The Book of Story Beginnings
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4.8 • 6 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Oscar Martin was fourteen when he mysteriously disappeared from his Iowa farmhouse in 1914. His sister claimed Oscar had rowed out to sea ó but how was that possible? Nearly a century later, when Lucy Martin moves with her parents to that same Iowa farmhouse, she discovers the strange and dangerous BOOK OF STORY BEGINNINGS, and soon Oscar himself reappears in a bizarre turn of events that sends the two distant relatives on a perilous journey. From a first-time author comes an intricate, spellbinding fantasy that lures you in and wonít let go.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A cryptic message in a dream draws a girl into a century-old mystery in Kladstrup's debut novel. As the story opens, Lucy Martin's great-aunt has just passed away, leaving her home in Iowa to the girl's family (the timing couldn't be better, as Lucy's father has just been denied tenure). In a letter written before she died, Aunt Lavonne mentions a mysterious book she has discovered, Oscar, her older brother who went missing in 1914, and a dream in which Oscar tells Lavonne, "Lucy will explain!" In their new home, Lucy discovers the titular book, in which a young Oscar had written the openings for several stories he did not finish. One of those stories tells of a boy whose farmhouse is suddenly surrounded by a "great black sea" just like the one Lavonne remembers appearing the night Oscar vanished and shortly thereafter Lucy meets Oscar in the attic, still a boy, with no idea where he has been all these years. It turns out that anything written in the book becomes real which Lucy discovers too late, after her father suffers the consequences. The narrative becomes a bit convoluted here, teeming with transformation potions, talismans and books of alchemy, but it makes for whimsical escapism. Plot trumps character development; as a result Lucy never quite comes into focus. Readers may be reminded of Michael Ende's The Neverending Story, which shares some similar themes and ideas. Ages 10-13.
Customer Reviews
#BestBookEVER
I haven't yet finished the book, but I started it when I was eight. It's three years later and I'm still trying to find and finish it! But, all that I read so far, deserves a 5-star rating for sure! Can't wait to buy and keep reading!
Awesome sauce
The book was amazing could not set it down. I was so sad when I left it at school on accident and didn't get to read it
Awesome
This book was really worth it. Some parts may be a bit confusing, but it's a great book. I had to read it for summer reading and it was absolutely great.