I love books. No secret there! I can’t even imagine a world where books don’t exist.

But that’s the world Sefia lives in. A world with no books and no letters.

Nobody reads. Nobody writes. Nobody, that is, except for a super secret group who will do anything and everything to keep the people of Kalanna from knowing such a dangerous power exists in the world.

It’s because of these people Sefia has lived all of her life in hiding, and most of it on the run. After her Aunt Nin is taken by the same people who murdered Sefia’s father, Sefia makes an oath the stop these people from taking anyone from her ever again. Her only clue in finding them is the strange, rectangular object entrusted to her by her father. Inside this object is a world within a world.

In order to unlock its mystery, she’ll have to discover her gift as a Reader and stay one step ahead of the people seeking to reclaim The Book.

Look Closer

The Reader is the first book of the “Sea of Ink and Gold” series by Traci Chee. From the beginning you know you’re holding something different. The note on the first page tells you to look closer. And you should! A secret message is actually hidden inside the pages. Can you find it?

The Reader is a book I wanted to read fast and slow at the same time. When I finished, I wanted to read it again because I know there’s more I didn’t see.

There are no flat characters in this book. Each character is beautifully written. And each is important in their own way. They have a history and they have a future. As a reader, Sefia can often “see” both. There is so much more I want to tell you, but I don’t want to spoil the story. This is a case where the less you know going in, the better the experience will be.

Reader be aware

I will say that as much as I love this book, it’s not for everyone. It’s a Young Adult novel but strong middle grade readers would be able to understand it. There is a crush, but don’t worry, it’s not a kissing book.

Parental Warning: There is some violence in this book, and one of the sub-plots has to do with child soldiers. It’s not as intense as the Hunger Game series, but Mom or Dad might want to read this one first if you have a sensitive reader in your home.

I’m giving The Reader 4 dark chocolate eggs, but not because I think the story can be better. It’s because I can’t 100% recommend it for young readers. For teens, I gladly give it a solid 5. The second book in the series, The Speaker, has already been released in hard cover. I plan to read it, too. But not just yet. I’ve got some other adventures to check out first!

Until next time, happy reading!

Note: No goods or services were exchanged for this review. The opinions belong solely to the reviewer.