Bound To Stay Bound

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 Carpet people
 Author: Pratchett, Terry

 Publisher:  Clarion (2013)

 Classification: Fiction
 Physical Description: 289 p., [16] leaves of plates, ill. (chiefly col.), 21 cm.

 BTSB No: 730349 ISBN: 9780544212473
 Ages: 8-12 Grades: 3-7

 Subjects:
 Fantasy fiction
 Size -- Fiction

Price: $6.50

Summary:
The Munrungs cross the Carpet to find a new home after their village is destroyed by the powerful and mysterious natural force Fray.

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Accelerated Reader Information:
   Interest Level: MG
   Reading Level: 4.70
   Points: 7.0   Quiz: 169172
Reading Counts Information:
   Interest Level: 3-5
   Reading Level: 3.50
   Points: 11.0   Quiz: 62357

Reviews:
   Kirkus Reviews (05/15/13)
   School Library Journal (02/01/14)
   Booklist (12/01/13)
 The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (12/13)

Full Text Reviews:

Bulletin for the Center... - 12/01/2013 Originally written when he was seventeen and revised when he was forty-three, Pratchett’s first novel, now published for the first time in the U.S., traces the exploits of the diminutive races that inhabit the Carpet. Complete with an evolutionary cosmology, an ecosystem, and a complex social structure, the peoples of the Carpet are menaced by Fray, an atmospheric force that seeks to eliminate life in the Carpet, but they are also at war among themselves. Each race has its own attitudes toward warfare for its own sake and for the sake of expanding a totalitarian Empire, but there is emerging among the more thoughtful individuals a radical idea that peace and self-governance might not be a bad thing. To achieve this goal, however, they must defeat the nasties who seek to enslave as many people as possible to work the grit mines and convince the mystics to seize their own destinies rather than give in to their deterministic visions. There are hints of Tolkien but also of T. H. White’s The Once and Future King and even Adams’ Watership Down (BCCB 4/74); indeed, all of the big political ideas of mid-century epic fantasy are here writ literally small and carried along by Pratchett’s signature wit and flawless pacing. Subtle drolleries adorn profound ideas and challenge conventional wisdom, and character types-the sniveling accidental emperor, the unrepentant warrior king, the reflective wanderer-all bring their diverse talents to the fight and uncover surprising new aspects to their personalities as they do. For readers who are attracted to epic but not quite ready for the weightiness of Tolkien, this is a perfect entrée; for those who have loved or will love Pratchett, it’s simply a must read. Bonus material includes Pratchett’s charming pen and ink spot art as well as full-color insets (not seen), and reprints of the original columns from the Bucks Free Press that formed the basis of the novel. KC - Copyright 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 12/01/2013 The Munrungs are a tribe living in the Carpet, a vast landscape with its own peoples, creatures, villages, cities, fringes, and stories. When the dreaded Fray returns, wreaking havoc on the village, the Munrungs leave their ruined homes and take to the road. Snibril, younger brother of the village chieftain, proves his mettle in the adventures that follow. As explained in the author’s note, The Carpet People came out in 1971, when Pratchett was 17. Before his British publisher republished it more than two decades later, he rewrote the book, which is now available for the first time in the U.S. The story is a bit of a hybrid, combining battles and philosophy with the occasional zing of wit (Snibril’s stout-hearted but thick-headed brother is described by his fellow Munrungs as “a man of few words, and he doesn’t know what either of them means”). Playful black-and-white line illustrations and full-color inserts (not available at time of review) round out the package. Sure to be sought after by Pratchett’s fans, young and old, this adventure will also amuse children who have never heard his name. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Fans of the author will want to check out the book that was published before Pratchett was, well, Pratchett. - Copyright 2013 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2014 Gr 4–8—Pratchett's first novel, published at age 17 and then reworked by the author two decades later, appears in its first full U.S. edition. As the title suggests, people and creatures are all microscopic and exist in an actual carpet, where cities are dot-sized and the rim of a penny is an unscalable cliff. Within this clever premise, the author has created an engaging fantasy world filled with a rich variety of characters and a compelling plot in which the amusing Munrung people attempt to thwart an evil scheme to enslave all of the kingdoms of the carpet. The brisk narrative mixes sly wit and occasional puns with lively battle scenes and mysterious revelations. There's also a lot of discussion about war, religion, government, and free well delivered through engaging dialogue and the internal musings of the main characters. Pratchett's black-and-white line drawings sprinkled throughout the tale and within two sections of full-color plates, depict numerous characters and settings with appropriately lightheated verve. A 25-page addendum features the very first published appearance of the world of the Carpet, serialized for the teen author's local newspaper. It's interesting to contrast the bones of the story with the final version, which stands as a fully realized novel and an excellent entrée to Pratchett's work, especially for readers not quite ready for the "Discworld" (Corgi) series.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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