An expertly woven and enchanting tale…
McIver combines adventure and magic to create an engrossing story of friendship, perseverance, acceptance, and understanding in her latest. When Leigh, Tara, and Cosmo set out for grandma’s house, they had no idea a magical adventure awaits them ahead. And though Leigh is wheelchair-bound, he has never let it hold him back. But the dangers are real this time. Will Leigh and his friends succeed in their mission. McIver’s taut, crisp prose conveys both character and emotion, and though the book is pretty slender, she succeeds in weaving together the vast detail: Leigh’s confidence and easy acceptance of his disability, the trio’s endearing friendship, the environmental concerns, wild-life habitat issues among others are woven in nicely. McIver shines in her rendering of her protagonists, skillfully capturing both the youngsters’ excitement about a new adventure and the seemingly nonchalant way they try to deal with scary situations. Leigh is not easy to forget. Zoe Saunders’s personality-laden illustrations are delightful. The book should easily make it to elementary-school readers’ bookshelves.
The Mysterious Pool
By Charlene McIver (Author), Zoe Saunders (Illustrator)
Pub date May 27, 2021
ISBN 978-0648417859
Price $10.98 (USD) Paperback, $16.08 Hardcover, $4.46 Kindle edition