Have Book - Will Travel

by Yonatan Luzzatto and Kfir Luzzatto

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

Review: Have Book, Will Travel is a fairly episodic read, detailing the many strange places that Max and Darla travel while attempting to return home. Much of the fun of the book is seeing how the locations differ from their simple book descriptions. A land where women have obtained harmony seems quite enticing until Max, a male, wanders in! The two protagonists get into lots of scrapes and meet an array of interesting characters while bouncing from one country to another. The overall effect is creative and exciting, if often rather abrupt.

There is a slight romance that develops between Darla and Max as they move through a variety of emotions—doubt, friendship, frustration, trust. Nonetheless, Max seems to be more aware of the romance than I think many of the readers will be; it is not a main focus. Similarly, I think he is more aware of his own entrance into puberty. His changing body and emotions are briefly mentioned, but the book still reads more like a middle grade work than a young adult one. It is worth noting, however, that there was some mild language—words like “hell” and “ass”—that occasionally broke this impression.

Have Book, Will Travel is an entertaining read with some classic fantasy elements—the ambitious university professor, the spunky peasant girl, the magic book—but also several that will take the readers by surprise. A light fun read for those who like a constantly changing adventure.

This review was also posted at Pages Unbound Book Reviews.