Audiobook7 hours
Spark
Written by Sarah Beth Durst
Narrated by Eevin Hartsough
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
When a shy girl and her dragon-like companion discover their country's idyllic weather comes at a steep-and secret-cost, they recruit fellow students to defy authority and attempt to spread the truth. Storm beasts and their guardians create perfect weather every day, and Mina longs for a storm beast of her own. But when the gentle girl bonds with a lightning beast-a creature of fire and chaos-everyone's certain it's a mistake. Everyone but Mina and the beast himself, Pixit. Quickly enrolled in lightning school, Mina struggles to master a guardian's skills, and she discovers that her country's weather comes at a devastating cost-a cost powerful people wish to hide. Mina's never been the type to speak out, but someone has to tell the truth, and, with Pixit's help, she resolves to find a way to be heard.
Author
Sarah Beth Durst
Sarah Beth Durst is the author of fantasy novels for children, teens, and adults. Winner of the Mythopoeic Award and an ALA Alex Award and thrice nominated for the Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction, she lives in New York. Visit her at sarahbethdurst.com or on Twitter: @sarahbethdurst.
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Reviews for Spark
Rating: 4.4230768461538466 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
26 ratings4 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is the story of a quiet young girl named Mina who lives in Alloria where the weather is always perfect. It is kept perfect because of the bonding between children and storm beasts. Mina is one of the children who bonds with a storm beast. However, when her egg hatches into a lightning beast, her family is certain that some big mistake has been made. Lightning beasts need assertive, loud partners. Mina is certain that her lightning beast Pixit is just perfect for her but her family isn't at all used to listening to her and don't really listen when she tries to tell them. They love her but they don't really know her. When Mina and Pixit go off to be trained, Mina has her doubts too. All the other students are much more extroverted and boisterous than she is. Pixit is there to boost her confidence even when the skills Mina needs don't come easy to her. When a storm throws Mina and Pixit to the other side of the mountain that they have been forbidden to cross, Mina is surprised to learn the consequences of Alloria's weather control. The nearby country suffers from devastating storms that kill quite a few people. Mina is determined to change things in her country. She needs to find her voice and convince the grown-ups who run things that they have to change their ways. It is wonderful to watch Mina as she learns that you don't have to be loud to have good ideas and that even quiet people can cause major changes. This was an engaging middle grade fantasy with wonderful, well-developed characters and a message that was clear but that didn't overwhelm the story. I loved the worldbuilding and the storm beasts who bonded with their selected humans.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Straight up fantasy with weather beasts and a young girl who is quiet but full of strong and interesting ideas. I loved watching Mina's growth in confidence, and I enjoyed the magic-school aspect, where kids learn to work with their different weather beasts. There were times when I wanted Mina to be less self-doubting, but it's a fast read, and that is the point of the story, so that is a very minor criticism. Pixit's derpy nature is also just completely endearing, and the other kids wide acceptance of Mina's different style is refreshing in a type of book (middle grade) that so often focuses on bullying. Interesting world, and a nice subversive handbook on how to take action to make the world a better place.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Charming story, with lovable dragons and Durst's trademark gorgeous descriptions.
If you love action/suspense, this book might not be for you. The focus is on Mina's journey through internal conflicts, and the external threats only appear more than halfway through. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I got a copy of this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. I have been reading so many amazing books lately I have really felt lucky. I have enjoyed a lot of Durst’s books in the past and was excited to see a new middle grade book from her. This ended up being an incredibly fun fantasy read.Mina has been bonding with her storm beast egg for the last two years and is super excited when hatching time approaches. However when Pixit emerges as a lightening beast everyone is confused. How can quiet careful Mina end up with a storm beast known for chaos and excitement? How will Mina ever fit in with the other lightening beast trainees, who are all energy and chaos themselves?This was a wonderful read. There is a lot of humor in here and I loved the storm beasts as well. The book is fast-paced, fun, but still meaningful and engaging.The dynamics between Mina and her family and then Mina and her classmates were very well done. They are fun and loving, yet still face some challenges. Of course, I also loved the storm beasts. Pixit was amazing and I would love to have a storm beast of my own!I loved how Mina was quiet and thoughtful but was still able to really dig in and make change happen. It was nice that this wasn’t a book where a quiet person learned to be loud, but rather a book where a quiet person was able to make change in her own way.Overall, this is a great read for all ages. I think kids of all ages as well as adults will really enjoy this. Boys and girls will most likely enjoy this equally as well, even though the main character is a girl, my twelve year old son is really loving this book. Highly recommended.