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23 Aug / Avatar: The Last Airbender | The Search (Parts Two and Three) created by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, script by Gene Luen Yang, art by Gurihiru, lettering by Michael Heisler

Last Airbender Search2.3

Okay, for the latest full Avatar experience, might I suggest you do a bit of catch-up homework first: To find out what prompts this eponymous ‘search,’ you’ll need to read the three-part Promise which reveals why family relationships matters so much, especially to Aang and Zuko; then you should pick up Search Part One to catch up with the gang’s quest to find Zuko and Azula’s long-missing mother, Ursa. A moment of gratitude is also in order that 2006 National Book Award finalist Gene Luen Yang continues to script these all-new Avatar adventures. Whoooo hooooo indeed!

Part Two finds the Fire siblings once again testing their rivalry, until Zuko warns Azula, “Look, we can spend the rest of the day – the rest of our lives – fighting each other, but it won’t get us any closer to mother.” Cooperative for the time being, brother and sister, together with Aang, Katara, and Sokka, arrive in Ursa’s native village, Hira’a, where they meet Noren and Noriko of the Hira’a Acting Troupe. Although the devoted couple can’t seem to offer any detailed information about Ursa, Noriko mentions that Ursa’s first love Ikem was thought to have run off to the Forgetful Valley when Ursa left to become Ozai’s wife. Warned that it’s “a dark, dangerous place [from which] no one who enters ever returns,” Zuko nevertheless determinedly announces, “We’re going to Forgetful Valley.” What the Fire Lord commands, the Fire Lord gets.

In Part Three, Aang calls forth the Mother of Faces “who walks through the Forest once a season, and “grant[s] one favor to one human.” But the one human in line for that next favor has already been waiting far too long, and Aang justly tells Zuko, “I’m sorry … we’ll keep looking for Ursa on our own.” Of course, brash Azula has a different plan, and her greed and anger set in motion a race for the truth.

Once again, Yang leads his creative team through epic feats, not to mention including an inspired nod or two toward age-old fairy tales (Snow White with a twist) and swashbuckling myths (royal siblings-in-rivalry Zeus vs. Poseidon or Athena vs. Ares). Zuko’s personal search, not only for his beloved mother but his very identity, results in more questions than answers … which proves to actually be a very good thing, because surely that means more Avatar escapades to come!

Readers: Middle Grade, Young Adult

Published: 2013

By Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center in Chinese American, Fiction, Graphic Title/Manga/Manwha, Middle Grade Readers, Pan-Asian Pacific American, Young Adult Readers Tags > Adventure, BookDragon, Bryan Konietzko, Colonialism, Father/son relationship, Friendship, Gene Luen Yang, Gurihiru, Michael Dante DiMartino, Michael Heisler, Parent/child relationship, Search, Series, Series: Avatar: Search, Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Sibling rivalry, Siblings, Speculative/Fantasy, War
6 Comments
  • razorstar90

    Snow White with a twist huh. I think that means that Azula will end up being Cinderella in this story . What I mean by that is that she is Ikem and Ursa’s kid instead of Zuko. Zuko is the true heir while the fire lord is the evil step father (ie step mother) to Azula not Zuko cause Zuko’s his real son.

    Reply
    • SI BookDragon

      No giant spoilers allowed … but here’s what I can share: part of what you’ve figured out above is true. Surprised me plenty when I found out! Yang did an excellent job setting us up, ahem!

      And that “Snow White with a twist” seems to have sparked quite a bit of curiosity! The one tidbit I might share about that comment is that it has to do with Ozai.

      Apologies that I can’t reveal any more … I certainly wouldn’t want to dampen your own future excitement when you discover the rest of The Search for yourself. Plus, I can’t give too much plot away, because then the folks at Dark Horse will surely cut me off from upcoming sneak peeks, oh no!

      Thanks so much for visiting BookDragon. Do come back and share your thoughts once you’ve finished this latest adventure.

      Reply
  • Bri

    Are you able to tell us if Zuko FINALLY reunites with his mother? Would be too much of a tease if they want to leave it as a cliffhanger against after so many years of waiting. Just a simple yes/no would suffice. 🙂

    Reply
    • SI BookDragon

      Alas, my fingers won’t let me tap out a simple answer … and would you REALLY want me to spoil your own discovery?

      I know it’s Avatar you’re looking for … but while you’re waiting, might I suggest other Gene Luen Yang titles? Here are some links on BookDragon. Scroll down on that link for non-Avatar related books …

      Yang’s latest is a double-volume manga, Boxers and Saints. I’ll be posting on Friday about them. But here he is talking about how he created the fabulous set (and it really is amazing): http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/59000-video-gene-luen-yang-on-boxers-and-saints.html .

      Thanks so much for visiting BookDragon.

      Reply
  • Re

    I know that there are some things i cannot ask “No spoilers allowed” but ther is one question I want to ask and it is this:

    Will Zuko finally stop running from his problems because after his break up with Mai and this whole “I am not like my father” issue he began more more hiding his problems from others showing that he is desperately trying to escape from Ozai

    Reply
    • SI BookDragon

      Alas … I can’t answer your question. But the pub date is only coming closer and closer. Soon you will know all! And then have more questions to ask yourself and discuss with others.

      Thanks so much for visiting BookDragon!

      Reply

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