LoveReading4Kids Says
Sequel to Maggie Blue and the Dark World, Anna Goodall’s Maggie Blue and the White Crow sees the endearing, relatable thirteen-year-old heroine back in the normal world with her eccentric Aunt Esme and Hoagy the cat after venturing into the Dark World, a parallel realm in which happiness is stolen.
Since returning, “life had been very calm and very normal” and, for the first time in her life, Maggie is part of a group: “it was such a good feeling, the feeling that you belonged with other people”. But the Dark World hasn’t let her go. Maggie is being watched, and followed by a white crow, and she must return to the darkness to find her mum, and find control of her life.
It’s not easy to create a convincing fantastical realm that explores real-world, emotional issues with such seamless strength, but in this beautifully-written book Anna Goodall does exactly that. With all the atmosphere, style and invention of classic children’s fantasy, Maggie Blue and the White Crow sets the stage for an exhilarating end to the trilogy.
Reviewed by Joanne OwenJoanne Owen is a writer, reviewer and workshop presenter whose lifelong love of books began when she was growing up in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
More reviews by Joanne Owen About Maggie Blue and the White Crow
Maggie Blue is adjusting to a quieter life, back living with her aunt Esme and hanging out with friends Ida and Will as well as her beloved Hoagy the cat. She tries to forget about the events of the previous year - but she's being watched, and one day a small white bird appears. Where has the white crow come from, and why won't it leave Maggie alone?
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Maggie Blue and the White Crow Synopsis
Maggie Blue is adjusting to a quieter life, back living with her aunt Esme and hanging out with friends Ida and Will as well as her beloved Hoagy the cat. She tries to forget about the events of the previous year - but she's being watched, and one day a small white bird appears. Where has the white crow come from, and why won't it leave Maggie alone?
Little does she know that the Dark World is waiting for her to return... and when Cynthia her mum is kidnapped and taken there, Maggie only has no choice but to go back. With the help of Hoagy and some new friends by her side, Maggie must go back to the place that she never wished to see again, if she's ever to see her mum - or gain control of her own life - again.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781913101824 |
| Publication date: |
14th September 2023 |
| Author: |
Anna Goodall |
| Publisher: |
Guppy Publishing Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
280 pages |
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Anna Goodall Press Reviews
Praise for Maggie Blue and the Dark World:
'A sophisticated magical tale, awash in sinister villains and perplexing plights...bursting with invention' - Financial Times
'Dreamy and odd, yet razor sharp and terrifying all rolled into one... The Neverending Story and Spirited Away and Coraline all rolled into one amazing story. If you have fans of manga, fans of headstrong, flawed characters, witty and brave sidekicks and truly gut-wrenching monsters then this is the one for you. I can't recommend it enough.' - Lucas Maxwell, School Librarian of the Year
'The story is every bit as bizarre, brilliant, fantastical and exciting as I'd hoped. Definitely one to watch out for.' - Kiran Millwood Hargrave
'Troubling, exultant, terrifying and magnificent....it seems to create worlds within worlds, connect the climate change to emotional frailty. Furthermore, it is clever, urgent and searing. -- Bookwagon UK As well as being an incisive critique of capitalism and human greed - especially the devastating impact it has on our environment - Maggie Blue and the Dark World is a fast-paced adventure story, full of humour, bravery and good old-fashioned wickedness. By centring the experience of somebody typically overlooked, it shows readers that we are all worthy of adventures - exactly as we are.' - Cheshire Education Library Service
'The characters are so well drawn and delightfully eccentric that one can become totally engaged in this well-developed story...An author worth watching - and a good read for fans of fantasy-based adventures.' - Lovereading4Schools, Book of the Month
'An under-confident child who goes through a portal into another world on a rescue quest is a standard formula in children's fantasy adventures. So too is a talking animal companion. What distinguishes this well-crafted debut is the freshness of its prose and the way it sidesteps cliches. Twelve-year-old Maggie lives with her aunt, who is eccentric as expected, but in particular, unfamiliar ways. Her mother is ill - her depression portrayed with grim truthfulness. The classmate Maggie is trying to rescue has been unkind, but is not just the mean-girl type. The cat companion who speaks is not just there to be wise-cracking, but is elderly and only eventually heroic. The female villain does not wear high heels and red lipstick. The evil mastermind and the dangers of the other world are strange. We come to care. Happily, this is the first of a series.' - Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week
About Anna Goodall
Anna Goodall was born in London into a family of musicians. Writing has always been a way for Anna to connect with herself and the world, and, alongside reading, the most important thing in her life. She lives in London with her family and her dog, Winnie.
Find her on Instgram @agoodallauthor
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