If I’m honest, the whole notion of a “children’s book” confuses me. The brevity of language employed should not decide what is age appropriate, and content should never be vetted for what is worthy for an adult as something a child doesn’t deserve. I understand that thematically and narratively there are stories that work well for, or are otherwise intended for, a specific audience, but to a declare novel “for children” rather than trusting the readers to engage with a narrative told from the perspective of a child or else for that of a child seems to me a very cynical way to approach reading and a less than respectful way to treat children and the literary development of a child.
The Rithmatist is about a teenage boy named Joel, impoverished and largely unexceptional (as many teenage boys frequently must confront as they come of age), more interested in becoming a rithmatist and their ways than pursuing academic excellence. Suddenly, children have started disappearing, leaving only blood and lines of chalk behind. The missing children are rithmatists: humans with the ability to bring chalk drawings to life and do combat with these with only the aid of schooling and a piece of chalk, tasked with growing up to hold the line against wild “chalklings” (errant chalk drawings hell-bent on attacking everyone in the United Isles of America and overrunning these island nations that make up our heroes’ country). Joel manages to get involved in the investigation, but he may have bitten off more than he can chew when he comes up against evil forces he can himself do nothing to stop, without the help of a delinquent and reluctant girl named Melody and that of a disgraced professor as timid as he is brilliant. Can he solve these murders before more children are attacked? And, really, what is a rithmatist? And will Joel be able to join their ranks?
I had a lot of fun with this “children’s book.” Sanderson sets up a wonderful story that is both brisk in pace and tonally appropriate. The Rithmatist is chalk full (forgive the pun, if you will, readers) of drama and action. The main characters can be forgiven for being mostly unexceptional and mainly fodder for exposition because Sanderson’s world-building and character development skills dance for us beautifully before all is said and done. Joel and Melody play with our antagonists with precision and tenacity, really allowing us, the reader, to believe in the urgency of this story and what’s at stake. As for the antagonists, these mysterious characters hold far more promise than the protagonists insomuch as intrigue is concerned, and that’s par for the course where most of Sanderson’s works are concerned. Overall, this is a good read that does not disappoint!
- Frank
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