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Book Review: Hannahwhere by John McIlveen

Hannahwhere by John McIlveen
Crossroad Press, 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1941408629
Availability: Paperback, Ebook

 

Hannahwhere is a rare treasure for a first novel. John McIlveen began his writing career in the horror genre, but his work has always danced on the edges of the magical. Although popular authors such as Stephen King and Neil Gaiman have experimented successfully with an array of genres and genre hybrids, a relative newcomer with a genre-blending book faces more of a challenge in drawing readers’ attention. John McIlveen has written a book deserving of that attention. The characters maneuver through the pages in fluid fashion, growing into people so believable that it is nearly impossible to contain them. The story and style will take your breath away, fracture your imagination, and carve open your heart.

Set in modern Boston, Hannawhere centers on young Hannah, who is found behind a dumpster, physically healthy but catatonic, two years after she and her twin witnessed a brutal murder in Nebraska. She has obviously been the victim of terrible trauma, and is trapped in an alternative fantasy world that is strange and claustrophobic, yet still inviting,  Hannah’s social worker, Debbie Gillan, enters and tries to save Hannah and find her twin, changing their lives and everything they thought they knew about reality. To say more about the plot would destroy the magic within the covers.

This creep down the rabbit hole will leave many in wonder, often with a tear in their eye. McIlveen has shown that boundaries are for those who refuse to knock the walls down… No such boundaries exist in Hannahwhere. Highly recommended.

Contains: mild horror involving children

Reviewed by David Simms

Posted on January 5, 2016 by , Reply

Book Review: The Loch Ness Punster (43 Old Cemetery Road) by Kate Klise, illustrated by M.Sarah Klise

The Loch Ness Punster (43 Old Cemetery Road)  by Kate Klise, illustrated by M.Sarah Klise

HMH Books for Young Readers (April 7, 2015)

ISBN-13: 978-0544313378

Availability: Hard cover, Paperback

 

This is the seventh book in the series 43 Old Cemetery Road. The series is about an abandoned kid named Seymour Hope, a ghost named Olive C. Spence, and a grumpy author, Ignatius B. Grumply, who live together in a haunted house. What makes this series special is that there are exciting new characters introduced in every sequel. The format is fun; it is based on letters, postcards, newspapers, and drawings rather than straight narrative. The author uses comical language and wordplay coupled with true adventure. The plots are exciting and keep the reader guessing. No two books in the series are alike.

 

In The Loch Ness Punster, we find out why Iggy is so grumpy all the time.  A childhood memory continues to haunt and anger him. He is sent to a Scottish castle he inherits from his uncle Ian, who makes lots of bad jokes, so is called a “punster.” Seymour, the main character, inherits the castle from Iggy’s uncle, but he must protect it from a villain who wants to change it into an amusement park so he can become a knight by winning the Queen’s competition to bring tourists to the region.

 

With ghosts, bizarre pets, and mysterious appearances and disappearances, the reader is caught in a complicated but wildly fun adventure. A storm is brewing, literally and figuratively, and has the cast of misfits running around until the reader has no clue what will happen next. Throw in a sweet romance, and you have a winning series populated by characters who are written with depth and humor, and a way of attaching themselves to your heart. Mysterious and unique, you will have trouble putting this book down. I loved this series and recommend that you read the books in order. Highly recommended for children of all ages.

 

Contains: N/A

 

Highly Recommended

 

Reviewed by the Goblin Girl

Posted on January 4, 2016 by , Reply

Help a Reader Out: A Father and Son Undercover in a Vampire Town

Tracy writes:

I am looking for a series about a father and son ( non-vampires ) living in a town of vampires, the son goes to school and has a list of things he has to do before school to keep his secret. He is chosen to hunt a human in a big vampire hunt but hears of a place where they have a cure and there are no vampires so he’s trying to get there and the vampires are trying to stop him from making it. There were several books in this series. I’m trying to find the title.

Further questioning revealed that this is a YA series. Anyone familiar with it?

Posted on January 3, 2016 by , Reply
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