And All Between

Green Sky #2

by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Alton Raible (Illustrator)

Sequel to Below the Root. With forces working both for and against the reunion of the estranged Kindar and Erdlings, two youngsters, one from each group, employ their own powers to resolve the matter. Illustrated by Alton Raible.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction, Childrens, Dystopia, Middle Grade

216 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Zilpha Keatley Snyder was an American author of books for children and young adults. Three of Snyder's works were named Newbery Honor books: The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid and The Witches of Worm. She was most famous for writing adventure stories and fantasies.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opening in Erda, the underground civilization and home of the Erdlings, whose ancestors had been banished from the arboreal Kindar world high above, this second book in Zilpha Keatley Snyder's Green Sky Trilogy covers some of the same ground as its predecessor, Below the Root , but is told (at least at first) from the perspective of Teera, the little Erdling girl found on the forest floor by Raamo and D'ol Neric in the earlier book. Running away from home when her pet lapan, Haba, is threatened—it is a time of great food scarcity amongst the Erdlings, and pets are to be sacrificed to the people's hunger—Teera finds herself on an extraordinary journey, escaping through the magical root that imprisons her people, and eventually taken in by a Kindar family. As she learns about life in the treetops of Green-sky, and becomes close friends with Pomma, the daughter of the family with whom she now resides, Raamo, D'ol Neric, Genaa and D'ol Falla must decide what to do about the central dilemma uncovered in the previous book. Namely, the truth that the monstrous Pash-shan feared by the Kindar were none other than their brethren—the banished Kindar who had come to be Erdlings—and the question of how to reveal that truth to Kindar society. As Genaa and D'ol Neric set out on a mission to Erda, Raamo and D'ol Falla confront an even more terrible truth: some amongst the priestly Ol-zhaan are willing to use violence, even against children, to protect their secrets...

Judging from most of the reviews online, many readers find And All Between a somewhat unsatisfactory sequel to Below the Root , chiefly because its first half is devoted to a recap of what occurred in that earlier book. While I can certainly see why some would think this title suffered from "Middle Book Syndrome," and while I didn't love it quite as much as the first book, for my part I nevertheless found it an immensely enjoyable continuation of the story. It's true that there is less narrative excitement and suspense in the first half, as we already know what is going to happen. That being said, the exploration of life in Erda was fascinating, just as the exploration of life amongst the Kindar in the first book was so engrossing. The more emotional nature of the Erdlings, the way in which they governed themselves, the way their families were structured—all of it was very interesting to me, both the first time I read this book, some years ago, and now, upon this reread. The second half of the book was more gripping, as it advanced the overall story, and I found myself on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion. The conclusion, in which the much revered uniforce reappears in the world of Green-sky as a result of the bond between Teera and Pomma, as the result of an Erdling and Kindar child working together, points the way to developments in the third and final book. All in all, although I do agree that there are some structural issues with the Green Sky Trilogy overall (something I will discuss in my review of the third book), I think this is a worthy follow-up and second title. I enjoyed reading it, and (much as with it predecessor) found the accompanying artwork from illustrator Alton Raible (who worked on the entire trilogy) just lovely. Recommended to anyone who has read and enjoyed the first book.

[ambyr · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a combined entity, I really enjoy this series--but structurally, this book is a mess in a way that goes beyond Middle Book Syndrome. The first half retells portions of book one from a different perspective, while the second half is all lead-up for book three. I wonder if there was external pressure to make this series into a trilogy, because it would I think have been much more natural as a duology--or as a single-volume work.

[Simon Eisenstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

I concur with the general sentiment that this is the weakest of the trilogy. It's hard to get around the entire first half of the book being mostly the same stuff we just read in Below the Root. Once we get into the second half, it's good though.

[AquaMoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, here's what's implied: Our home planet has been destroyed due to an extraordinary, yet unspecified act of violence.

