The Wind Rises: Book 1 of The Alma Series
In this middle-grade novel, book one of the planned Alma Trilogy, readers follow teenagers Alma and Joseph on very different adventures and await the moment when their paths collide.
It’s 1786, and thirteen-year-old Alma must leave her happy but isolated family home in Africa to search for her beloved younger brother. The idyllic life that her parents so carefully created for their children begins to shatter as Alma learns that people in her country are being hunted and kidnapped for slavery. Alma’s parents now have two children out in this dangerous world and are forced to assume their previous and surprising identities to help save them.
Nearly fourteen-year-old thief Joseph Mars cons his way onto the slave ship named Sweet Amelie in search of pirates’ treasure. Alma’s family, Joseph’s shipmates, new friends and enemies on both teens’ journeys, and even the ship’s namesake, young Amelie Bassac, become wrapped up in this absorbing journey.
De Fombelle has a no-nonsense style that is immediately engaging and accessible to kids while still being eminently readable for adults. Holly James’s translation is smooth and expresses de Fombelle’s eloquent turns of phrase. There really should be too many characters and names to keep track of, but somehow de Fombelle makes them distinct and keep readers’ eyes on the most important action in every scene. A satisfying ending and the compelling illustrations will leave readers excited for Book Two of this series.
