Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When sixth grader Bevvy finds newcomer Cat in Bevvy's usual school playground hiding spot, she has fleeting hopes of finally making a friend. But when they meet again a day later, Cat is short with Bevvy and abandons her as bullies encroach on their hideaway. Bevvy is surprised, therefore, when she arrives home to find Cat on her porch. Cat is attempting to apologize when strangers emerge from a car, prompting both girls to run into the woods--where Cat opens a portal to another world, which she calls Lorelkey. Fantasy book lover Bevvy's immediate delight is soon dampened by reality: Lorelkey is a world at war, where sorcerers wielding life-stealing abilities face off against practitioners of natural wild magic. After Cat's efforts to open a path home fail, the tweens must survive threats both monstrous and human. In this spirited magical adventure, Knudsen (Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten) puts a new spin on fantasy elements such as unicorns as well as contemporary ideas around transportation (some characters travel via giant moth). Bevvy is a compassionate, compelling lead across a surprise-packed plot that doesn't shy away from such heady topics as the ethical use of magic. Major characters cue as white. Ages 9--12. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Aug.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Eleven-year-old Bevvy, a quiet sixth grader more comfortable with kittens and fantasy novels than with her peers, finds herself drawn to a mysterious new girl, Cat. After Cat provokes a confrontation at school and disappears, Bevvy is left bewildered -- until Cat returns, pursued by shadowy forces. Fleeing through the woods, the girls leap through an opening in the air and into the kingdom of Lorelkey. The land is in chaos: the king is dead, and war looms between wielders of wild magic and a dangerous villain with dark powers. As Bevvy and Cat are reluctantly swept into the resistance, Bevvy discovers she has a gift that connects her to Lorelkey's natural forces. She begins to understand why she was brought to Lorelkey -- and what's at stake. Knudsen successfully weaves elements of classic fantasy -- portal travel, hidden royalty, a heroine who must grow into her unexpected destiny -- with themes of friendship and bravery and an emphasis on moral complexity and emotional intelligence. Her world-building is immersive, and the story balances action and magic with deeply felt emotional stakes. Bevvy and Cat's friendship is tested and strengthened through their adventures, and the novel's ensemble of magical characters adds warmth and nuance to the plot. Recommended for readers who dream of other worlds -- and wonder if they could be brave enough to face what lies within them. Alicia RogersSeptember/October 2025 p.68 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A mysterious new student opens a portal into a magical realm where evil sorcerers threaten wild magic. When sixth grader Bevvy finds new girl Cat in Bevvy's special hidden recess spot, her "tree corner" under a large sugar maple, she's both fearful and curious: Could she become a friend? Bevvy is used to being constantly bullied, so this safe hiding place is "the only place in the whole school--other than the library--where she [feels] anything close to good." But Cat, who's cagey about her family and clearly hiding something, isn't interested in making friends; she moves a lot and won't be sticking around long enough for friendship. The girls, who present white, are nevertheless thrown together when Cat recognizes the danger lurking behind the dark, tinted windows of a strange black car that slowly drives past them. Telling Bevvy they need to flee, Cat conjures a door into the land of Lorelkey, where the girls meet a vivid cast of shape-shifting guardians, giant moth creatures, and steaders--those who communicate with the trees. They race to defeat the dark forces and free the fierce dragons who are being held captive. The pulse-quickening twists and thrills will captivate readers even as the girls fight back against those who threaten "all that is good and wild and free." An empowering tale of self-discovery, friendship, and love of the natural world.(Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