Second, some background: A handful of humans who survived this disaster fled to Green Sky, a planet of low gravity whose surface is covered by trees so large that could easily dwarf the mighty redwoods. It is here, among the treetops, that these survivors make their homes and create a new life based on the principles of peace, love, and happiness and put all their faith in a secrative and exclusive group of leaders who call themselves the Ol'Zhaan. Fearing that history will repeat itself, these leaders make all forms of voilence (and even the mention of it), as well as all expressions of strong emotions, illegal. They erase their tragic past from the history books, and it is eventually forgotton. Anyone who opposes this way of thinking or who wishes the general public to know the truth about their past is quickly disposed of, imprisoned in an underground prison that is covered by an elaborate and magical root system. To explain the disappearances of these, Ol'Zhaan tell the general public that the missing must have been taken by the terrible, flesh-eating monsters who live beneath the root.

Eventually, a Pleasantville-like community of cluless, peace-loving flower children-like citizens is established. The people are happy in their ignorance and in their naive (and almost moronic) trust in their leaders. The only real threat they know if is the (false) threat from below.

But escape from below the root is impossible.

Or is it?

Flash forward a few thousand generations: The original few human prisoners below the root has grown into a large community who call themselves the Erdlings. Here, the people are experienceing the worst famine in their history--and signs point to things only getting worse. People are desperate. So when 8-year-old Teera learns her beloved pet will soon be killed and eaten, she runs away... as far away as she can. Soon she is lost in a system of abandon mining tunnles. It is here where Teera finds an opening in the root large enough for a child of her size to squeeze through. She escapes into the forest.

Meanwhile, in the treetop community, things have been going downhill. The general clueless innocence of the Kindar is costing them dearly, although only the Ol'Zhaan know the extent of this. The powers of Spirit (not unlike the famed Force) that were once so common have become nothing more than myth. Wanting to get to the bottom of this disappearance of Spirit, the Ol'Zhaan send two young apprentices on a quest to solve this mystery. This quest leads them to the forest floor.

It is here they discover Teera.

Thinking her to at first be a Fallen (an infant who fell from the treetops and was rescued by those rebels imprisoned under the root), they take her home and she becomes part of their family.

Then they learn the truth about Teera.

And the truth about those who live below the root.

And that there ARE no monsters... Or, at least, the monsters aren't what everyone has been led to believe (in fact, said monsters have been living among them for generations)

And they come to the conclusion that the people below the root must be freed. And that the people of Green Sky communitues must be told the less-than-desirable truth about their past. Even if it means they will have to face up to the terrible feeling and emotions the truth will bring. Even if it means the end of the Ol'Zhaan.

But there are those in the Ol'Zhaan who will stop at notning to prevent the truth from being exposed. Even if it means resorting to the violent ways the order swore to protect against.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

1/25/18 $.99 for Kindle.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a letdown after the first book. I was excited and inspired to go right on to this book, but for the first half, this one just tells the same story from a different perspective. We get very little new information. Then finally it moves the story forward with some good new developments, but the ending is a cliffhanger. Highly unsatisfying. Maybe all will be forgiven when the third book finishes, but in the meantime, I find this lacking.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this a little less than Below the Root... it went over a lot of the same plot from a different perspective, which was fine, but it was pretty redundant after a while when I just want to see how it turns out! It did go over some of the philosophy and thinking of the green-sky people, which made me think... could human kind ever evolve past violence? Is Love and Compassion ever truly stronger than the desire for power? Not just for short times, and not just in a few people, but in an entire society, and what would you do to combat violence if violence is no longer an option?

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the first 60% of this book to be a review of material from Below The Root. Admittedly, it was from a different perspective, but it was too much for me.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't put much stock in the universality of "middle book syndrome", but in the case of And All Between, I see why the term has been applied to it in several reviews. I loved that much of this book was told through the experiences of Teera and other Erdlings, especially since it gave a clearer picture of life in Erda and how it contrasts against the world of the tree-dwelling Kindar. And I don't mind a bit of recap in sequels, but it went on for too long here. There isn't much new material added to the conflict until the last half or third of the story.

The conclusion is suitably dramatic and tense, but Raamo seemed like an afterthought in this story. He does almost nothing of interest here, while Neric and Genaa are exploring Erda and even the two little girls get more page time than him, despite doing little besidesplaying the pensing games that eventually become uniforce.

The problems that will arise in the process of integrating the Kindar and the Erdlings are set up clearly and logically. How will a society that entirely forgoes meat on moral grounds come to accept a group that has long eaten it out of necessity and may cling to their old ways? How will they relate to each other when one group is taught to suppress negative emotions while the other freely expresses them? There are still a lot of good ideas in this book, and I will still read the third one, but hopefully that one will pick up a lot of the narrative slack left by Book 2.

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eight-year-old Teera finds herself above the powerful Root that keeps her Erdling community captive underground. The Erdlings are feared and despised by the Kindar people who live in the massive trees above. Raamo and Neric, two young Kindar discover Teera and for reasons of their own decide to keep her hidden, allowing her to live with Raamo’s parents and his sister, Pomma. But Teera’s existence does not remain a secret and soon she, Raamo, Neric, and their friends are all in danger.

This book would be nifty as a stand-alone, but as a sequel to Below the Root (the first book in the trilogy) it's kind of boring and frustrating. Basically, it repeats the events in Below the Root almost exactly, except from a slightly altered perspective, so the first 150 pages are a retread of what already came before.

[Juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second installment of the Green Sky trilogy does not disappoint. The first half of this book is the second half of the first book told from Teera's point of view. It starts off with her life below the root with the Erdlings and how she ran away with her pet lapan. Most important is her point of view of her relationship and developing friendship with Raamo's sister Pomma.

The second half of the book starts with the abduction of Pomma and Teera. Raamo and his friends are then faced with a difficult decision, right a wrong and the two girls are killed, or let a whole race of people continue to suffer for a crime they didn't commit.

This book is quickly becoming a book that may need to be in the "multicultural" shelf as a lot of what is happening in the story line does deal with race, or class distinctions and how there is misunderstanding and hatred on both sides.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to Below the Root, although it does not begin where that left off. Instead, Teera's story is told from her perspective and that of the other Erdlings. The endpoint of the former book comes about halfway through this one, when the thread of narrative is picked back up from the perspectives of other characters. The players are gearing up to reveal the secret of the Erdlings and attempt to integrate them into Kinda society, but there are still those, such as D'ol Regle who will stop at nothing to prevent this.
With such fascinating world-building, well-developed characters, and a very suspenseful plot, Snyder once again proves she was doing Young Adult Fantasy before the genre was invented, and doing it very, very well.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My name is Teera, and I find myself above the Root for the first time. I've heard wonderful stories of the Kindar people living among the treetops, but I'm terrified being by myself. I'm living with Raamo's family now, but I can't let them know I'm an Erdling. The best thing is sharing a space with Pomma. We've learned to Image with each other, so Pomma has discovered most of my secrets. I trust she won't tell anyone else, but I'm still afraid she'll let something slip. I'm sure the Ol-zhann won't be happy if they know of my true identity, and I fear what they'll do to the other Erdlings. I'm happy Raamo is willing to help, but I'm not sure about his friends. I've just met another novice Ol-zhann named Genaa, and her angry emotions toward Erdlings frighten me.

