Pages & Co - Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James

Storyline

Matilda or Tilly, as she is better known, is an eleven-year-old who lives with her grandparents next to their bookshop, Pages & Co. Tilly's mother left her in the care of her parents when Tilly was a baby and went missing. Tilly loves getting lost in the world of books and her best friends are the characters from various books. Despite that, she yearns for adventure and excitement in her otherwise mundane life. A chance encounter with two girls who resemble her favourite characters, Anne from Anne of Green Gables and Alice from Alice and the Wonderland in the bookshop, leaves her baffled. Soon she discovers that she belongs to a privileged group of book readers who can book wander. Tilly came from a long line of book wanderers. She could travel inside the books without causing any damage to the story. The mystery around her mother's disappearance intrigues her and, thus she begins her quest to find her mother.  

My Thoughts

Growing-up middle-grade fiction was my go-to to escape into the magical world of books and fictional characters. After a rather long time, I got back to it, thanks to my little one. Tilly and the Bookwanderers took me back in time and made me nostalgic. Such were the stories that started me on my reading journey. I book wandered with Tilly to her favourite books. Having said that, I wish all of it was true and there was some way I could bring to life my favourite characters. Anna James has created an incredible world in and around books. The first half of the book unravels gradually and is all about establishing the plot. It sets the pace for more adventures to come for Tilly and Oskar. Tilly's character is well fleshed out. She is spirited, impulsive and adventurous. The Author has cleverly incorporated two of the most loved classic characters, Alice and Anne. She has preserved their original characteristics. 

Tilly and the Bookwanderers reminded me why I fell in love with the books in the first place. Immersing myself in the world of books was the only way I could let my imagination fly and go wild. 

"The books we love when we're growing up shape us in a special way, Tilly. The characters in the books we read help us decide who we want to be."

"Books can change minds and change worlds, open doors and open minds, and plant seeds that can grow into magical or even terrifying things"

It is a must-read for every middle grader and for that matter anyone who enjoys this genre. Another plus for me, my seven-year-old thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Illustrations - 4/5

Engagement Factor - 4/5

Overall Rating - 4/5

Age - 8-12+

 

The Storyteller of Casablanca by Fiona Valpy

 

Setting

The Storyteller of Casablanca is set in the Moroccan port city of Casablanca. It is one of the largest financial centres in Africa. In the early 1900s, it came under French rule. During World War II, Casablanca was the melting point with refugees from all over Europe. It served as a stopover for refugees on their way to Britain and America, trying to escape the war. 

Storyline

It is a dual timeline book. One timeline focuses on Zoe in 2010. She with her husband moved to Casablanca on a posting, seeking a fresh start. With her marriage on rocks, Zoe was trying to break through her continuous cycle of grief. When she chances on an old journal in the attic of her home, she gets pulled into the life of Josie, a thirteen-year-old girl. Josie lived in the same house as Zoe during the second world war. She with her family had moved to Casablanca on their way to the United States. They undergo constant daily struggle to find passage to America. With the war and the threat of Nazis looming, Josie tries to adapt to life in Casablanca. So does Zoe, along with trying to come to terms with her loss. 

My Thoughts

Fiona Valpy has remarkably managed to do justice to both the timelines. Zoe and Josie are two characters belonging to completely different periods and stages of life. Yet the common thread that neatly ties them together is the alluring city of Casablanca. The author has brought Casablanca of the 1940s to life with her exquisite writing making it easy for me to envision the place. I could feel the spirit, the sights and the sounds of Casablanca. The unsaid grief of Zoe and her struggle with it was palpable. Even though the author has recounted Josie's story in epistolary style but at no point, it appears bland. Instead, Josie's story comes alive in front of you by the way she articulates her thoughts.It is definitely worth a try. 

Rating - 4/5

Recommend - Worth a try