"A.F. Harrold's work is masterfully paced and stunningly crafted; the story unwinds at a deliberate clip, the characters moving through a world that is at first dark, then mesmerizing, then cooly terrifying . . . Simply beautiful . . . [A] glorious and spine-chilling tale for middle grade readers." - Shelf Awareness
"Strong characterizations and a good dose of spookiness are standouts in this illustrated novel . . . Hand to fans of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, Holly Black’s Doll Bones, and other books that balance scariness and substance." - starred review, School Library Journal
"Pinfold's atmospheric illustrations, darkly menacing and mysterious by turns, add to the contemporary folk-tale atmosphere . . . Captivating." - starred review, Kirkus Reviews
"Fairy tale, fable, and dream . . . Harrold’s incisive, poetic way with words . . . intensifies the vague darkness of his otherworldly imagery. Pinfold’s shadowy art deepens the story’s air of mystery and threat." - starred review, The Horn Book Magazine
"Friendship, acceptance, trust, and decency weave their magic throughout Harrold’s tale . . . Lush black-and-white illustrations by Pinfold enhance the secrecy, wonder, and mood of the story." - Booklist
"British poet Harrold writes with an engaging voice rich with character . . . Spot illustrations and immersive double-page black and white drawings are captivating in their intricacy and melancholy, blending perfectly with the poignant tone that resonates through the whole novel." - BCCB
"Harrold offers an appealingly childcentric world with hefty doses of scare and malevolence . . . Wonderfully entertaining." - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on THE IMAGINARY
"[An] inventive mix of humor and suspense . . . A great choice for readers who like fantastic tales with a dose of true scariness." - starred review, School Library Journal on THE IMAGINARY
"Most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships." - The New York Times Book Review on THE IMAGINARY
"Pinfold’s story has a timeless quality . . . A great pick for storytime, bedtime, anytime." - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on BLACK DOG
"Fear, fun, and just dripping with beauty." - starred review, School Library Journal on BLACK DOG
"Quirky, funny, and often heart-stopping." - starred review, Booklist on BLACK DOG
"Pinfold’s interiors are crammed with quirky detail." - starred review, Publishers Weekly on BLACK DOG
★ 05/01/2017
Gr 4–6—Strong characterizations and a good dose of spookiness are standouts in this illustrated novel. After a strange boy named Nick rescues her from bullies, Frank begins a cautious friendship with her unpopular classmate. When she hears mysterious and beautiful music coming from Nick's cellar, Frank secretly investigates. She discovers a "leechway" that acts as a door to alternate realities. Nick's nonhuman mother lives in one of them; so do creepy "stick-creatures" who seem eager to invade our world. The two kids play heroic, save-the-world roles in an action-packed climax, but there's just as much tension in the carefully paced plot that leads up to it. Third-person narration conveys Frank's inner thoughts and perceptions, revealing a tentative, flawed, but quite likable protagonist. Amusing inner dialogues with her nervous stomach show how the girl struggles with self-esteem, courage, and ethical choices. She comes through bravely against the stick-figures, but there's a different, equally satisfying triumph in a final scene where she defends a child from bullies. The eeriness builds slowly as Frank gradually learns more about the leechway. The ominous mood is aided by atmospheric black-and-white drawings that capture the shadowy menace creeping into Frank's world. VERDICT Hand to fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline, Holly Black's Doll Bones, and other books that balance scariness and substance.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR
★ 2017-04-17
Francesca "Frank" Patel's summer holiday is interrupted, first by bullies and then by a glimpse of another world. The neighborhood goons pick on Frank with escalating meanness. But the odd, large, flat-faced boy from her school whose name (Nicholas Underbridge) hints at his unusual origins—the boy everyone claims smells and no one wants to sit with—rescues her bag from a nettle field where the bullies tossed it, then takes her to his house for refuge. Nick's house, filled with his dad's colorful abstract paintings, is otherwise tidy except for two things: there is a damp, rich, earthy odor there, and Frank hears extraordinary music that fills her soul and makes her long for more. Frank's curiosity results in a frightening, nearly world-ending chain of events. Harrold gracefully tosses together hints of quantum physics, old legends, and magic-ministry-type agents. Frank's struggle to reconcile her fear of her bullies, her growing friendship with Nick, and the truth about the maker of otherworldly music are poignantly convincing and likable. Pinfold's atmospheric illustrations, darkly menacing and mysterious by turns, add to the contemporary folk-tale atmosphere. The only hints about Frank's Indian heritage are her name and a minor moment when an elderly woman asks Frank's wisecracking at-home dad if they have tuna fish "where you come from." A captivating British import. (Fantasy. 8-11)
