Despite the first wet poop joke of the series (long awaited, it's been five books and constant meantion of these jokes), I honestly thought this book was a bit dull. There was a lot of focus on Eglantine which didn't feel fully thought out. This series tries to make mature topics accessable to children, and this is the first real time it didn't work.

these books are actually wild they have no right being so good

fun

tThe Shattering is the cleverly crafted fifth book of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. The title refers to the mind of owls who are subjected to the mind-controlling flecks used as weapons by the pure ones. It is a story that brings to the forefront advanced warfare that is waged not on the body, but within the minds of unsuspecting young victims.
tThe numerous references to shattering with terms such as slivers, shards, splitting, fragmented, piece by piece, and division weave a disturbing theme through a thought provoking tale. There is an eerie foreshadowing in the previous book when Dewlap, the traitor who betrayed Ga'Hoole to the Pure Ones, bans and eventually destroys a seemingly insignificant book. We learn later that the very knowledge in this book is the key to the brutal mind shattering used by the Pure Ones to serve their purposes. The book is torn, tattered, and scattered to the four winds like so many broken shards of Eglantine's mind. It commences when Eglantine herself drops and shatters the egg that is the symbolic hope for the future of the Pure Ones. In the end the story gets back to Dewlap, who suffers something worse than a shattered mind: a broken spirit.
tIn the grand theme of good vs. evil, there is a great contrast between Eglantine and Nyra concerning the egg. Nyra wants to protect the egg out of selfishness and the power it could bring her. Eglantine strives to protect it for the sanctity of life. While there comes a time when Nyra forgets about the egg for self-preservation, Eglantine is willing to die to save the egg. When Nyra discovers the shattered egg, her response is not sadness and mourning, but rage and vengeance.
tAnother great discussion is brought about by the egg. Will the offspring of two evil parents, Kludd and Nyra, be born evil? Could it ever have a chance at a decent life? It prompts the question of how Kludd and Soren could have been born to the same parents. What about all of the nuances of good and evil that are in us all?
tThe argument for a free society is made by the author in chapter 21. She brings up the question of how much respect the leaders of a tyranny really have from their inferiors. They fight because they fear their leaders, while in the free society, the citizens fight for what the feel is worth fighting for. She goes on to note the “fruits of an open free-thinking society.”
tWhile the free-thinking society can create so much, Ezylryb is bothered by the new weapons used by the Chaw of Chaws. In fact, he is bothered by warfare altogether, and the direction the Owl World is going. Soren shares Ezylryb's feelings, though he doesn't really understand it yet. He is becoming more and more like his mentor, and one day he will be the old, battle-beaten owl who spends his older years wishing there was a better way than war to solve the problems of owlkind.
tThe Shattering was a fantastic book, and the first great book of this series. It asked tough questions, had great thought-provoking issues, and resolved some of the lingering plotlines, while creating new ones to leave the reader wanting more. It's all building for a great war between the Owls of Ga'Hoole and the Pure Ones with all the flecks in St. Aggies. What kind of warfare will come out of such a clash?

My favorite part was when Eglantine got back to normal after being all strange to everyone else and slightly mean because of the flecks that were hidden in the place where she sleeps. I was surprised that they dropped nad broke the egg because in the seventh book, apparently one of Nyra and Kludd's eggs hatches. My least favorite part was when Eglantine and Primrose were caught by the Pure Ones.

Okay like...reading these books as a twelve-year-old, I’m not sure I really absorbed the EXTREMELY HORRIFIC IMPLICATIONS of all the mind control stuff in these books. As an adult, holy Christ, this is upsetting

Also I know they don’t do cross-species romance but I think Eglantine and Primrose are lesbians

It's book five and there is a little more intrigue in this one. Other reviewers have described, and expressed concern about the darkness of the series, in comparison to the age of the target market audience, I have not really seen that, although this one does appear a little darker. It does pose the question though of what is appropriate for what age, and how much do you censor or just watch over what a child reads. Should you allow carte blanche reading? Whatever the case, hopefully reading will be at a minimum a way to provoke discussion and relate, which is why reading what your children reads is a good exercise.
None of this is actually a review of this specific book it was more an excuse for me banging on like a banshee - however it was an ok read, but really it is beginning to feel like read one book about these owls and who who you have read them all.

Only alright, though the final battle was pretty good.

This was the worst book in the series so far. I nearly skipped over it, but I knew I'd be lost in the next book if I did. The book did get better halfway through, but the first half of the book was nearly unbearable.

The plot centers around Eglantine and her new "friend," Ginger, who was taken as a prisoner of war after the Pure Ones' siege and then decided she "preferred life in the Ga'Hoole tree." Now, if the decision to welcome her in was made by Soren and friends, then sure. They're young, naïve kids. But the Ga'Hoole tree is ruled over by grown ass adults who should know better.

I don't even consider this a spoiler because of how glaringly obvious from the very beginning it is that this owl is a manipulator. And if anyone had been even a tiny bit wary of her like they should be of an owl who LITERALLY TRIED TO KILL THEM AND TAKE OVER THE TREE IN THE NAME OF A RELIGIOUS CULT, they would have seen that right away.

The pure ones are trying every trick they can think of to get ahead and take over the owl kingdoms. But they have a disadvantage they are all barn owls and can easily be tricked.

Things are really heating up, in this latest installment we finally follow Eglentine and her growth among the tree. The intricacies of the Pure Ones manipulation continue to come together in a frightening display of brainwashing and manipulation. We get to see Soren's original band grow as more Owls find their talons and find solace with Sorens command.

I look forward to seeing how Soren and Eglentine work together to defeat their brother and restore peace.

Getting to find out more about the flecks was nice. It further sets up the war to come. Also eglantine and primrose are nice to have in the forefront for once.