ISBN: 9780786852550
Publisher:Hyperion Books for Children
Copyright Date: 2003
About the Author:
"I was born in Bedford, England, on 27th October 1970. When I was six my family moved to St Albans, near London, which is where I grew up. From very early on I enjoyed scribbling stories and drawing, and for a long time the two sides were equally balanced: pictures interested me as much as words. Between the ages of seven and nine I was often ill, and spent long periods in hospital and at home in bed. During this time I escaped from boredom and frustration by reading furiously: books littered my bedroom floor like bones in a lion's cave. I tended to enjoy stories of magical adventure more than ones about real life – I think this was because they provided a more complete escape. Around this time I fell in love with fantasy.
Throughout my school years I experimented with different kinds of writing, often illustrated. (See Early Stuff for some examples.) I tried comics, gamebooks, board games, and later poems and plays. Without being entirely aware of it, I was searching for the kind of writing that suited me best. Meanwhile, I was getting more and more interested in other people's writing. Finally I went to York University, to read English Literature.
Like many English graduates, I left university without a clue what to do. But I got an editorial job at Walker Books, in London, and began to learn about children's books. For several years I worked as an editor: helping authors with their ideas and their texts, consulting with designers and artists about the visual side, helping to create books of many kinds. I worked on encyclopaedias, history books, game books and even a children's Bible. This taught me a lot of things about structure, pace and style; meanwhile, in my free time, I was busy writing also. I did several puzzle books for Walker, and began working on a novel too. When Buried Fire was published in 1999, I knew that I had found what I truly wanted to do, but it took until 2001 before I finally took the plunge, gave up being an editor and tried to write full time."
Stroud, J. About me. http://www.jonathanstroud.com/about_me.html.
Curriculum Ties:
- Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
- Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).
- Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
Plot Summary:
The Amulet of Samarkand deals with an alternate version of early 20th century England where magic exists. In this reality, magicians are the ruling class, and summon djinn and demons to do their will. Nathaniel is being trained to be in the ministry as a magician, and is very precocious. One day, he is humiliated by a very powerful ministry official named Simon Lovelace, and Nathaniel begins to plot his revenge. To do so, he summons a powerful and clever djinn name Bartimaeus, and sends him to steal an important artifact from Simon, promising to send him back to his home if he does. However, Nathaniel soon finds that Bartimaeus is far more clever than he thought and has a hold on Nathaniel, which complicates their relationship. Even more dangerous, their theft plunges them into the world of politics, danger, and a plot to overthrow the government that only they can stop.
Critical Evaluation:
The Amulet of Samarkand is a lighter toned, faster paced novel that starts a little slow. The novel is the first of a trilogy, which means that the first hundred and fifty pages serve as an introduction to the characters, giving background mostly on Nathaniel and his life. However, these pages are very enjoyable and also discuss the world and its history, which is vital to the book as well. Once the introduction is concluded, the action gets started quickly and doesn’t slow down, with the theft happening in twenty pages, and then lots of pursuit, car chases, and danger along the way. Bartimaeus often serves as a comic relief, adding his own take to the story once he is introduced, which helps maintain the lighter tone of the books. Both of the characters are given complex backstories, with Bartimaeus often telling of his past adventures, and time to develop them.
Readers Annotation:
Nathaniel, a magician's apprentice, has been humiliated by Simon Lovelace. Obviously, the only course of action is to summon a djinni and rob Simon, but this leads to an adventure he is sure to regret.
Book Talk Ideas:
Readers Annotation:
Nathaniel, a magician's apprentice, has been humiliated by Simon Lovelace. Obviously, the only course of action is to summon a djinni and rob Simon, but this leads to an adventure he is sure to regret.
Book Talk Ideas:
- Discuss the two main characters and talk about which ones perspective you agree with more.
- Talk about the culture of 19th century England and how it is different in this book.
Reading Level/Interest Age: 10-18
Challenge Issues:
- The book is targeted toward younger teens, which means there isn't any reasonably objectionable material in the book.
Purpose in the Collection:
The Amulet of Samarkand is an exciting, faster paced book that would be good for younger teens. It is written by an English author, which give a different background to the story to add some cultural diversity to the collection. It also is a popular and well reviewed book that would be good for the collection.
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