Praise
BOOK REVIEW
A 12-year-old boy tries to save a world made of words in this middle-grade fantasy novel.
British-Iraqi Ankido Gulzar is saddened by the news his archaeologist father has disappeared in Iraq. Unfortunately, Habubti, Ankido’s beloved grandmother, is leaving him behind as she searches for his father. An acclaimed fantasy novelist, Habubti asks her grandson to care for her latest, unfinished book, cryptically specifying to keep it out of the hands of Aunt Geraldine. In Habubti’s absence, Geraldine makes a grab for the Gulzar estate by sending Ankido, the heir, to a boarding school. On the way, the boy loses consciousness, awakens, and soon finds himself in a “crossroads between worlds.” He meets Zinaida, a wanderer, who tells Ankido that “the Land of Mesopo”—the title of Habubti’s book—is dying. Mesopo is made of words and a thief, Humbaba, is gradually stealing all of them. Evidently, the Book (Habubti’s) has chosen Ankido as the new Tale Smith; indeed, the boy lately has been dreaming of entirely new words. With an ability to create worlds with invented words, Ankido may be able to rescue Mesopo, as its many books are “the pillars of mankind’s literacy.” Ankido is a well-rounded protagonist, wielding words as a weapon but also struggling to overcome sporadic fits of anger. Dynamic characters fill the pages, from creepy, fishlike River People (Humbaba’s bondsmen) to Geraldine’s winsome stepdaughters, Leila and Salma, who find their own way to Mesopo to help their cousin Ankido. Dietrich (The Great Rainbow Hug, 2011) masterfully visualizes the fantastic world: Recurring blots or pools of black ink signify Mesopo’s slowly diminishing word count. Kallick’s (Sophie’s Quest, 2018) complementary artwork is colorful and detailed, though, disappointingly, there are only two of her dual-page illustrations. The engaging tale is a quick read for young readers and adults. And while it seems the author is priming it for a series, this book can act as a stand-alone.
Vibrant characters and prose energize this literary adventure.
A high-stakes quest. A magical kingdom. A boy in possession of a coveted power. This mythology-rich novel for 10+ year-olds has all the ingredients of an epic adventure. Ankido is a twelve-year-old British-Iraqi boy with a passion for words. So much so, his beloved grandmother calls him her “Word Boy”. One morning, his grandmother announces the terrible news that Ankido’s father, an eminent archaeologist, has gone missing on a field trip in Iraq. When she leaves to search for his dad, she entrusts him with a special book: “The cover was made of fine, gold-inlaid leather. The title read, The Land of Mesopo. Ankido wondered why it was so special but thought it best not to ask.” Left with his aunt and uncle, Ankido is destined to be sent to boarding school, but not before he’s forced to burn Grandmother’s special book when his aunt tries to take it from him. He knows the book is special - “When I started reading it, it felt so real. Almost as if it was calling me to step inside “ – and indeed it does turn out to be special. Rather than end up at boarding school, he finds himself in the Library of Nineveh after being pursued by “a creature of the dark” who “feeds on words. And she knows that you can make your own words.” Ankido’s quest to find his father, and to save the fantastical word-world of Mesopo as the Kingdom’s newfound Tale Smith is sharply evoked, and packed with heart-pounding peril, mysterious atmosphere and intriguing characters, among them scribes, princes and magicians.
This is the story of a little boy who is nicknamed the Word Boy by his beloved grandmother. Ankido is a British/Iraqi boy and his grandmother is named Habubti. Ankido’s father is an archeologist and has gone missing in Iraq. Habubti leaves Ankido with his relatives and goes in search of his father.
Habubti makes Ankido promise to protect her latest book from Aunt Geraldine while she is away. Aunt Geraldine is the stepmother to his two cousins. She is an angry woman who is always fighting about something. She promised to send him to a school for troubled boys. She soon sees Habubti’s book on Ankido’s desk. She demands he give it to her and a physical fight begins for the book. Ankido’s only choice to protect it was to throw it into the fire.
His aunt sent him away with two men in a black limousine where he fell asleep. When he woke he was all alone on the ground and in a place unlike his home. He begins to experience strange things, and dark forces. He finds a dog and later a girl named Zinaida in the land of Ninevah. After talking with Zinaida and the Scripe he is told that this is the land of Mesopo, which is made up of words.
Ankido learns that the words are being stolen and when they all are gone, Mesopo will disappear. He and Zinaida go on countless adventures filled with danger, demons, and strange creatures. They are on the quest to save the words that are left. As the story goes on and on, the number of words continues to shrink. Ankido and Zinaida are aided by the dog and a flying soul bird named Anzu.
Will Ankido save Mesopo or will he meet a terrible fate? There are so many questions as to what, why, and how this is all happening and what will be the outcome. The author writes very skillfully and will certainly hold your attention. The scary passages with demons and a couple of mild curse-words would make me give the book a PG rating.
I voluntarily reviewed this book in a partnership with The Children Book Review & Eva Dietrich.
Loved it! 😍
A magical land of living words, a boy’s bond with his family, and a race to save a dying world—In the Land of Mesopo enchants and inspires.
SYNOPSIS
If you were about to embark on an epic adventure where would you go?
Do you possess similar magical powers as our warlock hero does? Read this middle-grade fantasy adventure brimming with mythological creatures, wizards, magicians and stories of ancient Middle East civilizations, to find out.
