The Jedera Adventure: 9 [Hardcover]

Lloyd Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 1989 | Age Level: 11 and up

Master storyteller Alexander uses a trip to the library to propel his plucky heroine Vesper Holly and her long-suffering guardian Brinnie into their fourth and most exotic adventure yet.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Often, when YA novelists allow their characters to venture into foreign climes, an exotic locale serves little purpose but as a quaint backdrop. But fortunately for readers, Alexander makes the most of any territory Vesper Holly sets out to conquer. In her latest escapade, Vesper and her loyal guardian Brinnie journey to the North African country of Jedera in order to return a book to the library in the remote desert city of Bel-Saaba. In the course of their journey, the intrepid Philadelphians are sold into slavery, rescued by a fierce, blue-skinned Tawarik warrior and reunited with old friends from The El Dorado Adventure . Not surprisingly, they are also reunited with an old nemesis, the fiendish Dr. Helvitius, the mastermind behind the nastiness they've unearthed, whom Vesper vanquishes (temporarily, no doubt). Once again, the author succeeds in combining impeccably paced adventure with a thoughtful, compassionate evocation of a foreign land. All Vesper Holly's adventures enhance American readers' perceptions of life outside their own country: in addition to being solid entertainment, the books have the power to create a host of well-informed armchair travelers. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10-- Number four in the Vesper Holly adventures, this time our always - intrepid heroine must return an overdue library book--a rare, valuable, very overdue library book--to the famed library at Bel-Saaba, in the North African country of Jedera. There's something here for everyone: a mysterious desert chieftain, a forbidden love, even an early flying machine. Following his formula in his own pleasant way, Alexander sees Vesper and her guardian Brinnie through encounters with slave traders, desert wars, and the evil Dr. Helvitius, Vesper's arch rival. As in the previous titles, Alexander does a nice job in giving a sense of reality to foreign (and fantastic) locations, filling them with "local" color. Light-hearted and breezy (although for more sophisticated readers because of the high reading level), this is easy to booktalk and sure to be popular with fans of the earlier Vesper Holly escapades. --Janice M. Del Negro, Chicago Public Library
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover: 16 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (April 27, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525444815
• ISBN-13: 978-0525444817
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,753,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Few writers have inspired as much affection and interest among readers young and old as Lloyd Alexander. At one point, however, it seemed unlikely that he would ever be a writer at all. His parents could not afford to send him to college. And so when a Philadelphia bank had an opening for a messenger boy, he went to work there. Finally, having saved some money, he quit and went to a local college. Dissatisfied with not having learned enough to be a writer he left at the end of one term. Adventure, he decided was the best way. The United States had already entered World War II. Convinced that here was a chance for real deeds of derring-do, he joined the army -- and was promptly shipped to Texas where he became, in disheartening succession an artilleryman, a cymbal player in the band, an organist in the post chapel, and a first-aid man. At last, he was assigned to a military intelligence center in Maryland. There he trained as a member of a combat team to be parachuted into France to work with the Resistance. "This, to my intense relief, did not happen," says Alexander. Instead, Alexander and his group sailed to Wales to finish their training. This ancient, rough-hewn country, with its castles, mountains, and its own beautiful language made a tremendous impression on him. But not until years later did he realize he had been given a glimpse of another enchanted kingdom. Alexander was sent to Alsace-Lorraine, the Rhineland, and southern Germany. When the war ended, he was assigned to a counterintelligence unit in Paris. Later he was discharged to attend the University of Paris. While a student he met a beautiful Parisian girl, Janine, and they soon married. Life abroad was fascinating, but eventually Alexander longed for home. The young couple went back to Drexel Hill, near Philadelphia, where Alexander wrote novel after novel which publishers unhesitatingly turned down. To earn his living, he worked as a cartoonist, advertising writer, layout artist, and associate editor for a small magazine. It took seven years of constant rejection before his first novel was at last published. During the next ten years, he wrote for adults. And then he began writing for young people.Doing historical research for Time Cat he discovered material on Welsh mythology. The result was The Book of Three and the other chronicles of Prydain, the imaginary kingdom being something like the enchanted land of Wales. In The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen Alexander explored yet another fantastic world. Evoking an atmosphere of ancient China, this unique multi-layered novel was critically acclaimed as one of his finest works. Trina Schart Hyman illustrated The Fortune-tellers as a Cameroonian folktale sparkling with vibrant images, keen insight and delicious wit. Most of the books have been written in the form of fantasy. But fantasy, Alexander believes, is merely one of many ways to express attitudes and feelings about real people, real human relationships and problems

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All Hail The Jedera Adventure!, January 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Jedera Adventure (Paperback)

The Jedera Adventure is my absolute favorite Vesper Holly book! It's Vesper Holly, the headstrong 18-year-old my friends and I adored when we read the series, back in her most exotic and one of her wildest adventures. It's been years since I read this in middle school but Vesper, Brinnie, Helvitius, Maleesh, Jenna, the Tawarik (including a blue-skinned chieftain called An-Jalil) still shine, along with all the cast of the Vesper Holly adventures. I recommend this series for anyone who likes adventures- with the occasional hint of romance.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the Vesper Adventures, October 24, 1999

By 

Gen (Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jedera Adventure (Paperback)

I've read all the Vesper Holly books (and ADORED each of them) but I'd have to say that this is my favorite. (Followed closely by the El Dorado adventure.) Fantastic plot, funny, exciting, and it gets even more clear that Helvetius is infauated with Vesper - a twist to the series that I found intriguing. I'd love to see a book in this series where they had to work together to solve some mysterious caper - but then I'd love to see another book in this series period. Amazing books, and this is the best.

3.0 out of 5 stars Not an extremly bad book..., March 26, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Jedera Adventure (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this book a year ago, and to be completly honest with you, I found it fairly boring. I don't think that it is a fast paced book like all the other readers say, but the writing is very good and that is why I gave it three stars. I would have liked it much better if it had been placed somewhere in the early 1900's but it was set in 1870 (or somewhere around there), and that time period dosen't interest me very much. I think the one thing it lacked was a an ancient ruin or and artifact, and if it had that, I probly would have loved it.On the back of the book, it says 'Look out Indiana Jones! Here comes Vesper Holly!' But personaly I thought the young Indiana Jones books were better. I do really like the character Vesper Holly, but she tends to get on my nerves. It's still a good book, but not as action filled as I would have liked.