What a joy of a book.
Cole’s Book Arcade was a real place and in this book is a place of real magic. Like the Harry Potter world magic exists and is available to those who have the Imagination, Articulation and Conviction to make their thoughts reality.
Though their world is magical, the Cole Family still know their share of tragedy. Ruby, one of the Cole’s children, died of Scarlet Fever a couple of years before and they are still mourning her loss.
This is were the Obscurosmith enters. With the power to ‘granted you hearts desire’ to those who can afford his fee.
Pearl and Valentine (known as Vally) find out that their Pa has made a deal with the Obscurosmith and the results are not to their liking. What’s worse, the price that Pa has paid for the deal.
Pearl and Vally have until the rainbow over the arcade to defeat the Obscurosmith.
I am on purpose being very obscure about this book as it is a wonderful confusion of history and magic, puzzles and loss that it needs to be made into a movie…better yet a seven episode series.
Make it happen world! This book did not make it onto the CBCA Short list (who knows why???!!) but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a wider audience than a few ambitious 8-12 year olds.
Blug... 