The Golden Tree (Guardians of Ga'hoole, Book 12) (Paperback)

by Kathryn Lasky (Author)
Key Phrases: spotted owl, sacred watch, coronation teacup, Madame Plonk, Trader Mags, Pure Ones (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Coryn, Soren, and the Band preside over a new Golden Age of the Great Tree under the subtle influence of the Ember. All seems well, but beneath the prosperity of peace Coryn is tortured by the suspicion that his evil mother, Nyra, is a hagsfiend and that his own blood carries the haggish taint. He wanders afar searching for the truth from hagsfiends themselves - putting the Great Tree in danger. Soren & the Band follow their new king to strange parts to guard him from the consequences of his obsession.

About the Author
KATHRYN LASKY has written many award-winning books, both fiction and nonfiction. She has two grown children and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic; Reissue edition (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439888069
• ISBN-13: 978-0439888066
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #147,203 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, February 10, 2007

A Kid's Review

There was a nearly six-month lapse between "To Be a King" and "The Golden Tree," and I was not disappointed by this 12th installment of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series.

A brief summary: The Great Ga'Hoole Tree is glowing gold from the Ember of Hoole's influence, and the Island of Hoole has entered a state of perpetual summer. But after King Coryn and the Band leave the tree, Otulissa soon discovers that all that's gold is not necessarily good. The Ember enthralls the owls of Ga'Hoole, and many of them begin to act strangely, especially Gemma the Whiskered Screech Owl and Elyan the Great Gray Owl. When this strange behavior goes too far, it becomes clear that someone must get word out to the king and the Band.

"The Golden Tree" is suspenseful, and interlaced with the excitement and quality I've long since come to expect of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. Fans of the books will not be disappointed, and the cliffhanger at the end will leave them looking forward to Book 13, "The River of Wind," set for release by July 1st. All in all, a fantastic read!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Golden Tree Reviewed By: Blythe&Basha&Bell, February 8, 2007

A Kid's Review

I LOVED LOVED LOVED the Golden Tree!! It was a big relief after the three legends. I had missed the original characters from books 1-6 (Soren, Gylfie, Twilight, Digger, & Otulissa) and the character from books 7-8 (Coryn/Nyroc) In this book, they make a full comback. Well, the book opens with Soren and the Band playing in the wind currents near the Great Tree, which for some time had retained a summer-like golden glow, which Soren found slightly unnerving. Coryn, however, is in his own hollow brooding over the ember with his firesight. He has, ever since reading the first legend, been questioning his lineage, for he suspected Nyra, his mother, to be a hagsfiend, which would mean his own blood carried the haggish taint. Well, in the middle of the first chapter, we finally (FINALLY) find out that Soren's eggs had (have?) hatched and his daughters names are Sebastiana (Basha for short), Blythe, and Bell. They are not in this book dialogue wise, and neither are Pelli and Eglantine. I dont want to give anything away, but one of my favourite chapters was The Book, The Battle, & The Band. Let me point out, this book would be rather confusing for someone who had nver read any Ga'Hoole book or even someone who had read all except for the Legends (9, 10, 11). It contains a lot of references from the Legends and reverts back to a lot of Coryn's past aquantices from books 7 and 8. Like the web-reading rabbit with no name, Gyllbane, her son Cody, Hamish, Styngyll and Slynella. The book ends kind of on a cliffie, and sets the stage for book 13 - The River of Wind, which comes out July 1st, 2007. I will end this review by saying this -- its good to have the Band back!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Great Read!, September 4, 2007

By	BookWyrm - See all my reviews

This book was great! I really enjoyed reading this book.

In the Golden Tree, The Band and the young King Coryn leave the tree. The ember that Coryn retrieved has made the Island of Hoole in an everlasting summer, where everything is golden, even in the time of the white rain. Otulissa stays behind, and finds that not everything is golden there. Two owls become obsessed, and come up with crazy rituals and performances. The time at the Great Tree is an unfortunate one. Someone must get word to the Band, but who?

I have to say, my favorite part was either the big battle or the part with Madam Plonk. I think that everyone will be happy with this suspenseful and exciting book.