The Ever Breath [Hardcover]

Julianna Baggott (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Follow the secret passageway . . . and discover the magic!

In a world where locust fairies flutter and firebreathers burst from snowbanks, two children are having the adventure of their lives. Truman and his twin sister, Camille, have just met their grandmother . . . and she’s a little strange. She whispers a tale about something called the Ever Breath, an amber orb that maintains the balance between our world and a dreamy one of imagination—and evil.

Soon Truman and Camille find themselves in the Breath World, a magical place where ogres clash and a mouse holds the key to a mystery. Some creatures want to help them—and some want them D-E-A-D. That’s because the Ever Breath has been stolen, and an epic battle is raging to bring it safely back. Can the twins save not only one world—but two?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—Baggott, who also writes under the name N.E. Bode, introduces twins Camille and Truman. She exudes health while he suffers from every imaginable allergy. The siblings visit their Grandmother Swelda, whom they had not seen since they were babies, and discover her role as gatekeeper to the magical "Breath World." Armed with seeing snow globes, the twins leave our "Fixed World" and enter the Breath World via a basement portal. Once there, magical creatures assist their efforts to restore a stolen stone to the portal, thus reestablishing equilibrium between the worlds. The last page indicates that sequels may follow. Baggott's imagination never falters, but her storytelling goes awry. The constant entrance of various magical creatures negates true character development, especially in a novel of this length. Thus, most episodes feel hasty. As each character appears, subplots emerge that remain undeveloped. Readers might want to know more about ogres, bog people, or the role of the Office of Official Affairs, but Baggott's tale does not permit that explication. Dialogue is often confusing. At one point, Swelda fails to answer a question and then goes off on an unrelated tangent. A continuity error toward the end may also cause reader puzzlement. While children might relish the magical circus, Anna Dale's Spellbound (Bloomsbury, 2008) and Mark Jean and Christopher C. Carlson's Puddlejumpers (Hyperion, 2008) provide better forays into fantasy.—Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT
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About the Author

Julianna Baggott is the author of several novels including the Anybodies trilogy, written under the name N. E. Bode, which People Magazine described as “Potter-style magic meets Snicket-y irreverence,” and her work has appeared in dozens of publications. Learn more about her at www.juliannabaggott.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (December 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385737610
• ISBN-13: 978-0385737616
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.9 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,525,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Critically acclaimed, bestselling author, Julianna Baggott -- who also writes under the pen names Bridget Asher (The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted) and N.E. Bode (The Anybodies) -- has published 17 books, including novels for adults, younger readers, and collections of poetry. Her latest novel, PURE, is the first of a trilogy; film rights have sold to Fox2000 -- www.pure-book.com. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Best American Poetry, Best Creative Nonfiction, Real Simple, on NPR.org, as well as read on NPR's "Talk of the Nation" and "Here and Now." Her novels have been book-pick selections by People Magazine's summer reading, Washington Post book-of-the-week, a Booksense selection, a Boston Herald Book Club selection, and a Kirkus Best Books of the Year list. Her novels have been published in over 50 overseas editions. She's a professor in the Creative Writing Program at Florida State University and the founder of the nonprofit Kids in Need - Books in Deed. For more, visit www.juliannabaggott.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Everbreath is an amazing adventure! Two thumbs way up!, February 22, 2010

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Ever Breath (Hardcover)

This tale begins with a quote: "The universe is made of stories, not atoms." This statement is certainly true. From the first page, Baggott takes the reader on a magical journey through both the Breath World and the Fixed World. It is written with such vivid description. It seems as if you actually are creeping through the tunnel with Truman or flying in the vulture's claws. The Everbreath is a smiliar genre as her other book The Slippery Map. The are both comprised of similar story elements. A boy travels to an alternate world and meets many magical creatures, such as fire-breathers, dragons, and mewlers which are half-human cats. Truman embarks on a quest to restore balance to the worlds and save a parent from demise. Truman's twin, Camille, reminds me of Grace O'Hara from Cryptid Hunters by Roland smith. All in all, I really enjoyed reading thie book and I hope other people who have read The Anybodies four times think so, too. (I mean it!) Katherine age 10


The Ever Breath is a great fantasy book! It is the best children's book that I have ever read! The Ever Breath teaches us a very important lesson- Don't ever give up! When things are hard, no one ever gives up. No matter what, they keep trying. I like The Ever Breath because it is exciting You never know what is going to happen next. I just could not put it down. It's like a thrill ride! It has action, adventure, magic, and most important friendship. Even if you are not big on fairies and creatures, you'll want to read this book! It has something for everyone! Angeline age 10


The Ever Breath is one of the best fantasy adventures I've ever read! It is not only a fantasy book, but it teaches you something. I learned that family is alwys with you and will love you forever no matter what. I liked The Ever Breath because it is filled with action and adventure. It is suspenseful at the end of every chapter. It is so descriptive that I felt like I was part of the story. I would recommend this book for kids ages 9-12. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Vicky age 10


