As they travel towards the Island of Hoole and the mythic Great Ga'Hoole Tree, Soren the barn owl and his traveling companions discover that there are many wondrous places in the lands of the Southern Kingdoms. They encounter a number of obstacles, which they face together as a band. Each member of the band contributes something and has some degree of strength that comes to the fore in times of trouble or stress.

After many adventures and frightening experiences, the young owls at last find the island that rests in the Sea of Hoolemere. They also learn that the Ga'Hoole tree is no myth. It exists and is even more remarkable in reality than any tale made it out to be. Soon, Soren and his friends are part of the extraordinary community of owls that live within the tree.

In this beautifully and sensitively written book, Kathryn Lasky has continued to build on the world she created in Book One, where owls are a very elite group of birds, proud and separate from the other animals. In no time, the reader is caught up in a story where both dreadful and wonderful things happen. As Soren struggles to understand his new environment, he slowly begins to learn that there is more to life than just what he sees, hears and touches. Soren's realization about his own abilities is an exceptionally strong and powerful element in THE JOURNEY. There is also the discovery by the owls that live in the Great Ga'Hoole Tree that something truly dreadful is happening to the baby owls in the Southern Kingdoms. We are left hanging, wanting to know what this evil is, and at the same time fearing for the welfare of these owls.

Because the owls possess both strengths and weaknesses, readers will have no problems identifying with, and growing fond of, the characters that Kathryn Lasky has created.

   --- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber (mjansengruber@mindspring.com)