**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** ALA BookList
OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY is a modern fairy tale and a very good book at the middle grade level. It's the story of two children from two different times who join forces to defeat a cruel Snow Queen.
Backstory
The Marvelous Boy has been chosen by wizards to defend the world against the coming of frosty evil. To protect him they have taken away his name.
Ophelia is a sad little girl. Her mother has recently died and her family is dysfunctional as a consequence. She is struggling with her issues when she discovers the Marvelous Boy who has been locked away by the Queen for centuries.
The rest of the story is Ophelia's being drawn into the Marvelous Boy's quest of finding THE sword and THE 'one that has been foretold' so that the queen can be defeated.
Book blub...
Unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard doesn't believe in anything that can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. On her very first day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help.
As Ophelia embarks on an incredible journey to rescue the boy everything that she believes will be tested. Along the way she learns more and more about the boy's own remarkable journey to reach her and save the world.
A story within a story, this a modern day fairytale is about the power of friendship, courage and love, and never ever giving up.
Unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard doesn't believe in anything that can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. On her very first day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help.
As Ophelia embarks on an incredible journey to rescue the boy everything that she believes will be tested. Along the way she learns more and more about the boy's own remarkable journey to reach her and save the world.
A story within a story, this a modern day fairytale is about the power of friendship, courage and love, and never ever giving up.
OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY is told from the perspective of both Ophelia and the MB. She narrates the present, while MB tells the story of how he arrived in custody of the Winter Queen in the museum. Two sample pages follow.
WHAT WORKS for me in this story are the characters. They are well drawn for middle grade fiction, and the magical Marvelous Boy is the perfect foil for the science and logic loving Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard.
OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY is not a perfect book however for the MG market. There are longish lists of items in the principle setting of the Museum, and this slows the plot down in places. Similarly I thought there was more wandering around and exploring than was truly necessary for the story to move forward.
However, if a reader preservers, they'll probably really like this book. The word-smithing is good and the characters are delightful.
However, if a reader preservers, they'll probably really like this book. The word-smithing is good and the characters are delightful.
Pam~
OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY
by Karen Foxlee
3.95 STARS from 331 GoodReaders
Reading Information:
Word Count: 50,231
Page Count: 240
Accelerated Reader: 4.9 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 164216
--sample pages and reviews available
2 comments :
I loved this book and so did the young person in our house. The lists of things in the Museum (see the comment before) did not deter my young reader at all, she loved this.
As a children's author myself, I can say it's everything I love in a story for this mid-grade level - unusual plot, creepily brilliant baddies, a wonderful, evocative setting and two main characters who you'll love to bits. Ophelia is gorgeous - curious, a strong belief in science, with some healthy scepticism thrown in, but as brave as all out! A girl after my own heart.
Thank you, Sheryl, for adding some perspective to my comments (in the review) on the descriptions.
The characters in this book were very strong and appealing. And most people would say that OatMB was definitely magical :)
And you are no doubt correct that the 'the lists' probably wouldn't be a problem for most proficient readers.
Pam
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