Miranda Moon's vivid imagination has gotten her into trouble more times than she can count. This time, she's been suspended from school. So her straight-laced younger brother, Marcus, blames her when they're relegated to their late grandparents' old cabin over Halloween weekend. But when Miranda finds a curious trinket, they're mysteriously whisked away to Wunderwood, where magic flows through the trees and everyone already knows their family name. A place even Miranda never imagined.
Just as they arrive, a sinister warlock, Thornton Crow, is freed from a long banishment. He resumes his deadly agenda to find The Tree of Mindala, the source of all the realm's magic. As Miranda and Marcus discover branches of their own family tree that they hadn't even known existed, they learn that Thornton has a score to settle with anyone in their bloodline. Especially them... Though justice has always had a way of being naturally restored in Wunderwood, Thornton's latest evil deed just may be the tipping point.
When Miranda discovers her own role in Thornton's release, she knows it's up to her to stop him from stealing not just magic, but also hope. With travel companions that could as easily be foes as friends, and only the cryptic words of a prophecy to guide her, Miranda must decide if she can carry out the task that will either save Wunderwood... or doom it forever.
Fun story full of magic and lessons about choosing right and wrong. I read many books, some such as this one, for younger readers. This book is well written and the story is really pretty good. It will be passed on to my students and to young relatives. It's just the kind of adventure book that encourages children to read because the story has appeal and the characters are well drawn. The world building is very good and the end leaves you satisfied and yet....you want to read more of this world. Nicely done Ms. Jacklee. Not even middle age could stop my enjoyment of this interesting magical tale.
...youthful, magical, intriguing and one if a kind. If you're looking for an out of this world experience, this is it. But, like Rowling, details within the world are relateable enough to draw one in completely...
...I found the world of Wunderwood to be lovely, vividly placed in my mind through skilled writing and detail, and very original, even though it plays upon themes that are well established. The writing seemed to me a mesh of Rowling, L'engle, and Wynne Jones, all of whom are some of my favorite YA Fantasy authors. I can tell that Jacklee understands YA fantasy, loves it and knows what comes before her. That is not to say that the world she created was a copy. It is in no way a copy of any other world I have read (and I read a lot of fantasy), but it's own, unique setting...
