Anatopsis [Hardcover]

Chris Abouzeid (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Princess Anatopsis Solomon wants to be a knight-errant. But hermother, chairwoman of Amalgamated Witchcraft Corporation, plans for her immortal daughter to take over the family business. The Queen has even hired a new tutor: a demigod named Mr. Pound. But Mr. Pound’s plans go far beyond completing Ana’s education. He is searching for the mysterious and powerful Os Divinitas. And if he finds it, nothing will survive. A shocking and powerful gift will catapult the Princess into an unlikely quest through the rich worlds of Anatopsis, inhabited by magic immortals, a rebel army, and the last dog in the Universe.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up–Anatopsis, daughter of Queen Solomon, the chairwoman of Amalgamated Witchcraft Corporation, is a witch and an immortal. She wants to use her magical talents to become a knight-errant like her father, instead of following in her mothers footsteps. In preparation for her Bacchanalian examinations, which come on her 14th birthday, two new figures enter her life–Mr. Pound, who has tutored generations of Anas family, and Prince Barnaby Georges, the son of King Georges, the Queens main competitor. Ana soon becomes aware of mysteries connected to Mr. Pound and his search for the Os Divinitas, a wishbone-shaped magical artifact, and the answer to a mysterious riddle. As Ana, Barnaby, and her human companion, Clarissa, try to understand Mr. Pounds quest, they travel through slums, factories, and dungeons, learning about the inequities in the immortal and mortal worlds. Ana comes to understand both her own power and the world around her, leading her to make a choice that will affect the future. Characters are clearly drawn, with their own roles to play in the storys development. Readers will laugh–and maybe even cry–along with Anatopsis, while learning along with her about wishes and what it means to be human. A smooth progression from beginning to startling conclusion will draw even reluctant readers into this unusual fantasy and its fully realized world.–Beth L. Meister, Pleasant View Elementary School, Franklin, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Chris Abouzeid is an award-winning short story writer whose work has been published in such journals as New England Review and Epoch. He lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (March 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525475834
• ISBN-13: 978-0525475835
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,531,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Since most of my published work has been for an adult literary audience, you may be wondering what I'm doing writing fantasy novels for kids. Well, children's books--especially fantasy--are my first love. Ask any bookstore owner in my area: they'll tell you I spend most of my time and money in the Children's/Young Adult section. And my all-time favorite books are still the ones that come with Newberry Medals, swords, dogs, magicians or ships on the covers.

ANATOPSIS is the first novel I ever wrote. I started it more than 20 years ago, and my goal, at the time, was just to see if I could finish it. The first version was 600 pages long and, by any measure of literature, unpublishable. So, while I was recovering from my disappointment and trying to rewrite the book, I took the opportunity to do what every struggling writer does: work at a lot of different jobs so that I could list them on the back flap of my books some day.

Here is the list, for those of you who are curious: store clerk, teacher, children's magazine editor, production manager at a sailing magazine, secretary, telecommunications programmer, web consultant, Director of Information Systems for an on-line music company, and most recently, Java developer. Oh, and for a few years, I was also guitarist and vocalist for the Beatles tribute band, HELP!

Now I'm writing pretty much full-time. I live in a nice house with my wonderful, supportive, and extremely patient wife (who also, by the way, is a published author and a fantastic writer) and my 2 children, who are equally wonderful but not quite as patient. I like to tell my kids a lot of stories, and they seem to enjoy them. But when I pick up my guitar, they leave the room, because, as my daughter once said, "Daddy's singing doesn't taste good."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Funny and just a great read, March 4, 2006

By 

A. Galante (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anatopsis (Hardcover)

I am a longtime fan of young adult books, especially ones with a fantasy theme. This one will go on my list of books I want to share - it was so much fun! Anatopsis starts out as a typically self-interested teen,treating her best friend Clarissa like a servant - ok, she is her maid, but still! When Barnaby and Uno come into the castle, Ana becomes someone you can really care about. By the end of the book, I was having trouble deciding which of the four friends was my favorite. Uno (a great big talking shaggy dog) is hilariously sarcastic, but they each have a place in my heart. Possibly the best thing about this book is that it has a real plot with an ending that is not pat or completely happy. I think I'll wait a few months and read it again!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic Crossed with Science Fiction and Environmentalism, April 23, 2006

By 

Jennifer Robinson "Editor of Jen Robinson's B... (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anatopsis (Hardcover)

Anatopsis is a cross between traditional fantasy and futuristic science fiction, with dashes of mythology and environmentalism thrown in. It's the story of Ana (full name Anatopsis), an Immortal princess who lives in a magical castle on the only island left on Earth capable of sustaining life. Ana's mother, Queen Abigail, is a witch descended from a long line of witches, and is also the chairperson of Amalgamated Witchcraft Corporation. Queen Abigail's sworn enemy is the Warlock King Archibald Georges, head of a rival witchcraft corporation.

As the story begins, Ana learns that she is to have a new tutor for the next year, the demi-god Mr. Pound, and that her classes will be shared with Prince Barnaby Georges (son of her mother's enemy). Ana is supposed to learn with Barnaby, but never to befriend him. Barnaby is a rather hapless boy with very limited magical skills, though he does have some non-magical mechanical ability.

Ana and her best friend/chambermaid, Clarissa (a mortal), initially delight in tormenting Barnaby and his talking dog, Uno. However, as dark events start to occur in the castle, the three children and Uno bond together. By the time circumstances separate them again, their loyalties are firm. This is helped by the fact that Ana's mother and Barnaby's father are both rather harsh and dictatorial.

Ana, Barnaby, Clarissa, and Uno must solve a puzzle related to the mythological division of the human race into mortal vs. immortal, non-magical vs. magical. This division is clearly presented throughout the book, with the mortals portrayed as exploited victims of the immortals (though they are victims who quietly fight back). The mortals live in the toxic environment of the ghetto, while the immortals have access to a magical purification system that keeps their part of the world pleasant.

There are a lot of things to like about this book. I particularly enjoyed the mix of magic and science fiction. For example, Barnaby interns for a time in the offices of the Amalgamated Witchcraft Corporation, and learns of the mysterious and high tech things that go on there behind the scenes. I also liked the fact that the two main characters are rebels, each in their own way, who disappoint their powerful parents. The character of Ana is especially well-drawn. There's also a section of the book that's written in short, alternating passages, reflecting the different experiences of Barnaby and Ana during a time that they're separated, and I found the technique to be quite gripping. The rules regarding magic and the environment are detailed and consistent throughout the book. The ending is satisfying, pulling together various strands of plot into one inevitable confrontation and series of consequences.

Overall, I think that Anatopsis will please fans of middle-grade fantasy novels, especially those who struggle under the burden of parental expectations, or who want a touch of science fiction thrown in.

This review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on April 23rd, 2006.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully witty, March 6, 2006

By 

Mabel (NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anatopsis (Hardcover)

A friend's mom recommended this book to me, and although I'm a college student and long past the age when I gravitate towards the young adult section at a bookstore, I still found it to be a great read. It's a bit reminiscent of movies like Shrek, where kids love it just by virtue of it being great, and adults find the little witticisms and subtle ironies to be a comforting change from the somber fiction dominating the shelves today - it's absolutely enthralling!

Don't stop yourself from picking this up just because you're a bit older - it's a fantastic, funny, beautifully written read and I guarantee it'll be on your bookshelves for years to come!