text: Worldstone (Signet AE4756): Victoria Strauss: 9780451147561: Amazon.com: Books
  Publisher: New American Library (March 3, 1987)
  ISBN-10: 0451147561
  ISBN-13: 978-0451147561
  Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,462,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  Grade 8 Up Alexina Taylor has always felt her separation from the rest of humanity, but she has assumed it to be a fault in her own character. It is only after she meets Taryn and his companions, journeyers from a parallel world, that she discovers the awesome powers which are hers to command. Alexina's loneliness makes her vulnerable to manipulation, and even her abilities cannot guard her against the betrayal which wears friendship's smile. A hazardous quest, a mysterious shadow, an enigmatic man and his seemingly enchanted mansion all combine to form a thrilling narrative, slowed somewhat by chunks of exposition, often necessary in fantasy to acquaint readers with the created world. Like many other protagonists who follow a quest, Alexina experiences the pain which comes from growth, but she also reaches a kind of peace through acceptance of herself and her circumstances. If this acceptance seems somewhat facile, and the realistic world's issues not quite so interesting as those involving Taryn, Bron and their people, this may be because few things are resolved at novel's end. There is pause as of calm before storm, and readers are left wonderingand hoping. Readers of Walker's Inherit the Earth (1981) and McKillip's The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (1974, both Atheneum) will find this hard to forget and will demand to know "what happened next?" Holly Sanhuber, Muskego Public Library, Wis.Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
  11 of 12 people found the following review helpfulFans of Strauss will find this a very interesting read.
  Fans who enjoyed Strauss' work in Arm of the Stone and Garden of Stone will enjoy reading this related earlier work by Strauss. The Worldstone is about Alexina, an American teenager who discovers her own mindpower when she helps a strange boy who appears in a nearby cave, and must make choices about who to trust and how to use her power. Those who have read Arm of the Stone will recognize certain characters who Alexina meets. However, readers should keep in mind that The Worldstone is an "alternate" sequel to Arm of the Stone, since the events in The Worldstone are not compatible with events that occur in the Garden of Stone.Even in this early work, Strauss creates interesting characters, who cannot be easily categorized as "good" or "evil," unlike much young adult fantasy. The weakness of this early work is that it leans much more on cliched description, and has a less than satisfying ending, which is why I do not give it more stars. However, the book is very interesting as an example of how an author develops and changes her plots, characters and writing over time.
  5 of 10 people found the following review helpfulSloppy and unprofessional!
  I am so disappointed in this book! The plot is weak and the characters I found to be a bit boring. Overall I thought this book was sloppy and unprofessional not what I expected by this self-proclaimed bestselling author! WORLDSTONE is a waste of time and good money, in this man's opinion.