Review – The Battle for WondLa (The Search for WondLa, Book 3) by Tony DiTerlizzi (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: 496 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 6, 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1416983149
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in the Search for WondLa series
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 4/5 stars

This was the third and final book in the Search for WondLa series by DiTerlizzi. It was a well done conclusion to this series, although it was also my least favorite book in this series. It just lacked the wonder and adventure of the first two books and was more about politics and war.

Eva Nine is in hiding with Haley in the forest. She is worried about luring the evil Lorac to her companions and fearful of anyone else dying because of her actions. When Haley finally convinces her that hiding is cowardly, Eva ventures back into the fray. She ends up seeking out help from the only place she can and then speaking to the Queen herself.

Eva has changed a lot over the series. This book starts with her hiding from her obligations out of fear for those around her. However she finally steps up to accept her responsibility and ends up becoming an admirable heroine. This book is Eva’s big delve into politics, she is dealing with a number of different parties who are all lying (or at least telling their own version) of the truth. I honestly felt a bit sad that she had to go from the excited and adventurous girl in the first book to this scared girl weighed down by all these responsibilities…but I guess it’s all part of growing up.

I was a little disappointed that Rovee wasn’t in the story more, he is in there some towards the end but is absent for the beginning. I missed a lot of Eva’s friends in the beginning of the book.

This book is a bit slower in pace than the previous books as well. The story wraps up nicely. DiTerlizzi includes an Epilogue and then a few sections that occur 100, 200, and 300 years later. These sections were kind of interesting and let us see what Eva Nine’s world developed into. However, aside from being somewhat amusing they didn’t add a lot to the story.

I continue to enjoy the beautiful illustrations throughout and loved how the story had both humor and heart.

Overall this was a well done conclusion to this series. I enjoyed the beautiful illustration and all the unique characters. The story was slower in this book than in the previous two. Eva has grown up and there wasn’t as much wonder and adventure in this book, she is dealing more with deceit and politics. Everything ties up nicely and overall I was very pleased with this series. I would recommend to middle grade and older readers who love reading about adventure and science fiction. What really sets this book apart is the beautiful illustrations and the way the book is laid out.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Series Enders Reading Challenge
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge