Hi everyone, this first week of May is a blustery one and I plan on spending as much time indoors as possible. What would you say to a couple of fascinating fantasy reads with a historical spin to them? Are you game to press the button below to find out more?
I’m glad you made it. These two titles are set at least a hundred years ago across an ocean or two.
Title: Katerina’s wish
Author: Jeannie Mobley
Publication details: Margaret K. Elderry Books; NY; 2012
ISBN: 9781442433434 (Hardcover)
What this book is about: Katerina and her family came to America with a dream to buy a farm in a beautiful valley. But a year has passed and Papa is still working in the dangerous coal mine. Mama and the girls take in laundry to make extra money. Each day, the farm seems further away. Then Katarina sees a fish that reminds her of the carp that granted wishes in an old folklore. When her younger sisters hear the tale, they immediately make wishes. Trina knows that a farm is too big to just wish for. But maybe a piece of her dream is within her grasp. With the help of their neighbour’s handsome son, Trina starts building her dream with hard work and good sense. Then tragedy strikes, at the mine and at home, and it seems that nothing Trina wishes for will never come true again. Jeannie Mobley tells this lovely story with warmth and gentle humour of a girl whose determination is as inspiring as her dream.
My review: Set at the turn of the 20th century, this lovely read speaks of hardships the immigrant worker endures and details our young protagonist’s love for her family. Mobley takes us not just into the past, but also to the landscape of those early settlers as they made a life far away from all that was familiar. Katerina’s desire to create a better life for her family and the hilarious interactions with the magical carp brings an adventurous layer to this story. What sparked my interest was Katrina’s perseverance and the elements of magical realism that weaved into the storyline!! It’s no wonder that this amazing debut novel gained the Colorado Book Award for Juvenile Literature in 2013.
Title: The Secret Horses of Briar Hill
Author: Megan Shephard
Publication details: Delacorte Press for Young Readers; NY, 2016
ISBN: 9781101939758 (Hardcover)
What this book is about: There are winged horses that live in the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital – in the mirrors that reflect the elegant rooms once home to a princess, now filled with sick children. Only Emmaline can see the creatures; it is her secret. When Emmaline climbs over the wall of the hospital’s abandoned gardens one morning, she discovers something incredible: a white horse with a broken wing has left the mirror-world and entered her own. The horse, named Foxfire, is hiding from a dark and sinister force – a Black horse who hunts by colourless moonlight. If Emmaline is to keep him from finding her new friend, she must surround Foxfire with treasures of brilliant shades. But where can Emmaline find colour in a world of grey?
My review: A beautifully written story! Elements of magic, combined with the dark grisly horrors of World War Two gives this read similar qualities of the Narnia chronicles for me. I found the cast of characters an amazing ensemble. Despite the sadness that surrounds the place, there is happiness afterwards. This was an awesome read written in striking language similar to that of The Secret garden and A little princess. I’m hoping it rises to the status of a beloved classic in the years to come!!
My rating for both titles: 4⭐
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 