breathing.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound was coming from behind my chair, from the other side of the secret door.”

-pg. 10, Beyond the Valley of Thorns

This quote added more suspense each time with the "knock, knock, knock" until the last sentence. It quickly grabbed my attention. I wanted to find out who's behind the secret door, and why. It's well written and used to grab the readers' attention.

“’Murphy the brave, at your disposal!’ said the squirrel on my back.”

-pg. 34, Beyond the Valley of Thorns

Somehow, I imagined Murphy, the lively squirrel that cannot sit still for one minute, to be jumping up and down instead of just saying it on Alexa's back since Murphy must be very hyper to talk to Alexa again! Patrick Carman added a bit of humor into the words that Murphy said. It seems like Murphy wants to be a little special helper to Alexa!

“’It’s your decision, Alexa,’ said John. ‘Either way, we have to be moving along. We can’t stay here any longer.’

My hand instinctively went to the leather pouch around my neck, and I felt the Jocasta hidden inside. The last Jocasta. It was in my possession, and Warvold wanted it taken somewhere for some purpose. If I returned to Bridewell, that something would be left unfinished, with terrible consequences I couldn’t begin to understand.

‘Lead the way,’ I said to John.”

-pg. 41, Beyond the Valley of Thorns

Patrick Carman puts a series tone to the paragraphs above. It's a very difficult for Alexa to make as her decision would leads to unknown paths. I can understand that since I, too, have experienced those times. The author describes Alexa's thoughts in such way that I feel Alexa is the "chosen one". The words "The last Jocasta" emphasize how special she is to be the owner of an item that is extremely significant.

“‘There is one way that almost always works,” said Yipes, and then he knelt down next to Murphy and looked at us as if he were about to do something underhanded.

‘How is the nut?’ he asked.

‘Fine, thank you,’ said Murphy, though Yipes only heard him squeaking.

‘I’m so glad you’re enjoying it.’

Just then Yipes tapped Murphy upon the head, ran his hand along his back, and grabbed hold of his tail.

There is one thing a squirrel cannot stand, and Yipes had just perpetrated it on our little friend. Instinct will send a squirrel caught by the tail into a fit of biting scratching, and screaming, and Yipes was well aware of this. He quickly moved out in to the open, away from the bushes, and began swimming Murphy in circles over his head, which kept the sharp teeth from whipping around and finding his forearm. All the while Murphy was screaming his head off, and though this was not the loudest sound one might hear, a hawk has exceptional hearing (not to mention outstanding sight), and Squire dived into the ravine looking for a trapped squirrel almost immediately.

As soon as Squire started for us, Yipes stopped spinning Murphy, crouched near the ground, and let go of his tail. Murphy rolled several times and landed punch-drunk on his feet in the wide open. He wobbled back and forth and then fell on his side, the twirling having dizzied his mind.”

-pg. 76-77, Beyond the Valley of Thorns

I find this quote so hilarious that I had to chuckle. Murphy being so innocent yet tortured by Yipes so badly. When the author describes Yipes swinging Murphy, I imagine Murphy's teeth jutting out. And when he finally reached the ground, I think of stars around his head, and his eyes going in circles. However, without Patrick Carman's vivid description of the events, the event might as well be dull.

“Armon sat down among us and gathered his thoughts to speak a final time about the tins of the past. While he considered what to say, I watched the night sky with its countless stars and its moon, and I wondered about the universe and all that had been created, why the stars and the moon rose at night and the sun in the day, how vast it must be, how I could never understand the infinite measure of its size.”

-pg. 101, Beyond the Valley of Thorns

This paragraph shows Alexa's curiosity of the strange land and the history of where she travels now. It also leads the reader to really ponder about how big The Land of Elyon is. I thought of two possibilities:

1. Everything is controlled by Elyon, the creater of The Land of Elyon

2. The Land of Elyon is just like the Earth with itself rotating around the Sun, and moons rotating around the Land of Elyon.