Happy book birthday! I'm a little early with this one, too, since it comes out tomorrow, but that's definitely close enough. There are SO many new books coming out tomorrow, and if you look back at the last few days on here, you'll see a few. Welcome 2025, I guess.
Anyway, this book falls into the fantasy category. Honestly, I first I thought it might be more of a magical realism, but after taking a closer look at the blurb again (I picked up this one thanks to the cover, so I didn't really take too close a peek before), it seems to firmly settle into fantasy with fairies and more. Which works for me...as long as it's a grabbing and has interesting characters.
I'm going to pick this one up right now and dive in, since the weather isn't exactly pleasant but my fireplace and hot tea definitely are.
BEYOND MULBERRY GLEN
by Millie Florence
Illustrated by Astrid Sheckels
Waxwing Books
Middle Grade Fantasy
288 pages
ages 8 to 12
COMING...
JANUARY 7th!!!
A captivating tale filled with heartwarming characters and an undertone of hope for readers of all ages.
Eleven-year-old Lydia Green doesn’t want anything to change. She lives happily in Mulberry Glen with her mismatched family of a fairy guardian, a philosopher, and twin troublemakers known as the Zs. But now, rumors swirl about The Darkness, a powerful force that dwells in the forest Tenebrae.
Lydia knows The Darkness is nothing to be trifled with, but when a foolish choice by the Zs puts her family in danger, she must leave home and face the strange magical world of The Valleylands.
Among the shifting library shelves and new friends of her quest, Lydia uncovers more questions than answers, and the Darkness begins to creep into her mind. If she wants to save her family, she will have to be braver than ever before.
Eleven-year-old Lydia Green doesn’t want anything to change. She lives happily in Mulberry Glen with her mismatched family of a fairy guardian, a philosopher, and twin troublemakers known as the Zs. But now, rumors swirl about The Darkness, a powerful force that dwells in the forest Tenebrae.
Lydia knows The Darkness is nothing to be trifled with, but when a foolish choice by the Zs puts her family in danger, she must leave home and face the strange magical world of The Valleylands.
Among the shifting library shelves and new friends of her quest, Lydia uncovers more questions than answers, and the Darkness begins to creep into her mind. If she wants to save her family, she will have to be braver than ever before.
MY TIDBITS
With whimsical tones and beautiful writing, this tale carries wisdom, adventure and heart.
Lydia has always lived in the glen, but now, she needs to leave and find a mentor...something she's really not looking forward to. When her guardian takes her to the nearby town to sign her up on the list, she overhears a storyteller explaining about The Darkness and the fall of the forest Tenebrae. Lydia fears the darkness might be growing in her, but before she can give it much thought, two of her dearest (and most mischievous) friends from the forest sneak away on their own in a quest to defeat The Darkness. To stop them, she must leave the glen and her world behind.
The author builds a rich and vivid world, cleverly working in phrases and comparisons with playful finesse. The writing holds a slightly older-feeling word choice, but not completely and that adds charm while fitting nicely to the setting and characters. There are even Latin phrases added in here, which slides right in with the rest of the atmosphere.
The characters are interesting and even sub-characters are given their own personalities and quirks. It adds to the richness of the story and opens the door to just enough humor and fun. The beginning of the read was a little slower to get going, since the author does spend time allowing the unique world to settle in, and the characters to gain a solid foundation before heading off into sheer adventure. After everything gets going and Lydia runs into new friends and situations, the story builds until its very hard to put down. The ending came with needed tension, and it was no problem to root for the heroes. Everything did, however, wrap up with haste. Still, it was an enjoyable tale and is sure to grab the interest of fantasy fans, who enjoy a rich tale.
And here they are...
Millie Florence’s earliest memories are of lying under the covers at night, long after her parents had told her to go to sleep, whispering stories to herself. She lives in a picturesque blue house in Illinois and loves adventure, good food, and just about all things yellow.
Award-winning author/illustrator Astrid Sheckels has always been telling or illustrating stories, especially ones involving imaginary animals. Her Scandinavian roots are evident in her artwork, which she describes as a “mix of classic realism and whimsy.”
No comments:
Post a Comment