Across the Great Barrier by Patricia Wrede

Across the Great Barrier

by Patricia C. Wrede 

From New York Times #1 bestselling author Patricia C. Wrede, the second in the series of magic on the western frontier.

Eff is riding west, away from the safety of the frontier city she's always known....
Eff could be a powerful magician if she wanted to. Except she's not sure she wants that kind of responsibility. Everyone keeps waiting for her to do something amazing--or to fail in a spectacular way. Worse, her twin brother, Lan, a powerful double seventh son, is jealous of all the attention she's been getting.
Even as Eff protests that she's just an ordinary girl, she's asked to travel past the Barrier Spell with one of the new professors at her father's school. The land west of the Barrier is full of dangers, both magical and wild. Eff will need to use all her strength--magical and otherwise--to come safely back home.
With wit, magic, and a touch of good pioneer sense, Patricia C. Wrede once again weaves a fantastic tale of the very wild west.

(summary from goodreads.com)

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This is a much quieter book than my normal fare. No epic, sweeping plot, no frantic energy, no passionate love story. The plot is slow, the action is quiet. But that's not a bad thing - it was a very restful book to read. Some books haunt me and pull at me to forget my house and my children until I finish reading it. This was a book I could pick up and put down again at my leisure, which was nice for a change. I enjoyed the first book (Thirteenth Child) and enjoyed this follow up. I wasn't frustrated by the slow pace because I knew what to expect. I look forward to reading the next installment and watching Eff further develop her unique brand of magic. This isn't my favorite series by Wrede, but still one I'll stick with for at least a few more books.

Mom note: As a mother of readers, I also want to make a note to myself (and others if they care) why I would or would not have my children read this book, because honestly, sometimes I forget. This is a YA book, but could be read by a juvenile audience as well. Violence: mild. Profanity: none. Sex: nonexistent.