Lucy has found the ultimate walk-in closet

I’ll bet you have got a closet.  What if you could actually step inside, and walk through it only to come out into a completely different fantasy world where animals could talk and time ran differently?  That is what happens for young Lucy during a stay at a professor’s house outside London during World War II.  A strange closet, or wardrobe rather, within that house is a portal to a lamp post in the land of Narnia, a country that has been terrorized by an evil White Witch.  The White Witch has cast a frigid spell upon Narnia, forcing all inhabitants to endure an eternal winter.  The Witch has both allies and enemies, and succeeds in winning the trust of one of the children, Edmund.  It is up to the other siblings, Peter, Susan, and Lucy, as well as some well-meaning animal friends, to rescue Edmund.  But soon their quest turns out to be great deal more complicated, resulting the greatest member of Narnia making ultimate sacrifice to help the children get their brother back.    

               

                For any reader looking for a deeply gratifying fantasy adventure does not need to look any further than C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  Lewis dedicates this book to his goddaughter Lucy, and writes as though he is actually sitting with her- or you, telling you the story, and leaving no question unanswered, making this a wonderful choice for a read aloud, book group, or an exploration in writing style.  Audiences will be able to easily grasp concepts within the story such as sibling rivalry, bad versus good, and sticking together; all the while wishing they could find their own little portal to fight alongside Aslan the golden lion or seek advice from the wise professor.  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is actually the second book in C.S. Lewis’ famous seven-book collection, The Chronicles of Narnia, but it is such an enduring story that its excellence stands alone, allowing readers to fully enjoy the book without having to read the prior volume, The Magician’s Nephew, though they most likely will want to.  Readers who love series ought to add these classic tales to their personal libraries.  Ages 9-12

Lewis, Clive Staples.  (1950).  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  New York, NY:  Harper Collins

ISBN:  0-06-440942-2

cover art link from ebay

Would you like to see a trailor from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie that was released in 2005?  Here you go! Enjoy!

For your next literary voyage forget Wonderland, and come to UnLondon!

Deeba and Zanna have discovered a portal in a London housing project basement that can transport them to a place where the city’s garbage and outcasts reside- UnLondon- London’s “abcity.”  Strange objects and signals, and a very talkative book belonging to UnLondon’s Propheseers have named Zanna the chosen one, or the Shwazzy, who will rescue the abcity from the Smog which threatens to poison and kill all of UnLondon’s inhabitants. Before Zanna can even complete the mission she chooses not to accept, the girls are returned to London, and their bizarre experience seems but a dream- until Deeba stumbles upon a mysterious link between the London she knows and the UnLondon she now feels compelled to return. Only Deeba knows the real reason why UnLondon is in even greater danger than its inhabitants originally thought. But how will she- a twelve-year old from a London housing project, the true Shwazzy’s funny friend, the UnShwazzy- convince UnLondoners that they are being tricked by an evil force posing to be benevolent? Luckily, a half-ghost named Hemi and an animated milk carton named Curdle have joined her crusade, but even with her two best allies she still needs more help to warn UnLondon and escape the Smog’s minions. Her journey is filled with narrow escapes from death, the most bizarre citizens, and one mysterious UnGun.

UN LUN DUNis an imaginative and fresh novel that is filled with great classic themes such as friendship, mistaken personas, (false) prophesy, and heroism. The book also alludes to the threat of pollution and how it affects political attitudes and actions. From the first chapter readers will be captivated by Meivilles’ original and witty writing, all the while feeling as surprised as Deeba by the unique cast of characters and bizarre but entertaining scenarios. UN LUN DUN is like an updated and edgy version of Alice in Wonderland and is a wonderful reminder that even the most unlikely characters can be heroes, or heroines. Grade 3 and up.


Mieville, China. (2007). UN LUN DUN. New York: Del Rey Books, an imprint of Random House
ISBN: 978-0-345-45844-5
Cover art from Random House, http://www.randomhouse.com/