Books like A Hero For WondLa

This book is very philisophical for a children's book. Its very environmentally oriented, yet it was also an easy enough read for me to devour it in 2 days. No kidding! DiTerlizzi captures readers with his vivid imagination and gorgeous illustrations! I think this is one of the first books I've read where a 12-year-old girl sounds, acts, gets angry, and thinks like a 12 year old. In so many other stories, the 12 year olds think like adults and perform superhuman actions. This book gives Eva a grand journey where you can feel the events change her. The best thing about this is her growth through listening. Many characters develop through actions. Eva grows by listening to other beings and her surroundings. Its a quiet, more passive development, but its just as strong as any other type of growth which occurs through events (fighting mythical creatures, battling evil wizards, being awakened, etc.). I think another human dynamic explore is how one's expectations shape their outlook. Eight expected things from Nine. Eva Nine expected a home with other humans at New Attica. The discovery of the reality of these expectations is what brought a lot of plot twists. Rovender is probably one of my favorite characters. He has the best lines, and he has a gentle grace about him. In the book, I enjoyed more exploration of what happened to humanity while at the same time DiTerlizzi still leaves many questions (just like his last book). I liked how the epilogue ended. And the creatures and fauna of Orbona are enchanting! I really like this world and this series. I eagerly await book three!