Book to Share: Beyond Mulberry Glen, by Millie Florence

One tricky thing about writing a children’s book, as every adult author knows, is that you have to really dig deep to find a past version of yourself. Fail, and evey child reader will know it and grow bored of the story—and adult readers will inevitably give you the dreaded critique: “Adults may appreciate it, but I have a hard time seeing its child appeal.”

I bring this up because I have the pleasure today of reviewing a book that absolutely succeeds in capturing the point of view of a young teenager. That in itself is not much of a surprise, once you realize the author, Millie Florence, wrote the original version as a teenager. What is surprising is that, as an adult, she was able to edit and polish it to a mature, sophisticated story, without losing any of its authenticity. 

Lydia Green lives in the type of fantasy world my inner 11-year-old feels right at home in: hammocks in trees, fairies flitting about a cozy glen, a kitchen out of Redwall or Brambly Hedge. She herself is human, and as the book opens, she is feeling the very human emotion of anxiety over her future. She is soon to start an apprenticeship as an herbalist, and fears what life will be like when she leaves her beloved Mulberry Glen. Worse, she hears rumors of an insidious Darkness spreading throughout the land, and recognizes it in herself: the dark, hopeless feeling that preys upon her anxieties. Unwittingly, her discussion of the darkness inspiries two foolhardy friends to sneak off on a quest to destroy it. So what is there for Lydia to do but take it upon herself to save them, whatever the cost?

Beyond Mulberry Glen is a delicious fantasy that begs to be read aloud. In the trappings of a cozy magical world, it addresses the very realistic childhood fear and anxiety about change and growing up in a way that every child will relate to and every adult remember. And it’s beautifully done. I closed its cover giving my teenage self a little more grace and forgiveness for the darkness and anxiety I felt twenty-some years ago. I opened it again to share with my own children, so that they have the chance to know that grace while they’re in the midst of it, to understand that the fight against darkness is simply a part of life, and it’s a battle worth undertaking.

Some other things I loved: 
~The best cast of secondary characters! We all know it’s the secondary characters that make or break a fantasy novel, right? Mulberry Glen is full of the best sort.
~A setting I’d love to live in.
~A perfectly paced “hero’s journey” with some fun twists (a tiny fairy as the mentor instead of a bearded wizard? YES).
~The most beautifully-crafted book, story aside! Thick, velvety pages; lovely binding; gorgeous illustrations by Astrid Sheckels. My 15-year-old commented, “This book just feels nice to hold.” She’s right.

Beyond Mulberry Glen officially releases on January 7, but it’s shipping out already! (My indie bookstore got me my copy a few days before Christmas, in fact.) Check out Waxwingbooks.com for some lovely preorder goodies as well.

For more Marvelous Middle Grade Monday recommendations, visit Always in the Middle: www.gpattridge.com

(I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)