Lalani of the Distant Sea

I read Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly for my girls' book club. Here's the description from the book jacket: "Life is difficult on the island of Sanlagita. To the west looms a vengeful mountain, one that threatens to collapse and bury the village at any moment. To the north, a dangerous fog swallows sailors who dare to venture out, looking for a more hospitable land. And what does the future hold for young girls? Chores and more chores. When Lalani Sarita’s mother falls gravely ill, twelve-year-old Lalani faces an impossible task—she must leave Sanlagita and find the riches of the legendary Mount Isa, which towers on an island to the north. But generations of men and boys have died on the same quest—how can an ordinary girl survive the epic tests of the archipelago? And how will she manage without Veyda, her best friend?"

This was a fun read. I liked the setting and the way the author set up the story and enjoyed following Lalani's journey to find solutions to her problems. The book did take a long time to build up and then seemed to resolve really quickly at the end, but I didn't mind the happy conclusion. I also enjoyed the clever way the characters got rid of the villains of the story (though my sensitive 11-year-old thought that part was a little harsh). We enjoyed the book!

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)