The Wonderful Book (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Other Book April Spisak Womack, Philip The Other Book. Bloomsbury, 2008269p ISBN 978-1-59990-201-2$16.95 Ad Gr. 7-9 Edward lives a fairly quiet life in his British boarding school until he discovers an ominous and exciting Arthurian book that almost immediately transports him to a strange world. Suddenly, the twelve-year-old is facing life-threatening danger at the hands of various homicidal adults, who will stop at nothing to gain the power of this magical text that has lain dormant for over 400 years. Although Edward at first falls prey to the potentially wicked temptations of the book, his moral compass is righted by a knight who comes from within the volume to help him in his quest to keep this powerful talisman out of the hands of those who would use it for nefarious works. Together, they find the true destined owner of the book and pass along the repository of Merlin's wisdom to the appropriate descendent. It is a surprising and refreshing twist that the protagonist ends up not being the star or destined recipient of magic: Edward, capable and brave but ultimately very much an ordinary child, serves his role well as a temporary guardian of an object too powerful for him. Unfortunately, this complex plot is overburdened by far too many present and past characters, many of whom are incorporeal and therefore able to appear, disappear, or shapeshift at a confusing rate. In addition, readers unfamiliar with the legendary context of the volume (it's not made clear for some time, and it is unlikely that characters such as Vivien would be immediately recognizable to non-fans) may find these references only slow what is otherwise a dramatically paced adventure plot. In spite of the weaknesses, stories about British boarding-school boys who find themselves with extraordinary magical objects will still find a ready audience in those mourning the loss of one boy wizard. Copyright © 2008 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois