The Search for WondLa

The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

The book is about 12-year-old Eva Nine. A little girl who has been raised by a robot in an underground home. She longs to see the world and find other humans but her robot, Muthr, is too protective and won't let her. Then, one day, their home is attacked and Eva is forced to flee to the outside world. What she finds there baffles her. There are Aliens, and giant animals, walking trees, and a bounty hunter who is determined to capture Eva.

Finding the help of a rather grumpy, miserable Alien named Rovender, Eva and Muthr set out on a quest to find out where Eva belongs, while trying to dodge the Hunter who is always right behind them.

Despite my first doubts over this book, it is one of the best Children books I've ever read. Eva isn't a perfect heroine. She whines a bit at times and is slightly rebellious, but she is brave and wishes to keep her friends safe.

All Eva wants is to have a family, to meet real humans just like her. She wants to know what happened to them all and how she came to be alone, on an Alien planet.

Muthr is very protective, but she loves Eva as if she were her own daughter. And, being a robot and therefore clueless about human emotions, she very often doesn't get what Eva is feeling.

Rovender was my favourite. Grieved over a loss he suffered, he wants to be left alone so he can sulk in peace. Eva, however, isn't about to leave him and he soon discovers he needs her as much as she needs him. (Their friendship is really sweet.)

The world Eva travels through reminded me a lot of Star Wars and Avatar The Last Airbender. The creatures were amazing, even the ones with bad tempers - like the Sand Snipers. Also, the drawings in the book brought the world to life and made it easier to envision the animals.

I think everyone should give this book a chance, and forgive Eva at the beginning for her bad attitude and keep reading - it is well worth it. She's an amazing heroine and as soon as possible I'm getting my hands on book two.