LitPick Review
The Maker, a work of fantastical science-fiction by D.F. Anderson, is a book that is difficult to summarize in just one paragraph. The main character, Nate, is going through a tough time in his life. He hasn’t seen his father in six months - ever since his parents got divorced. Ted, his new “Dad,” discourages Nate’s love of drawing. The only reminder Nate has of his “old” life is a special binder that his Dad sent to him where Nate puts all of his artwork.
One night, furry mice-like creatures steal Nate’s binder. When he follows them out his bedroom window and onto a tree, the tree becomes a Transplanter and carries Nate to the magical planet of Meer. On Meer, he meets the Great Wizard Wishnal, who teaches Nate how he can use his imagination to make his drawings come to life. Nate is now a “Maker." Soon Nate realizes that his Dad was missing from his life since the divorce because he, too, was brought to the planet Meer. Nate and his fellow Maker, Coral, must work together to save Nate’s father and the planet Meer from evil alien forces.
Opinion:
I found The Maker to be a quick and enjoyable read. The fast-paced action and suspense kept me glued to the book. One challenge of reading this book was that there were a lot of strange, non-human characters to keep track of. Although much of what happened in The Maker was not based in reality, the characters of Nate and Coral were easy to root for. Over the course of his amazing journey, Nate and the reader both learn that anything is possible, and you have to work for your own happy ending.
I would recommend this book for imaginative kids ages 8-13. Those who love creating art will especially appreciate Nate’s story.
