Out Of Their Minds [Hardcover]

Carol Matas (Author), Perry Nodelman (Author)

Book Description

This is awful, Coren thought, panicking. Imagination is disappearing altogether! Everyone has gone berserk -- and there's nothing I can do about it. There's nothing that anyone can do about it!

Lenora and Coren are finally getting married at the court of Andilla, Coren's homeland, where everyone lives in their imagination. There's just one problem: The Andillans' powers aren't working, and clearly the wedding can't proceed when the sacred Balance is so out of whack. For the headstrong Lenora, this means a new adventure. She and a reluctant Coren head into the Andillan countryside, where they come across the Skwoes, who have absolutely no imagination whatsoever. Are they responsible for the Andillans' loss of power? Whatever the source, the problems are getting worse: Now even Lenora's ability to make her thoughts real is failing. What is more, Lenora has been having a series of nightmares about the evil Hevak. Something has to be done before all of the people in two kingdoms are completely out of their minds.

In this companion to the award-winning Of Two Minds and More Minds, Carol Matas and Perry Nodelman weave another hilarious fantasy adventure, full of romance, excitement, humor, and surprises.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-In this third fantasy of the sequence, Princess Lenora and Prince Coren journey to Coren's kingdom of Andilla to try, yet again, to have their wedding. Lenora, determined and aggressive, can change the world with the power of her imagination. Coren comes from a kingdom in which people choose to live in their minds and ignore the real world. As the couple approaches Andilla, they find that the people have lost their special powers. Something is upsetting The Balance, and the young couple must find out what it is. Could the evil Hevak be involved in another takeover plot? On their quest, Lenora and Coren encounter the Skwoes, uniformed clonelike people who have neither imagination nor emotion-the opposite of the court Andillans, in fact. The resolution-hard to attain since each of Lenora's solutions seems to create new problems-involves cooperation, communication, and community as the Skwoes and Andillans learn from one another. The book ends with a hint at another sequel. Lenora is a strong female protagonist, committed, albeit somewhat haphazardly, to making the world a better place. Several messages are delivered, some with wit, humor, and satire, others less successfully. Because the story and the sometimes convoluted thinking of the royal couple are difficult to follow, readers not familiar with Of Two Minds (1995) and More Minds (1996, both S & S) may be confused. However, dedicated fans of fantasy and those who have read the previous installments will appreciate this new episode.
Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; First Edition edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689819463
• ISBN-13: 978-0689819469
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #892,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I love these books!, April 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Out Of Their Minds (Hardcover)

I am giving this book 4 stars since it isn't as good as the first two but still a good book. I especially love how Matas & Nodelman brought back the characters Leni and Cori. These books are so cool and I hope they write more of them together, since they make such a great team.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More brain candy, January 15, 2000

By 

Jennifer Mo - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Out Of Their Minds (Hardcover)

Third in the Minds series (Of Two Minds, More Minds), Out of Their Minds continues the psychic adventures of Princess Lenora of Gepeth, who possesses the ability to make whatever she imagines come true, and Prince Coren of Andilla, who can read minds. About to be married in Andilla, where reality plays second fiddle to imagination, Coren and Lenora discover that all is not well. First Lenora starts having nightmares about her old nemesis Hevak. Then it is discovered that all the Andillians have lost their mental powers and are now forced to live in a crumbling and long-neglected reality. And then there are the Skwoes, the people with absolutely no imagination...

Out of Their Minds is a fun new installment in the series, but the plot is noticeably more derivative. Fewer new and intriguing ideas are brought up; the series appears to be running a little low on fuel. Hopefully the newest one, A Meeting of Minds, will be fresher. In the meantime, enjoy this one for what it's worth.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, October 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Out Of Their Minds (Hardcover)

This is one of the best books I have ever read! If you are looking for a follow up to Harry Potter, you got it right here. The whole trilogy keeps you on the edge of your seat and giggling the whole time!