Friday, December 21, 2018

Will it be Snowing Forever?

Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard loves science and explanations. She’s a very matter of fact kind of girl, and she’s still feeling sad after the death of her mother. When her father gets a job working on a special exhibition at a museum in a city where it always snows, she and her sister, Alice, get to go along. There the girls meet the beautiful and elegant museum curator. She allows them to roam around the museum and find what interests them most. It's during that time that Ophelia sees a boy dressed in very old fashioned clothes trapped behind a door in an isolated corridor. He tells her he needs some help and asks her to find the key to his door. It seems he’s been trapped in the cold museum for hundreds of years. He tells her he has no name anymore (to protect him from the Snow Queen), so now he is simply called the Marvelous Boy. The Marvelous Boy explains that he was sent far from his home long, long ago because the wizards thought he was destined to destroy the Snow Queen. But how can he do that if the time on the clock is winding down and he can’t even get out of the room. He explains when the clock finishes winding down the Snow Queen will take revenge on the Earth. Trying to help him, Ophelia is sent on a scavenger hunt around the museum trying to find special keys, a sword to kill the Snow Queen, and the “one other” who is supposed to help the Marvelous Boy complete his quest. Will Ophelia be able to complete the tasks before the clock finishes counting down? Will the marvelous boy complete his quest? You’ll have to read this book to see how this Snow Queen spinoff plays out.

I have had Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee on my reading list since I first read about it on a blog many years ago (so long ago I can’t quite remember which one). The story started out a little slowly, but the more I read the faster the pace seemed. With each page I cared more and more about Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. I was really rooting for him to complete his task and be saved. I also wanted Ophelia to figure out how to get everything on her scavenger hunt. This book has just the right amount of scary magic and characters that will tug at your heart. I would recommend this book to people that like fairy tales, fairy tale retellings, magical realism, and stories with quests. It would be a great book for someone who is in fourth or fifth grade. With all the snow and cold in the story it's the perfect book to curl up with on the couch and enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate. This is the first book I have read by this author, but I will definitely be reading more by Karen Foxlee! 

Has anyone else read Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy? Or have you read another book by Karen Foxlee? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
~L

38 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good one. Having pacing pick up sounds like it made it all the better too.

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  2. I haven't read the book but it sounds good, thanks Merry Christmas to you and yours, hugs, Valerie

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    1. Valerie- I really enjoyed it. Merry Christmas to you too. :) ~L

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  3. Eeee! SO glad you loved this one :D Stunning review love. <3 I.. have also actually had this book for years and years, haha. Ever since it came out. But I have yet to read it. Sigh. But I want to. I do think I will love it too :D Just need to get myself to start it, haha. So glad you were not disappointed by it. <3

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    1. Carina- I hope you enjoy it when you get to it. It picks up pace as you get into it. :) ~L

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  4. It sounds most excellent. I am suspicious about the beautiful and elegant curator though - which may be my scruffy self talking. Thank you for yet another book to track down and devour.

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    1. EC- You are wise! I was weary of her too. Her beauty and elegance seems to trick a lot of people! :) ~L

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  5. No, I haven't read this book but it does sound good.
    Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Jan- I really enjoyed it! Merry Christmas to you too. :) ~L

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  6. I haven't read this, but I do like fairy tale retellings and I am very fond of The Snow Queen. I will check it out. Thanks for the heads up. Happy holidays to you.

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    1. Rosi- If you are fond of The Snow Queen then I think you will really enjoy this one. Happy reading! :) ~L

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  7. I'm not familiar with that book. Although, it does seem to be a fascinating read. Now I snow, um, now I know about this book. I will duly share your post.

    Gary

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    1. Thanks, Gary! Glad to introduce you to a new book too. :) ~L

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  8. You manage to find the most amazing books for young people, and I plan on sending this to my granddaughter who is in the 4th grade. Hope you're doing well and Happy Holidays! RO

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    1. RO- I hope she enjoys it! Ophelia and The Marvelous Boy are two characters that really grew on me. :) ~L

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  9. You know I have seen this cover and title so many times but I never stopped to read the summary. It does sound like an interesting Snow Queen retelling. I'm not sure about the boy calling himself the Marvelous Boy. I've hardly read any books centered around museums so this is a maybe for me. I'm happy you were able to finally get to this one and like it!

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    1. Adriana- I was happy to finally get to it too. The boy is called The Marvelous Boy- but he didn't give himself the name- someone else does. He has another name, but the wizards took it away from him long ago to try to make him safe from The Snow Queen. If you read it- I hope you enjoy it. :) ~L

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    2. Ooh! Interesting. I hope you girls had a great Christmas btw and have a Happy New Year!

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  10. This is a new book to me. It sounds like a great story. Thanks for telling us about it. There are so many books out there it's hard to keep up with them all.

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    1. Beverly- I really enjoyed it. I agree- I have so many books on my list and am constantly adding new books to it. :) ~L

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  11. This sounds excellent!!
    I hope you've had a great Christmas! Big Hugs!

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    1. Magic Love Crow- I really enjoyed it! Christmas was lots of fun. Hope yours was great too! Hugs back. :) ~L

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  12. Great summary and review, the book sounds good!

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    1. Thanks, Christine. Glad you enjoyed the review. :) ~L

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  13. Sounds like the perfect read after I go clear off the new six inches of snow we received last night :)

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    1. Meradeth- You will need a cup of hot chocolate then. ;)
      ~L

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  14. This sounds good. Lots of mystery, a museum, and inquisitive kids. Published in 2014 and just now discovered :)

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    1. Sharon- Sometimes I am amazed at how long a book has been out before it shows up on my radar. :) ~L

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  15. That sounds like a fun book!

    Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best in 2019!

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    1. Sherry- It was definitely interesting! Happy 2019 to you, too! :) ~L

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  16. Sounds like another fun read.
    Wishing you much creativity in the coming year.

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    1. Sandra- Thanks for the good wishes. We wish the same back at you- and lots of good health too. :) ~Stephanie and Jess

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