Today is the second day of blog tour for North or Be Eaten, the second book in Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga.

I’m still reading the book. Enjoying it. I’ll give my review tomorrow.

For now…Andrew Peterson is one talented fellow. Becky over at A Christian Worldview of Fiction thinks he’s writing classics. She thinks the books are timeless and scratching universal itches. I’m not sure if I agree with her since I’ve not finished the book, yet. Since I know Becky is a big fan of theme, I’m guessing that there is going to be some important theme emerge from this book. I’ll weigh in on that tomorrow.

For now, I’ll just rave about his illustrations and imagination. One of the reasons these books are working for their target audience is that Peterson was a boy and he puts in all the boy stuff. There is all kinds of action–sword fights, arrows flying, desperate flight.

There is gross stuff–stinky slimy gunk and disgusting menu items.

And there are evil, vicious, dangerous creatures with dripping yellow fangs, and milky eyes. There are big creatures with big fists and little heads, and small creatures with sharp teeth and quills. 

Plenty of terror, disgusting goop, and action to keep the boys happy.

But the book, so far, is working for the old women, as well as for boys. The guy had me crying, already, and I’m not even a hundred pages in. I won’t give a spoiler but…it’s a great book that can make you laugh and cry.

OK I have to get back to reading it. I’ll leave you with my favorite line so far:

Trolls? A shiver of fear coursed through Janner. He had never seen a troll, though Pembrick’s Creaturepedia depicted several troll races, all of which were formidable and ghastly to behold.