Follow a 12-year old mage with powers to invent new words and create new worlds, on a high-stakes quest to save his father and beloved grandma. They are captured by a dark, word-feeding creature in the magical realm of Mesopo, a mystical land where stories are born. In this story of magic realism, time is at the essence since Mesopo’s word count is slowly diminishing as its citizens are dying. The hourglass is nearly empty.
Will our hero's converted power be sufficient to save his land and his family, or will they be lost forever?
Meet the fantastical world of Mesopo packed with heart-pounding peril, mysterious atmosphere, intriguing scribes, princes, magicians, storm-birds and creepy River People... and be sure to discover your own magical powers.
Eva Dietrich’s In the Land of Mesopo is a delightful middle-grade fantasy that blends family dynamics, rich world-building, and the transformative power of language. The story follows Ankido, a British-Iraqi boy with an uncanny love for words, as he embarks on a journey to the mystical Library of Nineveh. There, he learns of Mesopo, a land built entirely of words, now crumbling as its vocabulary is stolen. Tasked with a mission to save the realm—and perhaps his missing father—Ankido must embrace courage and self-discovery to navigate this fantastical adventure.
Dietrich’s writing is vivid and evocative, bringing to life the magic of Mesopo and the surreal, ancient charm of the Library of Nineveh. The concept of living words shaping a world is captivating, especially for readers who delight in language and creativity. Ankido’s connection with his family, particularly his wise grandmother Habubti, lends warmth and emotional resonance to the story. The bond between Ankido and his cousins, Leila and Salma, is a highlight, showcasing the strength of love and teamwork against adversity.
Readers will love In the Land of Mesopo for its imaginative premise, likable protagonist, and the unique way it explores how words carry meaning, identity, and connection. It’s a story for book lovers and daydreamers who’ve ever wondered about the worlds hidden within pages.
My only notes to Dietrich would be that the early chapters spend a lot of time setting up Ankido’s world before diving into the action, which requires a bit of patience. Also, some of the more complex aspects of the magical world-building might stump younger audiences unfamiliar with Mesopotamian references. That said, 6th graders in my school district study ancient civilizations in Social Studies, and would be thrilled to connect the dots between what they are learning and the tie-ins in Mesopo.
This book is perfect for middle-grade readers who love imaginative fantasies like The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman or Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. Adults who appreciate lyrical writing and themes of cultural heritage and storytelling will also find it compelling. Teachers and librarians might especially enjoy sharing this with young readers who have a love for words or budding writers in their care.
In the Land of Mesopo earns a well-deserved 4 stars. It’s a tale that reminds us of the power words hold—to heal, connect, and create entire worlds.
5-Stars
Mesopo by Eva Dietrich was an excellent fantasy adventure. I loved following Ankido and his cousins in this amazing tale. Ankido, a young twelve-year-old, is given the task of saving his father and the magical land of Mesopo. Mesopo is the land where all fantasy originates and it is full of amazing creatures and individuals. Ankido has an amazing ability that makes him unique for the position he is given.
I loved the detail this author used on describing every scene and character. It made it very easy to visualize as I read. The storyline was difficult for me to get into at first but I was eventually pulled in to the point that I didn’t want to put this book down. This book took me on an unforgettable adventure. I highly recommend this book and easily give it 5-Stars.
“Beautiful read”
The story starts with twelve-year-old Ankido Gulzar waking up to new words in his mind. Soon after he is confronted with the news that his father is missing and that his grandmother, Habubti needs to go in search of him. Left under the care of his cruel step-aunt, Geraldine, through a series of unfortunate incidents, Ankido lands at a place where he comes a little closer to finding his father and grandmother. When he is handed an important role that only he can fulfill, he embarks on a journey filled with wonder and fantasy.
As soon as I began to read the book, I was deeply engrossed in it. It has some of my favourite elements in it, a world of words, a magic book and a writer. The magic of writing and creating a new world with words, is the backbone of the story. The tale is whimsical and fantasy filled; it certainly has a charm to reading about the works and actions of a twelve year old who must step into a dangerous role.
The concept of the story is a unique and intriguing one. Imagine if all the words were lost and no tales survived. A brilliant execution by the author has given life to this tale and made it into a mesmerizing read.
The characters and their actions are charismatic and captivating. The narration was smooth and simple. It is the perfect book to be read to children. The illustrations have made the book even more beautiful.
The dynamic plot has indeed made this a binge worthy read. The story has a Middle-Eastern vibe, that is evident from the descriptions. Whether there is an influence of Middle Eastern folklore, is something that I would like to explore later, as I am not familiar with it. I hope readers will pick the book up and enjoy it as reminiscent of their childhood which was filled with fantastic in their hearts and minds.
4 stars
Last updated on Dec 28 2024
The general premise centers on a young boy called Ankido. Guided by his grandmother's wisdom, he uses clay to shape and bring words to life. In a moment of hope and magic, he successfully resurrects his father from the clay, who had become lost after an archaeological expedition. The story explores themes of creativity, family, and the power of words to shape reality. Beautifully written and lovely ending.
Last updated on Jan 26 2025
4 stars
The author makes it easy to visualize the storyline with detail used describe the characters and scene. This is a nice fantasy and adventure read.