Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen FoxleeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source : Netgalley (review)
Genre: Middle Grade Fairy Tale Retelling
Book Description: Unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard doesn't believe in anything that can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. On her very first day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help.
As Ophelia embarks on an incredible journey to rescue the boy everything that she believes will be tested. Along the way she learns more and more about the boy's own remarkable journey to reach her and save the world.
A story within a story, this a modern day fairytale is about the power of friendship, courage and love, and never ever giving up.
My thoughts: Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a retelling of the Snow Queen. This story does not follow the original closely but has the basic aspects intact from the original.
Ophelia is visiting a museum with her father and sister. Her father is a sword expert and working at a museum on a display. Ophelia and her sister, Alice, are basically left to their own devices as their father works. Ophelia wanders the museum and comes across a boy who is locked in room 303.
The boy, who doesn't have a name, sends Ophelia on adventures to retrieve the keys to unlock him from his prison.
Ophelia has asthma and doesn't believe in magic. She believes in science. Her quest unlocks her imagination and she discovers her courage, things that she didn't know she possessed. Along her journey she also taps into her mother's spirit, who guides her and helps her.
I really liked this twist on a classic story. It is full of magic, ghosts, monsters, courage, and sure to unlock a child's imagination. The story is paced well and full of action that will keep a child's attention. I didn't find the monster's to be described in a way that will cause nightmares, but they will generate interest.
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This sounds great. I think my son might enjoy these :). Thanks for sharing :)
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