Hi everyone, I hope you’re having a good month of May so far!! Down here in New Zealand winter has finally arrived and I find myself curling up with books more often than watching things on screen. This week’s post has a trio of quirky tween fantasy reads I found not too long ago. Hope to see you below…
Journey’s end by Rachel Hawkins (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2016) takes us to a town called Journey’s End in Scotland of all places. Spending the summer with her scientist father in the tiny Scottish village isn’t exactly Nolie Stanhope’s idea of a good time, but she soon finds a friend in Bel McKissick. Nolie’s father had come to Journey’s End to study the Boundary – a mysterious fog bank offshore. Whether you believe in magic or science, going into the Boundary means you’ll never come back…until you do. Albert Etheridge, a boy who disappeared into the Boundary in 1914, suddenly returns – without having aged a day and with no memory of the past hundred years. Then, all of a sudden the Boundary starts creeping closer to the town, threatening to consume everyone within. While Nolie’s father wants to have the village evacuated, Bel’s parents lead the charge to stay in Journey’s End. Meanwhile, Albert and the girls look for ways to stop the encroaching Boundary, coming across an ancient Scottish spell that requires magic, a quest, and a sacrifice.
My review: Can you believe that I finished this in two days despite it being an ebook?! A tale of mystery, fantasy and friendship. I really loved the description of the remote and wild Scottish coast along with the strong brave characters of Nolie, Bel and Albert. An interesting trio of friends that have to band together under extraordinary circumstances and save their town. I found it at times quite spooky but with a good pace in the story. I found this a good ghost story with layers of mystery and magic great for all ages!!
The train of lost things by Ammi-Joan Paquette (Philomel Books; 2018 ) is one of those reads that will captivate you for hours. Marty cherishes the extra-special birthday present his dad gave him – a jean jacket on which he’s affixed numerous buttons – because it’s a tie to his father, who is sick and doesn’t have much time left. So when his jacket goes missing, Marty is devastated. When his dad tells him the story of the Train of Lost Things, a magical train that flies through the air collecting objects lost by kids, Marty is sure that the train must be real, and that if he can just find the train and get his jacket back, he can make his dad better as well. It turns out that the train is real – and it’s gone out of control! Instead of just collecting things that have been accidentally lost, the train has been stealing things. Along with Dina and Star, the girl he meets aboard the train, Marty needs to figure out what’s going on and help set it right. As he searches for his jacket, and for a way to fix the train, Marty begins to wonder whether he’s looking for the right things after all. And he realizes that sometimes you need to escape reality in order to let it sink in. In this achingly beautiful adventure, it is the power of memories, and the love between a father and son, that ultimately save the day.
My review: This was such a lovely read!! Although it felt quite sad at times, the magical elements and sense of mystery kept me gripped. I liked the concept of a magical train that kept all lost things or as they described it ‘an item of their heart’s desire’. Reminiscent of Chris Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express, this magical read delivered a poignant story of friendship, mystery, and grief.
The house that wasn’t there by Elana K. Arnold (Walden Pond Press; 2021) is a tale I will not forget easily. We meet two young kids with quirky histories. Alder has always lived in his cozy little house in Southern California. And for as long as he can remember, the old walnut tree has stood between his house and the one next door. That is, until a new family – with a particularly annoying girl – moves into the neighbouring house and, without warning, cuts it down. Oak doesn’t understand why her family had to move to Southern California. She has to attend a new school, find new friends, and live in a new house that isn’t even ready. And now a strange boy next door won’t stop staring at her, like she did something wrong moving here in the first place. As Oak and Alder start school together, they can’t imagine ever becoming friends. But the two of them soon discover a series of connections between them – mysterious, possibly even magical puzzles they can’t put together. At least not without each other’s help.
My review: This was a gorgeous story of friendship and family. I was captivated from the first page. Both Oak and Alder had similar personalities in their courage and loyalty, little did they realize just how much they would have in common until they both adopted sibling kittens. The school scenes expertly woven into the story gave it a realistic vibe but the magical ‘feline transportation’ bits added that extra fantasy layer. I really loved how everything unraveled and worked out at the end. Perfect for young lovers of fantasy!!
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 