More about A New Battle...
(from the author)
"Having grown so close to the characters in The Nameless World, I didn't want Noah's adventures to end so soon. Shortly after the completion of the first book, I wrote book two in what has become The Nameless World Series. The second book, A New Battle, takes Noah back to the nameless world to sort out some of the unexpected aftermath of his adventures in the first book. I bring back a lot of the characters Noah came to love as well as introduce many new characters that really help to build the dynamics of the nameless world while providing kids with various characters with whom they can relate."
Similar to the first book, A New Battle
touches upon the very sensitive subject of bullying... only in this story, Noah is on the other side! While still the hero readers grew to love in The Nameless World, Noah finds himself in a sticky situation when a new girl at school is the victim of bullying from Noah's new group of friends. Noah struggles with the notion of being thought of as a bully himself, but is afraid of losing his friends if he speaks out against their behavior.
The theme of bullying is carried through the book, even after Noah returns to the nameless world. He is shocked and disheartened to see that "even in a world so beautiful and enchanting, there [are] still beings rotten enough to pick on things that [can’t] defend themselves." It is through one very special character (Buddy) that Noah is forced to deal with many social issues upon his return to the nameless world, not just bullying (of which Buddy is very much a victim at the hand of his peers). The story also brings elements of discrimination into light through Buddy's character (though an outcast among his own kind, Buddy is still looked at with prejudice and assumption by other creatures, too, simply because of what he is).
Buddy is such a unique character to the story, because (on top of everything else that makes him so special) he is also deaf and deformed. But, true to the tone of these stories, even an underdog like Buddy can prove to be a loyal friend and a true hero.
A New Battle is sure to delight readers of all ages, offering an amazing adventure that presents valuable social lessons that kids must face every day. It opens the door for teachers, parents and kids to discuss these issues through the eyes of the characters in the book.
