The Crystal Caverns (The Last Firehawk Series #2)

by Katrina Charman, Jeremy Norton (Illustrator)

Overview

Tag, Skyla, and Blaze travel to the Crystal Caverns to find the next piece of the Ember Stone in this fast-paced fantasy adventure!

Pick a book. Grow a Reader!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!In the second book in this page-turning series, Tag, Skyla, and Blaze journey to the Crystal Caverns. They are searching for a piece of the magical Ember Stone. But they do not know exactly where it is, and they are not the only ones searching for it . . . The powerful vulture Thorn is also after the stone — and after Blaze! Thorn's dark magic is quickly spreading across Perodia, so the friends must move fast to reach the stone! This action-packed series makes a great introduction to fantasy and quest stories for newly independent readers. Realistic black-and-white artwork appears on every page!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338122510
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	11/28/2017
Series:	Last Firehawk Series , #2
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	71,776
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Katrina Charman was the recipient of the SCBWI British Isles' Margaret Carey scholarship for fiction in 2013, and in 2014 she was one of the winners of the SCBWI's Undiscovered Voices competition. Katrina's first children's book, the early reader The Ninjabread Man, was published with Franklin Watts (UK) in July 2015. The Last Firehawk is her first early chapter book series. Katrina lives in South East England with her husband and three daughters.
Jeremy Norton is a British illustrator who lives and works in Barcelona, Spain. The Last Firehawk is the first early chapter book series he has illustrated. He works digitally, and aims to convey a childlike sense of wonder through his artwork.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroductionMapChapter One: To the NorthChapter Two: The Jagged MountainsChapter Three: The Crystal CavernsChapter Four: Surprise!Chapter Five: Into the MazeChapter Six: The Lost SealChapter Seven: The Hidden CaveChapter Eight: Fire Power!Chapter Nine: The Ember StoneChapter Ten: It’s a Trap!Chapter Eleven: Time for BattleChapter Twelve: No Way OutChapter Thirteen: EscapeChapter Fourteen: Blaze Saves the Day

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Last Firehawk #1: The Ember Stone:

"The first book in this new series brings the animal fantasy genre to early chapter book readers.... The adventure is nonstop, making this an ideal choice for reluctant readers.... Detailed black-and-white illustrations blend well with the text, and will keep kids engaged. VERDICT: A strong beginning to an adventure series for chapter book readers, especially those who are not quite ready for Erin Hunter's 'Warriors' or Kathryn Lasky's 'Guardians of Ga'Hoole.'" -- School Library Journal

"A promising start to a series for fledgling fantasy readers." -- Kirkus Reviews


Praise for Branches books:

"These books should be considered for larger libraries wanting to enhance their easy-reader collections." -- School Library Journal

"A nice stepping stone to more advanced chapter books." -- Booklist

From the Publisher

2017-09-18
The search for the Ember Stone continues in the second installment of this animal fantasy series.Owl of Valor-in-training Tag and his friends Skyla the squirrel and Blaze, the series' titular last firehawk, must locate the second piece of the powerful Ember Stone. Guided by their magical map and Blaze's connection to the Stone, they make their way north, over the Jagged Mountains to the mysterious Crystal Caverns. Along the way, they brave a raging snowstorm, rescue a lost seal, fight off Thorn's vicious ice-leopard spies, and get trapped in an ice cave. Blaze is their best weapon, as she uses her burgeoning power over fire—she can burst into flame at will—to free the gang from the ice and to defeat the deadly leopards. The evil Thorn, who has yet to make an on-page appearance, wants control of the Ember Stone so he can destroy the land of Perodia. The three pals are Perodia's only hope, and over the course of the story, they discover that friendship and teamwork go a long way. As in the previous book, the pace is fast and primarily dialogue-driven, with loads of exclamations. The myriad black-and-white images and easy-to-read text make this an apt read for those making the transition from early readers to longer books. The book includes reading comprehension questions and activities to help readers immerse themselves in Tag's world.A nifty addition to the series. (Animal fantasy. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews