This is a story that begins almost 100 years before it ends. It is the story of Lucy Martin’s family who moves to an old family home in Iowa. In 1914 Lucy’s great-uncle Oscar disappeared mysteriously in the ocean. The only one who saw Oscar disappear was his little sister. She stood by their farm house in Iowa watching him go out to sea. No one ever believed Lavonne, his sister. She spent her life studying alchemy trying to find her brother. It is upon her death that Lucy’s family moves into this old house. The mystery begins to unravel immediately as Lucy and her father find an old rowboat in the smokehouse. Once Lucy discovers Oscar’s old journals she begins to learn more and more about her great-uncle. The key to all of the mysteries revolves around a journal, “The Book of Story Beginnings”. Stories that are started in this book become true. The key is that the beginning is in the book, but what happens in the middle and the end is where the story comes to life.
This was a wonderful book. It was creative and interesting. The arrival of Oscar in the story and the departure of Lucy’s father creates a very interesting sequence of events. This being said, there are parts of this story that do seem to stall. Once on the island of the Cat King and Bird Queen there are some parts that seem too drawn out. The story itself held me even through these parts because I wanted to see the resolution of everything that was in motion. The story brings time travel, alchemy and family dynamics into a story in an interesting way. I would recommend this story to children third grade and up. I think many adults would enjoy reading this book too.
Reviewed by Carrie Holton
