Publishers Weekly
05/25/2020
Once upon a time when twins Arthur and Rose were younger, they created a make-believe world called Roar, which they accessed through a folded cot in their grandfather’s attic, and where they enjoyed adventures alongside imaginary friends such as Mitch (a mermaid-witch) and Wininja (a wizard-ninja). Then they got older. But when the twins, now 11, help their grandfather clean out his attic to make way for a “proper den,” they find a map that brings back memories. And when an old imaginary foe, a wicked winged scarecrow called Crowky, kidnaps Grandad, the siblings must travel to a far more alarming Roar than they remember, reunite with childhood companions, and stop Crowky from transforming Grandad into a stuffed scarecrow and conquering all of Roar. If, that is, Arthur can convince his sister that she’s not too cool for fantasy games. McLachlan (Truly Wildly Deeply) infuses a traditional portal fantasy with a whimsical logic—the twins’ power of belief influences Roar’s landscape, and their mundane possessions (a fidget spinner, for example) become talismans to its inhabitants—while deftly portraying two modern siblings working to mend their strained friendship. Occasional illustrations by Mantle capture the story’s fantastical feel. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Julia Churchill, A.M. Heath. (June)
Booklist
"Mantle's whimsical black-and-white illustrations enhance this playful, Peter Pan–like tale of sibling rivalry and affection. A series starter with heart."
"Mantle's whimsical black-and-white illustrations enhance this playful, Peter Pan–like tale of sibling rivalry and affection. A series starter with heart."
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Booklist
"Mantle's whimsical black-and-white illustrations enhance this playful, Peter Pan–like tale of sibling rivalry and affection. A series starter with heart."
School Library Journal
06/05/2020
Gr 4 Up—An old fold-up mattress might be nothing more than an extra bed to most, but to young Arthur and his twin sister Rose it was the entrance to the magical world of Roar, filled with all of the magical things that they loved and adventure around every corner. Now that they're 11, Rose has little interest in the games of their childhood; but when their grandfather is kidnapped by the evil Crowky-the half-crow, half scarecrow creature that Arthur deeply fears--the twins have to band together and head back to Roar to save him and their beloved magical world. Growing up is hard, and this fantastic story hits those notes beautifully. The world-building shines, and the dynamics between the twins—one eager to grow up, and the other holding on to the charms of childhood—will touch a deep chord with the young and young-at-heart. VERDICT The start of a series you won't want to miss.—India Winslow, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, MA
Kirkus Reviews
2020-03-15
A fantasy world comes to life and lures its young creators back into it in this imaginative middle-grade debut and U.K. import.
Narrator Arthur always loved playing make-believe in Grandad’s attic with his twin sister, Rose. Years ago they dreamed up Roar, a magical land that they entered via an old fold-up cot that acted as a portal. Now that they are 11 and starting school at Langdon Academy, Rose has new friends and wants nothing to do with her brother or their imaginary world. Rose may be done with Roar, but it’s not finished with her. When their grandfather is kidnapped and taken into Roar, Arthur and Rose must team up to mount a rescue mission. McLachlan does an excellent job of establishing the sibling tension before introducing the fantasy elements, and Rose’s desire to grow up and fit in feels as familiar and accessible as Arthur’s yearning to remain a child. While obviously reminiscent of classic fantasy, this narrative’s sheer inventiveness marks it as distinct. The twins’ widowed grandfather, a larger-than-life jokester from Mauritius, is a Peter Pan–like figure whose abduction brings the narrative into Roar, allowing the text and Mantle’s illustrations to go wild with creativity. The use of a wordless double-page spread to depict Arthur’s arrival into the fantasy realm is particularly inventive. Arthur and Rose are depicted as kids of color.
A sweet adventure and a paean to imagination and childhood innocence. (map) (Fantasy. 8-12)
