Exciting, well-rounded eco-fantasy with some animal peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
A few deaths in skirmishes with swords, spears, knives, arrows, and magic -- one death by stabbing is heavily mourned. One death from an explosion. A few scenes describe animals in distress. Some are in cages and have clearly been mistreated and one animal dies, shot with an arrow; but most injured animals are rescued and healed with the help of the magical kids. A kid escapes after being kidnapped and continues to be pursued and threatened by his kidnappers. Three near-drownings. Repeated discussion of the loss of family: Max's mom was killed and Daisy's mom has been kidnapped. Talk of many Botanists killed after they were kidnapped. Max spent two years sick in hospitals when he was younger. General distress over the state of the environment and how time is running out to save wild places.
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Adults drink ale, champagne, and wine at get-togethers and celebrations and spiked tea at tea time. Kids are given fizzy pink lemonade. An official smokes a "foul-smelling cigar."
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Daisy is half-Persian, half-English and grew up speaking Farsi with her mom. The Prof is Black, as shown in the illustrations. Indigo is South American with golden-brown skin. Rozaliya, the wardrobe mistress, is Russian. Botanists joining Greenwild to fight against the Grim Reapers are from France, Italy, Japan, and India. Two women aboard the Nautilus are a couple with a toddler. Women hold positions of power: Daisy's grandma Artemis is commander of Mallowmarsh and a Duchess is the head of Iffenwild. Daisy and Max were both raised by a single parent and Alexei, the captain, raises his infant daughter alone after losing his wife.
A reminder of how important it is that everyone work together to combat climate change -- we all share a planet. Human greed is shown as the biggest threat to our planet, and next to that, inaction. Compassion, courage, perseverance, and a belief in the magic of the natural world are essential in the fight against greed and apathy.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Daisy and her friends Prof and Indigo show courage and perseverance both against the cruel Grim Reapers and the adults in power who don't want to listen. They break a lot of rules and get into plenty of trouble, but it's all for an important cause -- Greenwild is counting on them. They're also great at teamwork, using their diverse skills to plan and solve problems together. Max deals with the loss of his mother at first by lashing out, but learns to be part of a team with his new friends and builds trust in his own magic and abilities.
Educational Value
a little
Many details about the plot, characters, and staging of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Discussions about dangers to our planet like coral bleaching, pollution, and putting human greed above a sustainable and healthy environment.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The City Beyond the Sea is the second exciting Greenwild eco-fantasy by Pari Thomson. Action stays high as young Greenwilders travel to Iffenwild, a secret paradise that practices blue magic instead of green. There are a few deaths in skirmishes with swords, explosions, spears, knives, arrows, and magic. One death by stabbing is heavily mourned. Of special note to animal-loving kids: A few scenes describe animals in distress. Some are in cages and have clearly been mistreated and one animal dies, shot with an arrow; but most injured animals are rescued and healed with the help of the magical kids -- yay! A kid escapes after being kidnapped and continues to be pursued and threatened by his kidnappers. There are three near-drownings and repeated discussions of the loss of family: Max's mom was killed and Daisy's mom has been kidnapped. The only other mature content is adult drinking at celebrations. The diverse and talented tween characters show bravery and teamwork and continue to remind all of us about the importance of working together to save our planet.
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What's the Story?
In THE CITY BEYOND THE SEA, GREENWILD, BOOK 2, Daisy gets a surprise letter from her mother who's been kidnapped in the Amazon. She tells her that the Grim Reapers are too powerful and they must get help to save her and the other botanists. They must seek out the people of Iffenwild or it's too dangerous to come at all. Daisy tries to get her grandmother Artemis to listen, but she still insists on sending an expedition to the Amazon -- and Iffenwild is a made-up place anyway, according to most Greenwilders. Artemis has invited botanists from around the globe to the Amazon, and uninvited Daisy and her friends Prof and Indigo because it's just too dangerous. Of course, that doesn't stop them from sneaking onboard as they set sail on the full moon. At their first stop, the Moonmarket, they get separated from their ship in an ambush by the Grim Reapers and are rescued, along with a mysterious boy named Max, by a traveling theater company. Lucky for Daisy and friends, the small fleet's next stop is the mythical Iffenwild.
This eco-adventure series stays thrilling with a new world and magic to explore, fantastic kid characters, and mysteries galore. It's a well-balanced story that will satisfy every kind of fantasy fan, even the highly visual ones. The black-and-white illustrations by Elisa Paganelli capture the characters, the wonders of this magical world, and the action splendidly. Stakes are high for characters Daisy, Prof, and Indigo. Not only do they need to get help from Iffenwild to save Daisy's mom and all the botanists captured in the Amazon, they must fight other forces that are just as dire. Greed is winning out over regard for the land and sea and leaders don't seem to care. All the nonmagical kid readers out there fighting for our planet already recognize these enemies. That's why they will cheer even louder when Daisy and friends prevail. Kids will cheer for their new friend Max as well who finds a way forward after losing his mom. His poignant moments with the ship's captain and with his own memories add a lovely depth to The City Beyond the Sea. Max's story moves this sequel beyond a simple adventure into an unforgettable one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Iffenwild in A City Beyond the Sea. Why does it want to remain hidden? How is the community harmed by its decision?
Daisy, Prof, Indigo, and Max show some stellar teamwork. What talents does each bring? Which character would you like to be on the team? Why?
Max deals with the loss of his mother in this story and works through many painful feelings. How does the plant with memories help him? What does it mean to Max when the plant blooms?
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
