The Islands of Elsewhere - by Heather Fawcett (Paperback)

About the Book

Amidst her stay at their grandfather's seaside property, ten-year-old Bee Snolly wants to focus on aiding her ailing Granddaddy, yet as she delves into the islands' secrets with her sisters, they start off on a journey to uncover a long-buried secret that may assist them all.

Book Synopsis

With hints of magic and plenty of adventure, this seaside story of siblings on a hunt for treasure is perfect for fans of The Penderwicks and The Vanderbeekers.

Not many kids have an island in their backyard, but suddenly, the Snolly sisters have three. They're staying at Granddaddy's seaside property for the summer, which includes the mysterious Fairy Islands: Fairy, Little Fairy, and Ghost. The people in Misty Cove call them "in-between places," and say they're full of magic--a magic that gets inside you.

But ten-year-old Bee Snolly doesn't believe in magic--she just wants to help her ill Granddaddy. And if she and her sisters can unravel the mystery of the Fairy Islands in time, they may discover a long-buried secret that could help them all.

Review Quotes

"In addition to the strong characterization and magical setting, the story weaves in realistic topics that many children will recognize from their own lives, including bullying, aging grandparents, and divorced parents, all the while validating their feelings . . . A charming family story with a touch of fairy-tale atmosphere." --Kirkus

"Via a cozy, magic-dusted family story that features a bewitching setting, Fawcett creates endearing and affectionate characters with realistic tensions--especially between scientifically minded Bee and her more imaginative family members--whose individual strengths help solve the central mystery." --Publishers Weekly

"Fawcett's poignant story about imaginary worlds and very real problems, with its tongue-in-cheek nostalgic narration, is perfect for fans of Catherynne M. Valente and magical mysteries." --Booklist

"Watching the sisters move from bickering to cooperation and back is a delight, and Fawcett has a knack for making even marine-life characters essential to the story, allowing the offbeat town to develop beyond its considerable quirkiness. Complicated topics (First Nations displacement, housing inequality, family feuds) don't bog the narrative down, allowing the focus to remain on the core adventure and the bonds of sisterhood." --Horn Book

"With well-developed characters, this will have readers rooting for a solution to Granddaddy's problems, while savoring the slightly spooky, heart-thumping fairy tale." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Heather Fawcett writes books for adults, kids, and teens, including A Galaxy of Whales, the Even the Darkest Stars series, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The Language of Ghosts, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and more. She has a master's degree in English Literature and a bachelor's in Archaeology.