Just goes to show you that when you read a book almost 10 years later your opinion can change. I completely believe this book is better than my original review. Not a 5 star but it is better. 
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 (old review from 2008) 
 I really tried to not compare this book to Harry Potter and I went in with an open mind. But the truth is this is a Harry Potter knock off. That wasn't my main problem with the book though. 
 The problem with the book I had is not one character did I feel close to. The chapters and activities jumped with no connection to each other. In almost every good book you get close to a character and feel bad/sorry for them whatever. This book there was no emotional connection to any of them. In fact at the end of the book I was wondering why I even bothered to read this, the boy was crying and I'm like.... I should care because. 
 I know its fantasy and all, but I can't get over the unbelieveablity of this book. Kids have schedaels from 6 am till 6 pm. They get these animals that play no part of the book. This book might have been great had it been about 200 pages less and less trying to throw things out there. 
 Lastly, the whole concept of the book was confusing. I know it's good vs. Evil but what was evil and why was really hard for me at 24 years old to understand there is no way a child would understand it.