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Another sweet, feel-good, funny, wholesome, middle-grade book by Heather Fawcett. I believe I have just one left in this age range, after which (if she’s not published more!) I’ll have to return to the Emily Wilde series to get my fill, and refresh my memory on how Fawcett matures her characters (and subject matters) for adult readers. I’m really enjoying just swimming in her imagination.

The Islands of Elsewhere stars the three Snolly sisters, but especially the middle sister, Bee. Eldest Hattie likes math, money, and being bossy; youngest Plum never stops moving, likes all sports, and generally teams up with Hattie, especially in their shared love of witches, fairies, and all things magic. Plum prefers to wear a costume, always: some of them store-bought Halloween costumes, many handmade by their loving Mom, who works for and performs in the theatre. And then there’s Bee, who appreciates science, especially botany, and is ever annoyed by her sisters’ belief in dreamy magical nonsense. Their toddler brother Dore rounds out the small family. Dad is mostly off-screen, but he and his girlfriend get along great with Mom, and he’ll be picking up the sisters for a camping trip in a few weeks’ time.

But first, Mom and the four kids are off to stay with Granddaddy at his home on the beach. They haven’t been there in a long time – Bee was too young to remember the last time. The sisters are delighted to arrive and discover that he lives right on the ocean! And his property includes an island – no, three islands! Fairy Island, Little Fairy, and Ghost come with some fascinating, even sinister stories in the little community of Misty Cove. The girls will have plenty to keep them busy: Hattie is practicing for a sandcastle contest that she intends to win (with a grand prize of one hundred and seventy five dollars!), Bee’s collecting new specimens of leaves and flowers, and Plum finds costume inspiration in the new setting: she wants to be a seal next, among other things. But there’s also a sadder reason for their visit. Beloved Granddaddy, an accomplished surfer and prolific and inventive baker of chocolate chip cookies, is having trouble with his memory. Mom is afraid he may not be able to live on his own for much longer.

The girls hatch a plan. If they can find the hidden treasure rumored to have been hidden away by their great-great-grandmother – an actual pirate – maybe they can afford to all live with Granddaddy from now on. The Snolly sisters must band together to search the fabled islands, and deal with octopuses, surly islanders, and the possible ghost of a witch along the way.

I loved the family dynamics here, which are nontraditional in some ways but always loving and positive. I loved the sibling relationships, and the earnest attempt to save the day. I loved Granddaddy’s quest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, which includes everything from gum drops to Halloween candy to pumpkin pie, and maybe even octopus? It’s just all good clean fun, but not so clean as to be stuffy. In between heavier reads, I will take Fawcett’s younger-reader offerings any day. I hope she’s still hard at work. Hugs to Bee and the rest.

Filed under: book reviews | Tagged: children's/YA, family, Heather Fawcett |