4 Stars from me
To give it its full title, The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found is a fully immersive and magical tale of whimsy, fantasy and magic, the perfect antidote to the harsh realities of the real world today!
Benjamiah Creek (what a great name, and I could only really picture him as a young Jonathan Creek!) is a firm believer in science and facts, albeit his only friends seem to be the characters from the books in family’s bookshop.
So when life throws him into a rather hard to ignore situation with a toy that comes alive, this challenges everything that he knows to be true and he finds himself suddenly embroiled in an exciting, magical and unpredictable world that turns his whole world upside down.
I found parts of this book reminiscent of Philip Pullman, and of the Labyrinth and while not a young adult myself I can see how appealing and engrossing it will be to that age group.
The plot itself is interesting but also tackles some lovely YA topics such as friendship, belief, family issues, and of course – magic!
My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Puffin for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Blurb: A boy who doesn’t believe in magic. An impossible world that will change his mind. Eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek believes in science, logic and the power of reason. He definitely does not believe in magic. But when he receives a mysterious gift in the post – a doll that can transform into a bird – he is led into the impossible (and most definitely magical) world of Wreathenwold, where dark secrets are lost amongst a vast labyrinth of streets.
Benjamiah soon finds himself swept along in a dangerous quest – led by the fierce and brilliant Elizabella, who is determined to solve the disappearance of her missing brother.
Will Benjamiah ever find his way home and discover his puzzling connection with this strange, enchanted world?
Read and Rated 