Spellbound (Books of Elsewhere Series #2)

by Jacqueline West

Overview

The mysteries grow deeper and the secrets darker in the second volume of the New York Times bestselling Books of Elsewhere series—perfect for fans of Small Spaces, Coraline, and James Howe's Bunnicula classics.

With no way into the McMartin house's magical paintings and its three guardian cats reluctant to help, Olive's friend Morton is still trapped inside Elsewhere. So when Rutherford, the new oddball kid next door mentions a grimoire—a spellbook—Olive sees a glint of hope. If she can find the McMartins' spellbook, maybe she can help Morton escape Elsewhere for good. Unless, that is, the book finds Olive first.

The house isn't the only one keeping secrets anymore. You'll never guess what happens next in this thrilling, chilling fantasy series, perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch, Septimus Heap, and Lemony Snicket.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780142421024
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	05/24/2012
Series:	Books of Elsewhere Series , #2
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	186,535
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	870L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jacqueline West, a two-time Pushcart nominee for poetry, lives in Red Wing, Minnesota.

Editorial Reviews

Middle grade writing as it should be.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune

“A suspenseful read that leaves plenty of room for the next title in the series.” — School Library Journal

“A delightful tale filled with magic, adventure, danger and . . . [the] challenges of growing up.” — MonstersandCritics.com

“As Harry Potter fever takes over . . .The Books of Elsewhere is a great series for young readers who are interested in the world of spells, witches, potions and magic—plenty of fun, action and thrills.” — Examiner.com

“The Books of Elsewhere just blew me away.” — New Richmond News

From the Publisher

The Books of Elsewhere just blew me away.

New Richmond News

As Harry Potter fever takes over . . .The Books of Elsewhere is a great series for young readers who are interested in the world of spells, witches, potions and magic—plenty of fun, action and thrills.

Examiner.com

A delightful tale filled with magic, adventure, danger and . . . [the] challenges of growing up.

MonstersandCritics.com

Middle grade writing as it should be.

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Gr 4–6—This sequel to The Shadows (Dial, 2010) picks up with Olive Dunwoody still trying to discover the many secrets hidden in the old Victorian house she and her parents have moved into. She has her dependable sidekicks, three lively talking cats that manage to keep her from hurting herself when she is possessed by the spirit of the mysterious book that she discovers. She realizes that she could use it to release Morton, a boy who has been imprisoned in a painting for many years by the house's former owners. Olive comes to the shocking realization that the spellbook has forced her to do various deeds while she has been sleeping. This realization is brought to a head when one of her cat protectors manages to wake up her up just before she jumps to her death. Has she not only put her life in jeopardy but also any chance of saving Morton? Who has directed the spellbook to possess Olive and why? These questions and many more will keep young readers engaged as the mystery unfolds. Olive matures in the story; her emotions, including remorse, are genuinely portrayed, and relationships with the cats and with her quirky neighbor, Rutherford, ring true. Some chapters drag a little but overall this is a suspenseful read that leaves plenty of room for the next title in the series. While it stands on its own, it will be enjoyed most by readers familiar with the first book. Occasional full-page, black-and-white drawings are appropriately dark and mysterious.—Julie Shatterly, W.A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

School Library Journal

Olive’s family has moved into a magical old house. While her parents are oblivious to the magic that surrounds them, Olive is thoroughly embroiled in it, working to free a friend who is trapped inside a painting. The house’s three guardian cats are reluctant to help, so Olive seeks to take matters into her own hands. But is Olive using magic, or is the magic using Olive? This book is filled with cheerfully wacky dark humor, and narrator Lexy Fridell’s saucy Kewpie doll voice leavens the scary parts. Nasal-voiced boys, indignant British cats, spooky old women, and plucky young Olive fill listeners’ ears and imaginations. This is a fast-paced, delightful audiobook, and youngsters don’t need to have listened to the first one to enjoy it. G.D. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2012 - AudioFile

The second installment of The Books of Elsewhere (The Shadows, 2010) is a by-the-book fantasy follow-up.

Olive has yet to find a solution to the last plot thread left over from the first volume—Morton is trapped, unable to rejoin the world outside of the McMartins' enchanted paintings. Meanwhile, the Linden Street setting is enriched through greater focus on Olive's neighbors, especially new kid Rutherford Dewey. When Olive inexplicitly blurts out the McMartin family's magical secret to Rutherford, he educates her on witches' grimoires. Olive is sure that Aldous McMartin's spellbook holds the key to helping Morton, despite her suspicions about Rutherford—he seems to know too much—and the fact that she'd be playing with an evil wizard's spellbook. The ancient McMartin grimoire is as old as the plot device of the untrustworthy magical object. Furthermore, Olive often acts as a slave to plot contrivances rather than as a character. The characters do not trust each other enough to communicate basic information, leading to arbitrary misunderstandings cleared up just in time for a climax that resolves little. Fortunately, zany cat Harvey's multiple characters and Rutherford's set of quirks help pull the story out of Olive's pace-slowing introspection.

Definitely the middle of the story, designed to set up further conflicts and sequels for readers already invested in the series. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews