Customer Reviews

The Land Beyond the Clouds

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I read this story I felt transported back to that place of wonderment, where everything is new and fresh and open. Very few books have the ability to take you to that special place. I think this book is going to become a classic.

This is a wonderful story that captures the imagination and emotions. It's filled with laughter and suspense that creates and environment of wonder and eager anticipation of what might come next. It's going to every teen-ager and young adult I know.

I was given this book as a gift and my five year old daughter and I read it every night as a bedtime story. She would wake up in the morning asking about Anna and what happened next. This was our first non-picture book. I love the story and the lessons as well as wisdom that is so elegantly and simply written.

After having read THE LAND BEYOND THE CLOUDS a few times now, I will never again be afraid to climb Jacob's Ladder. Each chapter of this book, written skillfully, with sage tidbits tossed in for flavor, became a subtle, unconscious mantra for me as I tagged along for the ride..."One rung at a time. If Anna (the novel's heroic protagonist) can do it, so can I." Every time I neared the last few pages of this book, two, I mean, three things happened:

1. I rooted for Anna to bravely continue on her quest to discover
2. I was reminded and motivated to take more risks in life
3. I wanted Anna to keep going, because I ended up caring for her and I didn't want her story to finish

For young readers, middle-graders, teens and adults; I heartily recommend Valerie Bishop's inspiring expedition with words to anyone who longs to find their way home.

I read this book to my 7 year old nephew over a year ago... and he's been talking about it ever since. In fact to practice reading he LOVES using this book. He asked me to read it with him again when he is visiting over the Holidays. Highly recommended!

I'm reluctant to brand this book as educational, because that might call to mind a stuffy story of shoulds and shouldn'ts, yet THE LAND BEYOND THE CLOUDS is educational indeed. This fun (and sometimes scary) romp through the various lands above Jacob's Ladder shows us that we may face our challenges or hide from them, but only when we face them do we step through our perceived limitations. Ignore all that, though. Read Valerie Bishop's book for the sheer fun of it. If you learn something along the way - well, consider it a side benefit.
I loved Merlin, the sneakered and bespectacled giant sea turtle who served as the Transport Director, who sent Anna (a feisty young girl, indeed) and Tedith (her beloved teddy bear turned alive) off into the various realms of THE LAND BEYOND THE CLOUDS. At each stop Anna learned to confront obstacles, and grew through that learning.
Can't wait to read this to my grandchildren.

What an empowering adventure - I really enjoyed Anna's journey and see this as a universal story that can be shared with many of any age. Positive life skills are so artfully woven into a compelling what-happens-next kind of story for young readers - if only I had read it when I was 10. Bravo!

Once I started reading this book I didn't want to put it down. It was exciting.funny, magical, and profound. I took my own journey as I followed Anna on hers. I laughed with Odin's wisdom. I faced my fears with Donovan. I rooted for Anna and Tedith all the while. I found this book to be sweet, empowering, and delightful, a book not only for children
but for the child in us all.