There were quite a few things in this book that struck us as concerning. Taken together we see this as one that is going to provide a significant amount of content we Christian parents would rather our children not have to unlearn. Below is a sampling of this content:

This book promotes several clear agendas: environmentalism, racism, veganism, worship of the earth and of other gods, etc. These messages are delivered through a story format that often has a way of penetrating the defenses of young readers.

The earth goddess “Bhoomi” is worshiped. At one point young readers are told “People are not good or bad. There is both in every one of us. It is our actions that are good or bad. We are all children of Bhoomi.”

Children are portrayed as wiser than the adults. They disobey and run away without letting loving adults know. This is a common message we see in books that we need to be careful of as it drives the type of ego and self-reliance and pride that we all battle with.

There is no clear delineation between good and evil, particularly in the adults.

Children take a job in a restaurant that smells of “herb smoke and alcohol”. Readers read a comment saying, ”Make sure everyone pays up front, or you’ll never get’em to pay at the end, when they’re good and drunk” and “She (Sona -age 13) dealt with many beast-like, obstinate people, who ate and drank vast quantities”.

One of the 5 sacred beasts is “the Snake of Khil, one of the most dreaded creatures in all of Devia. It can grow to massive proportions and strike fear into the hearts of the bravest men. Its attacks are many-fold: its venomous bite, its destructive tail, and its terrifying horn. The Snake travels throughout the Khil Desert, stalking travelers and treasure-seekers, leaving fear and death in its wake. No matter how many times it has been struck down, another- or perhaps the same Snake, according to the Devans of the area-always rises.”

Worship of things other than God: “They sang their praises to the trees, the water, the fire, the air, and the earth. They sang of the animals, small and great. They sang to Bhoomi and the other gods, and they were filled with joy.”

The terms “damnation” and “hell” are used