A place where words can change an entire world . . .
Escaping from the turmoil of a broken family, fifteen-year-old Posy finds herself at her usual haunt … the library. This time, though, when she chooses an unfamiliar book from the shelf, she does not devour its words and pages as she usually does.
Its words devour her.
Posy is pulled into the pages of a fairy tale, even mistaken for one of its characters. But all is far from perfect in this story’s Kingdom. Characters are whispering of rebellion against both their Plot and the deadly king who has seized control of it. And Posy must find a lost princess whose role in the story is crucial before her own story comes to a horrible end …
With the proud and haughty Prince Kyran as a reluctant companion, Posy ventures past the Borders of the Plot, into the depths of the gloomy and treacherous Wild Land forest that lies beyond. Secrets are buried there. Dark mysteries and shadowy creatures, dangerous and deadly.
Yet the deadliest danger of all is the one that Posy carries
within herself.
Soon it is clear that finding the lost princess is the least of Posy’s concerns. The Author of the book must be found. His Plot must be put to rights again, his characters reminded of who they were first created to be. Only then will the True Story be written, both for Posy, and for the tale she has now become a part of.
Courage and forgiveness are needed for Posy to find her way home again. But bitterness and shadows haunt her every step of the way.
Ashlee Willis is the author of fantasy for young adults. She lives in the heart of Missouri with her husband and young son. While most of her days are balanced between writing, reading and homeschooling, she also finds time to enjoy tea with friends, forest walks, photography, and piano playing.
My Impressions:
Can a story be changed by its characters? Or does the author have the final say in how a story ends? These are some of the questions that Ashlee Willis poses in her debut YA fantasy/allegory, The Word Changers. An interesting concept wrapped in a fairytale setting, this novel should appeal especially to middle school and younger high school aged kids.
Posy is facing problems at home. Her parents are constantly fighting, and Posy and her younger sister are enduring the consequences. In an attempt to escape the turmoil at home, Posy flees to the library and the security found in a book. But Posy has no idea just what she’ll encounter within its pages. Finding herself literally in the midst of a story gone awry — missing and mutinous characters — Posy joins the Prince on a quest to restore order.
The Word Changers is filled with mythical beasts, talking owls, and characters determined to assert their own will on the Author’s Plot. There is a little bit of something for everyone — magic, battles, adventure and a little romance. It is also an allegorical look at life. Posy finds an Author that has not written a story and then left it alone, but an Author who loves his characters enough to let them make choices and impact the story. Posy also learns the power of love and mercy and how to apply it to her real world life. While the story bogged down a bit at the end and I would have liked a bit more emphasis on Posy’s real world, The Word Changers is, overall, a good debut. Public school teachers: God is never mentioned by name in this book. An Author is, however. This one might be suitable for your classroom bookcase.
The Word Changers provides a lot to think about and is a good bet for your children ages 12 and up.
Recommended.
Audience: Ages 12+
Good for family reading.
(Thanks to the author for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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