Review of Life’s Delta

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Life's Delta" by Miguel Gutierrez.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Title: Life's Delta
Author: Miguel Gutierrez

This is a delightful and compelling novel for young readers. The story features many elements, including camaraderie, ancient history about the area, romance, and, in my opinion, underlying messages about our political and environmental contemporary world. Chapter One introduces us to the island of Marantis in an inviting and intriguing style, with local folklore giving rise to a legend about how and why the island was originally first populated. It is a story of a 'world outside our world', like J R Rowling's 'Harry Potter' and J R Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings', so it has a thought-provoking aspect that would spur a young person's imagination.

Marantis has royalty in the form of King Kurt Marans, and we read about the adventures of his children and their curiosity about their neighbours in the lands of Aguedon. Aguedon is a lush and fertile place but has been out of bounds for hundreds of years for people from Marantis. Will this situation change? Read on to find out.

I would have loved some pictures. The landscape described is so beautiful that I am interested in having a pictorial taste. Illustrations can enhance a book and add some interest in the context of the writing, but it is also a good policy to let the young mind create its own imaginings.

The prose invites you in. It's easy to read, and the story develops well. A young reader will enjoy the journeys taken by Red, Ursely, Koley and all the other pleasant, responsible and sometimes very handsome characters.

The division of the land and the state-imposed isolation of Marantis bears a striking resemblance to contemporary places in our world, such as North Korea, albeit not as severe. This parallel adds a layer of depth and relevance to the story, making it more thought-provoking and engaging for the reader.

The editing of 'Life's Delta' is excellent, and I found nothing to dislike. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the book, from the engaging characters to the thought-provoking story. Therefore, I confidently award it a full five stars and highly recommend it to young readers.

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Life's Delta
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