You should read Below the Root first, as book two described how Teera came to find Raamo, the main character in book one. It covered many of the same events but from a different point of view. The intrigue was how Teera's presence could endanger everyone living below the Root, as her appearance could reveal the Ol-zhann's secrets. The conflict arose when the Ol-zhann exiled a segment of its citizens from the treetops many years ago. The crux of the issue concerned how much historical truth should be revealed to maintain a peaceful culture. Should the citizens be aware of their ancestors' past acts of aggression and violence, or should those kinds of thoughts and behaviors be taboo for discussion and knowledge? The early settlers of Green Sky battled with these questions until the believers of historical openness were banished below the Root. The controversy arose again with the appearance of Teera. It was evident the Ol-zhann wanted to keep the Kindar in blissful ignorance, but the leaders became willing to use the banned behaviors to preserve it. The story will make you think, which I like. Overall, I'm enjoying the series and recommend you give it a shot.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This trilogy is so very interesting in some ways. The first book, Below the Root, is very much a stand-alone, if you want it to be. The end is kind of a good end.

This book more or less covers Raamo's first year as an initiate in the Ol-zhaan, his building friendship with Geena and Neric, not to mention the friendships between Teera and Pomma. The three Ol-zhaans make quite a discovery as they're exploring on the forest floor, and it leads to some disturbing new information about the history of the Kindar and their below-the-root neighbors, the Paachan.

And All Between is not a good end, if you want things to end right there, with the second book. There is no closure, really, although the reader gets a few definitive answers the narrative and the characters hadn't already expressly known. All the same, it ends on a cliffhanger, basically what the first two books are building toward, and I barely took a breath after finishing And All Between before I switched over to the third and final book to continue reading.

One of the things I thought about as I reread both this book and Below the Root last week is how much The Giver owes to this series, whether or not Lowry had read these books. The idea of a non-violent utopia, with certain developmental checkpoints for all children, public celebrations of those checkpoints, the burden of knowledge that is placed on a select few, even the fear of the other... it's all in both The Giver and this series. Since this is a reread for me, maybe that is why The Giver felt for familiar and comfortable when I started reading it. They are definitely their own stories, no doubt there, but they're in the same family of books with some of the same plot elements, setting characteristics, and character sensibilities.

[J. Kirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

And All Between is an enthralling fantasy and science fiction story initially told from the point of view of a young girl living in a closed underground society where resources (food in particular) has become increasingly scarce. Teera's decision to run away from home sets off a series of events which not only shake the foundations of her culture in the below but also the society above-ground too.

And All Between is a beautiful, compelling story about the power of prejudice, power-hunger, and how leaders seek to divide the ones they're charged with serving. It's a story which has a lot to say about human nature, the tough path toward reconciliation, and most of all, a story of hope about how younger generations can influence society to choose a different path.

Overall this was a marvelous book. Snyder has created not just her own world but her own accessible, simple language to go with it. From an anthropological standpoint, the children of Erda, the Ol-zhaan, and the sub-factions within both societies are well drawn, interesting, and at times positively fascinating.

The ending was more cliffhanger-ish than I would have liked, but since there is a subsequent book available in the series - Until the Celebration - I look forward to reading it.

[Pamela Bronson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this second installment of Green Sky quite as well as the first (Below the Root), since more than half of it recounts events also told in the first book, but from a different person's point of view. It might have enjoyed it better if, like the first readers back in the 70s, I had had to wait a year (instead of a few weeks) after reading the first book, waiting for the second to be published. Though it is somewhat interesting to see the same events from the other side.

And All Between takes us up to the climax of Below the Root and then goes a little beyond that fragile victory to another terrible crisis and its happy resolution. But we're not much forwarder - there's still a feeling of much left to be done before things are as they should be, and many things likely to go wrong.

[Pat Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Green Sky Trilogy takes up the story with more perspective of the people of Erda and the power hunger/desperate Geets-kel sect of the of the Kindar Ol’-zhaan. We learn more of the history and split between the two peoples and which group is in control. A peaceful life practiced by the Kindar does not reflect the lengths the Geets-kel will go to keep the charade e en thoughts they are witnessing the demise of their world as a result of their actions. It seems there are some very adult lessons to be learned in this trilogy as it reflects current problems in the teal world.

