Hi everyone, this first week of January I am giving you a review of a tween book I enjoyed towards the beginning of this journey. It was actually my first foray into that magical overlap between fantasy and contemporary. So if you and tween enjoy fantasy elements interlaced with family secrets, then delve inside.
Title: The Water Castle
Author: Megan Frazer Blakemore
Genre: Fiction – contemporary/fantasy
Publication details: Walker: NY; 2013
ISBN: 9780802728395 (Hardcover)
What this book is about: Ephraim Appledore-Smith and his family have moved back into their ancestral home in the small town of Crystal Springs in Maine following his father’s stroke. Their new home, aptly named the Water Castle, harbors secrets handed down over the generations. Mallory Green’s ancestors have always been the caretakers of the Water Castle and Mallory has been raised to protect the legend of the Fountain of Youth. However, ever since her mum left, she’s stopped believing in the magic that seems to surround the Water Castle. Will Wylie’s family and the Appledores had been at war for generations because of the secrets guarded by the Water Castle. Unfortunately, Will prefers to believe in science and rejects legend and magic. Ephraim learns about the fountain and thinks it can cure his dad. He embarks on a mission to find it with Mallory and Will’s help, and they explore the secret rooms of the castle. Their quest takes them deep into their families’ shared history and blurs the lines between magic and science, creativity and discovery, leaving readers to wonder: Do you believe in the unbelievable?
My review: This was the first book that introduced me to the magical words created by Megan Frazer Blakemore. This story is not just one about family, friendship, secrets and mystery, it is also one of science and exploration with a dash of fantasy thrown in for good measure. Being a story that involved a group of three siblings, I felt many connections to my own family. The main character Ephraim Appledore-Smith and his siblings, Price and Brynn, were created really well and I loved seeing their bonds twist and turn with the storyline. The friends Ephraim makes with the local kids, Mallory Green and Will Wylie, add another layer to the story. The fabled feud between the Wylies and the Appledores, and how the Darlings (who Mallory is a descendant of) played a part in the family history is told from a historical extract that runs along with the main story. The theme of science and exploration that runs concurrent with the whole mystery is one I found myself transfixed by. I even learned quite a bit about the race to the North Pole from the historical story and the kids’ research. Those school scenes in the science lab and library were quite funny and even interesting. What struck me the most was how expertly Blakemore wove all of this together into this magical read. Her descriptions make you think you’re the fourth wheel of sorts in both the sibling group and friendship trio!! An amazing read for all ages!!
My rating: 5 ⭐
Additional notes: This title was nominated for the Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award for Grades 6-8 in 2015.
Quote I liked the most:
“Invenium viam aut facium – I shall find a way or make one.”
Robert Peary
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 