The Ever Breath may sound like it may be boring, but you are wrong! It is very exciting! If you like science fiction, then this book is for you! The book also teaches us that even in the midst of evil, good things can happen! I liked it becuase it contained scary creatures and exciting adventures. almost every chapter made me want to read more. Baggott describes the characters extremely well. I felt like I was on the mission, too! The Everbreath is a great book! It's your turn to read it! Hannah age 10

The Ever Breath was an absolutely amazing book! After I read the first chapter, I couldn't put the book down! Baggott put so much description and detail in this. I could see a perfect image in my head! It was absolutely incredible! Now Baggott has gotten me excited about fantasy, dark magic, and has even inspired me to write my own story! I am dying to read her next book that comes out in the fall 2010. If I had to rate this book from 0-10, I would give it a 9.7. Overall, the book was astounding and I give it two thumbs way up! Libby age 10

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shows great imagination with a magical world and an adventurous tale with brave young heroes, February 1, 2010

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ever Breath (Hardcover)

Truman Cragmeal and his twin sister, Camille, go to stay with their odd Grandma Swelda over the holidays. Things haven't been right at home after their father disappeared a month ago. Their mother needs to work extra hours, and leaving the twins with their grandmother --- even though they haven't seen her since they were very young --- seems like a natural choice. What Truman and Camille would never guess is that their grandmother is more than just odd. She holds the secrets to a magical world --- and now, more than ever, she needs their help.

Grandma Swelda is strange. She's shorter than short and wears a lumpy, poorly knit woolen hat. "But the most striking thing about their grandmother was her glasses; one of the lenses was completely normal but the other was covered by a shiny black plastic cap." And that's only the start. Her house contains oddities that she calls "imports from distant lands." There's an actual tree growing through the floorboards and books on shelves titled DENDROLOGY: A Gramarye's Dictionary of Terms and Best Practices and THE BREATH WORLD: A Complete History.

The twins learn from their grandma that she, too, is a twin, but her sister stayed behind in their homeland. She also tells them a strange story while they feast on all sorts of exotic and delicious foods --- none of which miraculously bother Truman's long list of allergies. She calls it a "tasting tale" and says, "This is the Fixed World. The world we live in now. And the other world was named the Breath World. Those in the Breath World felt cast out...so a stone to control the balance and flow between the two worlds was placed in their world. A stone called the Ever Breath --- an amber orb with a breath embedded in the very center." If the Ever Breath is removed from where it belongs, the two worlds will close up the passageway between them.

Grandma Swelda has more surprises for the twins: she gives them each a glass snow globe that reveals odd scenes within them. During his first night at his grandmother's, Truman can't sleep. He takes his snow globe with him and decides to explore the house. When he is accidentally locked outside the house by Swelda's pesky pet, Truman tries to find his way back inside, but instead he uncovers a secret passageway and a strange talking cat-like creature called a mewler. Thus, Truman's adventure in the Breath World has begun. And when Camille begins searching for her brother, she stumbles into the Breath World soon after.

In THE EVER BREATH, Truman and Camille learn that Grandma Swelda's odd tale isn't just a story --- it's real. The magical stone (the Ever Breath) that holds the balance between the two worlds has gone missing, and it's up to Truman and his sister to find it and save two worlds: the Breath World and the Fixed World. With the help of quirky, magical creatures and their snow globes --- which have more powers than they first realized --- do they have what it takes to save the day and find their father along the way?

Author Julianna Baggott has penned many books for both adults and young readers. THE EVER BREATH shows great imagination with a magical world and an adventurous tale with brave young heroes. A sequel is indicated at the end of the book, so hold on to your snow globes for another adventure!

--- Reviewed by Kristi Olson

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Kind of a mish mash but still lots of imaginative fun!, April 1, 2010

By 

J. Prather (IN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ever Breath (Hardcover)

Twins Truman and Camille are off to visit their grandmother who they haven't seen since they were babies. Turns out she's an odd little woman who lives in an old house in the middle of a golf course. Like most grandmothers, she turns out to be a bit magical and introduces her grandchildren to the breath world; a world filled with every magical creature ever conceived by our world - the "fixed world". Grandma is the guardian of the passage between the two worlds and it turns out our twins are the only two that can save the "ever breath" - the magical orb that has been stolen and which keeps the passage open between the two worlds.

There's lots of fantastic imagery here; there are a myriad of wonderful creatures that will enchant every reader, however I didn't find the story as compelling as it should have been. This is a classic quest tale, but I think the author just shoved so much in here that at times it became a bit confusing. I really appreciate a well developed character and I wish the author would have spent some more time with Truman and Camille. I know this is the first book in a series so I hope the author continues to do more with her characters - she has created such a lush environment for this tale, I fully expect the actual story will sharpen up a bit as the series moves along.

There's plenty here for fantasy loving kids to enjoy, so pass it along to your favorite 4 through 6 grader. I look forward to seeing where the next book goes since there's a deliciously evil character that we meet at the end of this one that I'm sure will liven up the next installment.