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Jul 21, 20202 min read

The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman


From the #1New York Times bestselling author of the Magicians comes a must-read, wholly original middle-grade debut perfect for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Roald Dahl


Dear Uncle Herbert,


You've never met me, but I'm your niece Kate, and since it is my birthday tomorrow and you are super-rich could you please send me a present?


Kate and her younger brother Tom lead dull, uninteresting lives. And if their dull, uninteresting parents are anything to go by, they don't have much to look forward to. Why can't Kate have thrilling adventures and save the world the way people do in books? Even her 11th birthday is shaping up to be mundane -- that is, until her mysterious and highly irresponsible Uncle Herbert, whom she's never even met before, surprises her with the most unexpected, exhilarating, inappropriate birthday present of all time: a colossal steam locomotive called the Silver Arrow.


Kate and Tom's parents want to send it right back where it came from. But Kate and Tom have other ideas -- and so does the Silver Arrow -- and soon they're off to distant lands along magical rail lines in the company of an assortment of exotic animals who, it turns out, can talk. With only curiosity, excitement, their own resourcefulness and the thrill of the unknown to guide them, Kate and Tom are on the adventure of a lifetime . . . and who knows? They just might end up saving the world after all.


This thrilling fantasy adventure will not only entertain young readers but inspire them to see the beautiful, exciting, and precious world around them with new eyes.


REVIEW: I was really looking forward to this book because Lev Grossman is the author of one of my favorite book series, The Magicians Trilogy. I had the pleasure of getting to listen to this as an audio book from NetGalley and Hachette Audio before it's publication date. This is Grossman's first middle grade novel and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised! First and foremost the reader, Simon Vance, is absolutely delightful. He does all the different accents of the animal justice without going overboard and occasionally speaks straight to the listener. The story is cute and light with a dash of very important social commentary. We don't see much of Kate's brother Tom but when we do it's just the right time. Between the talking animals and Kate's thirst for knowledge, this book was a great mix of fun, magic, and information, and sets the scene for, hopefully, more adventures to come.


WHEN TO BUY: September 1, 2020 (available for pre-order)


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