Hot Off the Press: The Edge of Everywhen

I’m in the process of trying to write a book right now. Know what the hard part is? Well, most of it, really. It’s fun and hard. But the really hard part is when someone says, “So what’s the book about?” 

You know, that’s a good question. 

It’s not that I don’t have an answer; It’s that I have too much answer. At times I struggle to condense my thoughts. (Have you noticed? Thank you for politely shaking your head “no.”) That’s why book reviews can be tricky. You read a whole book, and then you’re supposed to tell what it’s about and what you thought of it within a matter of paragraphs. Sure, no problem! Then I’ll spin this pile of straw into gold by morning! But I always like a good challenge, so here are my thoughts on a brand new book: A.S. Mackey’s The Edge of Everywhen.

A few months ago, Mackey reached out to me on this blog. She asked if I’d be willing to read her upcoming book, to which I replied, “Why, certainly!” Do I seem like the sort of person who would turn down the chance to get a free book and read it before it hits the shelves? I think not.  When I read the book, I was certainly glad I’d agreed. It was very well done, and I think kids of all ages will enjoy the writing, plot, and magic. 

Yes, magic.

And the question you’re asking is, “So what’s the book about?” I knew you were going to ask that. The book’s description calls it a story that “bridges the chasm between faith-based and fantasy kid-lit genres.” Amazon classifies it with “Children’s Christian Mysteries and Detective Stories.” I’d label it “Imaginative Kids Lit with a Hint of Fantasy and Faith.”

See? Categorizing is tough.

But the story follows the woes, lessons, and triumphs of thirteen-year-old Piper and her younger brother, Phoenix. The children’s mother passes away, and their father is MIA on a work trip gone wrong, so they’re sent to live with a rich, estranged, and standoffish aunt. The setup of the plot is reminiscent of A Series of Unfortunate Events, even in the narrator’s direct addresses to the reader. For example: “What’s that you say? Books cannot speak? On the contrary, dear Reader. Quite the contrary. Books are one of the few things on this earth that truly speak.” 

However, the book is narrated not by Lemony Snicket but by the book itself. Yes, the book is the narrator of the book. I admit this was hard for me to get into at the beginning, but once I made it through the first two chapters, I was glad I’d persevered. The rest flowed much more smoothly once I had my bearings. 

The reader watches as Piper and Phoenix learn their way around their aunt’s mansion, make friends with the butler and cook, and—most importantly—discover a magical book in the library. The book calls to Phoenix, who is intuitive because of his autism. Then Piper reads it, and she’s stunned at its contents. The book works changes in the lives of everyone who reads it. In fact, the book is instrumental in turning their stay at Aunt Beryl’s from a misfortune to a blessing.

The Edge of Everywhen also mentions other children’s books: Harry Potter, The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Giver, and many others. The narrator-that-is-a-book references these works of literature by way of recommendation, which I think is pretty neat. Piper is a bookworm herself, so making mention of books every kid should read is a natural fit.

And, finally, the book is certainly Christian, but it doesn’t sucker punch you with a sermon to get the point across. By and large, the characters’ growth is believable. I think that’s important so that young readers don’t expect real change to finish happening overnight. We see progress by the end of the story, but there is still room to grow. 

All in all, I think the book will make a lovely addition to any young reader’s bookshelf. If you’re in the market for a chapter book for the little ones in your life, head on over to Amazon, B&H Publishing, or Christianbooks.com and get yourself a copy! And when you do, don’t forget to leave a review. Good books deserve wide circulation.  

And thank you, Allison Mackey, for doing the hard work of finishing your book. We’re better off for it.