Two sisters face tremendous challenges in a fantasy world all new to them. Twelve-year old Katie and her younger sister Jenny live in Minneapolis with their mom. Divorce in their family has upset both girls. Dad seems to never want to be with them again.
At the story’s beginning pages they have arrived at Grandpa’s gray stone mansion in Duluth, Mom has left for Ireland and the girls will be staying here under Grandpa’s care.
It’s a spooky place, including the fireplace in the basement. Turns out by entering you can travel to O’Mirra, a kingdom full of magic and mystery. When grandpa disappears, they know he has been captured and imprisoned by an elf whose actions are more like a dictator.
They travel via the portal to this realm with the help of another much friendlier elf. Once there they find it to be creepy with scary creatures and trees, but this place is also exciting and has unique scenery.
The third person narration stays close to Katie who discovers more about herself than ever imagined. She’s always been environmentally conscious, but the plot goes much deeper. Topics like divorce, grief, and the anxiety Katie feels provides the backdrop for this magical tale. The heartfelt ending adds to the appeal of the 28 chapters.
The relationship between brave Katie and the much more cautious Jenny was also a highlight. Leave it to Spunky the wolf pup to provide a few smiles. His name says it all. Small black and white illustrations appear throughout, adding a bit of visually appealing accompaniment. In the back pages is a perfect summary of MAGIC SPELLS and THE CORE WIZARD POWERS. You could even read these first before diving into page one.
THE WIZARD’S WAY is the first in a series and I’m guessing more visits to O’Mirra are forthcoming. Young readers will be anxiously awaiting.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Kelly lives in sunny Santa Barbara, California, with her husband and two goofy dogs. Ever since she was a child making up magical bedtime stories for her brothers and sisters, Lisa has believed in the power of imagination.
With a PhD in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Human Development, Lisa has dedicated her career to helping children, teens, and adults discover the “wizard powers” they already carry inside. For over 20 years, she worked as a life coach, guiding people to name their dreams and take the steps to achieve them. As a college instructor, she taught the healing power of imagery—the way imagination can calm our minds, strengthen our bodies, and help us grow.
Now, through her book The Wizard’s Way and her school visits, Lisa combines storytelling, psychology, and creativity to inspire young people. She helps kids see that they are brave, lovable, and full of magic—and that through imagination, love, and hope, they truly can change their lives and even the world around them. (Website)
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