I do agree with others that this trilogy could have been a two book series with much of the first half of the book included in book one and the second half of the book contained in book three.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this maybe sometime in high school or college? My mom likes Zilpha Keatley Snyder and I think I got drawn in by this gorgeous cover. I own the trilogy now but it is the library bindings of the '70s hardcovers.

I know I owned this paperback copy at some point but I think I might have gotten the other two from the library.

[Peregrine Tell · Rating 3 out of 5]

UNIFORCE!!!
Pomma and Teera can do anything!!
enough with going over every thing again though

[Matteo Fulgheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really non that much into the YA genre...

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did so love this series back in the day, but this particular book suffers from a strong case of Middle Book Syndrome.

[Risha · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason Synder decided to write the same book twice: this one from the perspective of Terra, who lives below the Root, and its sister book Below The Root from the perspective of Raamo, who above the Root in the trees. Until the Celebration finishes off the trilogy.

These stories take place on a alien world where most of the people are peaceful and loving, and live their lives in the towering and massive trees. Due to the low gravity, they all glide from branch to branch using suits with built in wings. However, a small number of young children are sometimes lost by falling off of a tree before learning to glide. The ground is an alien place that is feared, as they are told that terrible monsters live under the giant Root that lines the forest floor.

Raamo, who is training as a priest, ventures down to the floor and discovers Terra, who he takes (incorrectly) to be a fallen child. In reality, she has squeezed out from below the Root.

A lovely story about the horrible things people can do in the name of good.

[William Leight · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book of the Green Sky Trilogy ups the stakes a bit more, showing both that the powers of telekinesis and telepathy that have been waning in Green-sky could be regenerated by reunion with the Erdlings, and that there are powerful forces in Green-sky who will stop at nothing — possibly even extending to the use of violence, the strongest taboo possible in the society — to prevent such a thing. The focus of the book is mainly on Pomma, Raamo’s sister, and Teera, her Erdling friend. It’s moderately enjoyable, much like the first, and probably great for 10 or 11 year old kids, as I was when I read these first, but the series doesn’t hold up super well for adult reading.

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up for $1 in the dealers' room at Context in Columbus, OH, last month. Picked it up because I've never heard of this author. The book (#2 of a trology) was published by Tor in 1976. I'm not a big fantasy fan, but was curious about the author. It's a well done, simple fantasy about people(?) -- not sure if they're humans or fairies or what -- whose tribe got splintered, part of it repressed and forced to live under the roots of the World Tree. The main character is a little girl who is quite charming. The magic stuff is fun.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snyder's Below the Root trilogy is a nice introduction to fantasy and science fiction. It gets young readers ready for such heavy and layered series as the Lord of the Rings or Narnia.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently the popularity of this book and its sequels were attributed to some old school video game. It was recommended to me by a website I can no longer find. Someone did an extensive listing of mostly fantasy books from The Hobbit to current series circa 2000ish.
It took me years to find and buy them.
So I am saddened to say, I although I enjoyed the 2 books. (Below the Root, And All Between (Green Sky, #2) Until the Celebration (Green Sky, #3) grew tedious by the end.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a great first book, the sequel is kind of... really bad in a lot of ways. More than half of the book tells the same story as the first book, but from another perspective. Without really adding that much. Then a whole bunch of chapters in the present happen, but instead of unfolding naturally, they take place as a character's recollection of the events. Why?! The end is thrilling, though. Only giving this three stars out of loyalty to the series.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a kid. I was amazed that it wasn't an actual sequel, but takes place at the same time as the first book. It's told from another girl's perspective. It was great. Good books to remember for years to come.

(I'll always picture myself laying under tree roots, getting a splotchy suntan!)

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this series. On the surface, its a children's story of a boy coming of age. But there are depths that you'll only come to appreciate as an adult. Questions about human nature and the role of society. This series has grown with me from childhood to adult.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accidentally picked up this book out of order with the rest, and although I did not know exactly what was going on, I really enjoyed it. Still, I have to read the rest of the books to understand the characters again.