Review: Here be there witches
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 24, 2012
Every once in awhile, I find myself reading and enjoying Young Adult fiction. It reminds me of the days when I checked my closet for Dark Riders, believed truly that there could be a dragon hidden in the stacks at the local library, and wanted very badly to have a horse, sword, and meet Merlin. All of this while being a girl, of course.Into the Mist is such a story, as we meet Gabe, who suffers from seizures as a result of a head injury. His parents, fearing that Gabe is a candidate for a grand mal seizure, coddles and protects the young man to the point that it alienates his older brother and drives Gabe crazy.Things take an unexpected turn for the family as Gabe's dad is offered a new position, and a new house and a new school means several turning points for everyone as they struggle to adapt to the changes.Enter Gabe's neighbor, who introduces him to the woods and the local legends of witches, graves, and trees that listen. Up until now, Gabe's sole hobby has been cartooning, and both the subject matter and the complexity of work changes after meeting Ellie and entering the woods.As Gabe struggles with the daily reality of school and homework, he must also choose to know if his cartooning is mirroring reality, or whether he truly is ill.The characters in these book are achingly familiar to anyone going through childhood as the new kid, or as a parent who wants their kids to succeed and be happy. There is some violence in the story, but no more than on any network TV. I hope to see more of this author's work in the future, and I did receive a complimentary copy of the book for review.