One of the fun things about being an author is getting to know other authors. This summer, I shared a booth at the Great Homeschool Convention with my friend and fellow author Summer Rachel Short. We both got to hear each other pitch our upcoming middle grade fantasies about a hundred times! (We even got pretty good at pitching for each other when one of us was away from the booth). Of course, neither of us had read the other’s book at the time. But now both books are out! So, I’m thrilled to introduce you to The Legend of Greyhallow by Summer Rachel Short.
The Story
Ainsley and her brother Tobin have just moved to a new town where their favorite movie, The Legend of Greyhallow, was filmed. Their parents plan to start a bed and breakfast in the abandoned mansion of the mysterious director. The children discover an old projector in the attic which lets them enter the world of the film. However, they soon learn some things travel into their world too! Soon, the villain escapes, along with his magic scepter, and sets up his lair in the movie set. Ainsley and Tobin must save the town, and their family, by teaming up with the heroes from the film and locating the missing director once and for all.
What I loved
- Vivid, visual writing–Short writes concisely, yet she picks the perfect details to create a vivid scene in the mind of her reader. This immersive story will capture kids’ imaginations.
- Character with ADHD–It may not ever be stated plainly, but Ainsley almost certainly has ADHD. She gets bored quickly and struggles with impulsivity that often gets her in trouble. These same traits make her a great, decisive hero with lots of ideas. Having a child with ADHD, I love to see identifiable characters in stories.
- Ideas to chew on–It may seem like just a fun story, but I keep coming back to something the director says. He muses that if he had been a better creator, he might have done things differently. I think there’s a lot there for kids to chew. They may also consider the kind of hero they would want to be.
Parents should know
While the kids do keep secrets from their parents at first, they eventually do try to tell them what’s going on. However, the parents assume it’s just pretend. There is some definite peril and evil villains–including magical ones–but nothing too scary overall. I’d reccomend The Legend of Greyhallow as a great read for kids ten and up.
I love thinking of two modern day homeschool moms who have achieved one of my dreams.
I’ve read both of your books.♥️
The Legend of Greyhollow has such a fun premise that draws the reader immediately into the world. I like the way Ainsley and Tobin react to each other. I’m recommending it with enthusiasm to my people .
Oh, thank you so much for reading our books! I hope you keep writing! 🙂