Jaleigh Johnson | The Children’s Book Review | June 29, 2017
Get to know Stella Glass from Jaleigh Johnson’s The Quest to the Uncharted Lands, another magical and thrilling stand-alone adventure set in the world of Solace!
The Children’s Book Review: What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Stella Glass: Science! What, isn’t that what gets everyone up in the morning? Or maybe it’s just because my parents are scientists and healers, and I’m following in their footsteps. We’re always checking on experiments first thing in the lab. We spend a lot of late nights there too. Science doesn’t sleep!
I see you have a bag with you. Will you tell us what you keep inside of it?
This is where I keep all my alchemy supplies. Did I mention I’m also studying to be an alchemist? These smoke bombs here are my absolute favorite things right now. Seriously, light the fuse, give them a good twenty count, and you get a lot of effect out of these babies—not that I would ever dream of using them for anything except strictly scientific purposes. Er, my parents aren’t going to read this, right?
Are you hungry right now? Can we fix you anything to eat? Maybe we could make you your favorite dish?
Hot cocoa, please, with just a few marshmallows. Okay, just a few more. A bit more. Perfect! I like to take my cocoa out into the yard at night and watch the airship test flights. You can just see the fields from my backyard. Best thing ever.
Do you like to read?
ALL THE TIME. Scientific textbooks mostly, or anything to do with flying.
Do you have a favorite song?
Hmmm, anything that’s soft and soothing. I have trouble sleeping at night, especially if I’m in a tight space—like an airship cargo hold, for example.
Are you a rule follower or rule breaker?
I am all about following the rules…ahem…mostly. Unless the rules don’t make any sense. Or they put my parents in danger. Or Cyrus in danger.
When was the last time you felt embarrassed?
Only EVERY time I’m talking to Cyrus. How can one boy have the power to make me so tongue-tied??? It’s like all the clever thoughts fall right out of my brain whenever I’m around him and there’s just this low buzzing sound like everything needs to reset and…I mean, that is…you’re not going to let him read this, are you?
If you weren’t answering the questions in this interview right now, what would you be doing?
Checking on my alchemical experiments, spending time with my parents, or maybe annoying Cyrus. They’re all very rewarding activities.
Do you have any secrets you would like to share with us before you go?
Come over here and I’ll tell you the best way to sneak on board an airship undetected. Hint: it involves smoke bombs.
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Written by Jaleigh Johnson
Publisher’s Synopsis: From the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Mark of the Dragonfly comes another magical and thrilling story that takes readers on an exciting new adventure.
Stella Glass dreams of exploring worlds beyond her home of Solace, but when her famous parents are sent on a historic mission to the Uncharted Lands, it’s simply too dangerous for her to join them. By order of the king, she is left behind.
Missing out on the excitement is one thing, but Stella is devastated at the thought of her parents flying into the unknown. So she takes matters into her own hands. Instead of staying with family as planned, she steals away and—right before takeoff—sneaks aboard the airship.
But Stella isn’t the only stowaway.
In the cargo bay is a boy who is also desperate to get to the Uncharted Lands. And someone else who’s determined to keep the ship from making it there at all. . . .
Ages 10+ | Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers | 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-1101933121
Available Here:
About Jaleigh Johnson
Jaleigh Johnson is a fantasy writer born and raised in the wilds of the Midwest. Her novels for the D&D Forgotten Realms line include The Howling Delve, Mistshore, Unbroken Chain, Unbroken Chain: The Darker Road, and Spider and Stone. Her first book for middle grade readers is The Mark of the Dragonfly. In her spare time, she enjoys gaming, gardening, and going to the movies with her husband. Visit her online at www.jaleighjohnson.com.
This interview with Stella Glass, a character in Jaleigh Johnson’s The Quest to the Unchartered Lands, was conducted between Jaleigh Johnson and Bianca Schulze. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship, Jaleigh Johnson, and Science Fiction.