Honors & Reviews

Honors

• Voted by young readers across the US as a Teen's Top Ten for 2007

• A 2009 YALSA Popular Paperback for Young Adults

• Nominated for the ALA's Best Books for Young Adults

• A St. Louis Post Dispatch Best Book of 2006

• Wilde Award, best sequel 2006, The News & Observer

• A Booklist 2007 Top 10 Fantasy Books for Youth

Reviews

"Suspenseful, magical, and heartfelt, this is a story that will wholly envelop its readers." 
Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

"Hale makes profound statements about war and peace, friends and strangers, men and women and all the different kinds of battle. Her language glimmers like firelight, like sunshine on water as she propels readers along a river of wonderful writing to the tumultuous and heart-tugging climax."
Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

"This novel will be a special treat for readers of Hale's other two companion books, but it also stands on its own as a unique and tender coming-of-age story."
Publisher's Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

"This high fantasy is rich in detail and lyrical in writing. River Secrets stands on its own. But fans of the genre will no doubt rejoice in immersing themselves in this magical world by reading all three."
School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

"While Hale's sketch of Razo is engaging, even more compelling is the well-played political situation in the meeting of two exotic and very different fantasy cultures. The mystery of the body-burner's identity adds suspense, and several romantic subplots invite emotional investment. All elements join together to form an adept...fantasy adventure."
Horn Book

"Shannon Hale has an uncanny knack of grabbing your interest in the Prologue and not letting go until you finish the entire book...A reading treasure."
Children's Literature

"Humorous, touching and a marvelous adventure."
St. Louis Post Dispatch