Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke

I'm normally not much of a big reader; I only read books when the school curriculum requires it. However, this summer, I picked out a fantastic book that is written in great detail and also tells an outstanding story about a young girl, named, Meggie, who discovers that her father, Mo, hides more than he shares with her. This book is called, Inkheart, and is written by Cornelia Funke. The reason why I hooked onto this book is due to the Fantasy-like feel it gives. Just the fact that the father of a little girl can read things into and out of the book is amazing and completely unrealistic! Also, the book keeps you guessing as you read and it makes you think "Have I uncovered all of the secrets, or are there still more to be revealed?". The characterization is incredible too. It's amazing how a young girl can evolve from being timid and naive, into a brave and intelligent human being. The characters in the book are unique, and each are very different. For example, you have this book binder named Mo who can read things into and out of any book he pleases. On the other hand, you have a man named Dustfinger who has a strong desire to be put back into his book, and he can manipulate fire. And then, you have the antagonists... one of them is named Capricorn, and the definition of 'evil' fits him perfectly. The fact that this book contains a multitude of characters, each being different from one another, makes the book interesting, and makes it easier for you to realize any connections you may have to a certain character.The ending of the book is perfect; it sets up the story for the other book in the series and it successfully wraps everything up. If you feel happy for the characters in the happy ending of a book, then the author must have done a great job with telling the story as well as creating memorable characters. When Mo reunited with his wife, I felt happy for him, even if he is a fictional character. This book is too good to pass up. It has a terrific story and unique characters that you can both relate to and/or hate with a strong passion. Once you start reading, you won't be able to stop until all of the secrets and mysteries are revealed, right in front of your very eyes.