Dog Ear

I picked this up because the I like the cover (yes, I’m that shallow). I am glad I did. There are a couple reviews out, some that praise (KidsRead) and some that blast (Book Dweeb). I don’t agree completely with either.

The Tapestry follows Max McDaniels, a young boy with a force stirring in him. He is at the Art Institute when a tapestry illuminates in front of his eyes only to disappear (along with the room) as soon as he leaves it. He finds a letter in his pocket shortly after; he is a Potential and someone will visit him soon. A few chapters later, Max finds himself at a boarding school, learning magic.

Are there similarities to Harry Potter? Yes. Does Harry Potter resemble The Lord of the Rings? Yes. Does The Lord of the Rings resemble [fill in the blank and continue until you hit Homer, cave paintings, etc.]. YES! There is even an X-Men style Danger Room in Tapestry!

Sure, many of the resemblances were distracting (I’ve only read Harry Potter a dozen times). The strange occurrence, the letter, the stereotypical students (the Irish one, the black one, the pretty one, the plump one), and the magic and resurrection of Voldemort… I mean Astaroph.  However, I was soon interested in where this story was taking me. I enjoyed the room configurations, the Sanctuary, and even Alex’s cruelty (Malfoy looks like a cuddly poodle in comparison). There were no wands. Max’s father was a part of the story, he didn’t disappear for the whole school year the way the Dursley’s did. And David (Max’s roommate) is the most interesting character. I am intrigued by him. And while there is something of a prophecy (because of his vision) surrounding Max, he is not an orphan, he does not really stand out among his classmates, he’s not really the martyr that Potter is.

It remains to be seen if Neff has the ability to weave a story as tightly as Rowling. Will I be returning to Book 1 to find those breadcrumbs? I hope so.