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A review by jadeyrae
Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell
4.0
Wonderscape is quite honestly one of the most propelling middle-grade books I have read, possibly ever! After putting this book through the CAWPILE rating system (created by Book Roast), it came out at a final score of 8.57, which is a rather high 4 star!
Wonderscape is pitched as a middle-grade Jumanji meets Ready Player One, and although I'm not too familiar with the latter, I can definitely see how this comparison is drawn. Our three main characters, Arther, Ren, and Cecily are spontaneously transported to an In-Reality-Adventure-Game 400 years in the future and must complete the levels to meet the heroes and work out how to get home before their time runs out. But there's so much more to it than that, and the complexity of this world and the details written in blew me away.
From page 1 the action kicks off, and it simply doesn't slow down. It's such a propelling read, a real page turner throwing you into new adventures in every chapter, from a research vessel in the arctic to a sweltering desert, to a gothic castle and haunted labyrinth - there's so much for our heroes to overcome. Along the way we also learn about the lives of the protagonists, and how although they may all come from different backgrounds and lead very different lives, a friendship can blossom! It was such a heartwarming journey to go on with these kids, and promotes such an inspiring message to young readers about overcoming fears and believing in yourself and your friends.
I had such an incredibly fun time reading this, the worlds visited are so vivid and creative, and the added layer of the real-life icons such as Isaac Newton, Thomas Eddison, and Mary Shelley to name a few, add something really special to this story. I loved every moment!
Thank you to NetGalley and Walker Books for the e-arc of this!
Wonderscape is pitched as a middle-grade Jumanji meets Ready Player One, and although I'm not too familiar with the latter, I can definitely see how this comparison is drawn. Our three main characters, Arther, Ren, and Cecily are spontaneously transported to an In-Reality-Adventure-Game 400 years in the future and must complete the levels to meet the heroes and work out how to get home before their time runs out. But there's so much more to it than that, and the complexity of this world and the details written in blew me away.
From page 1 the action kicks off, and it simply doesn't slow down. It's such a propelling read, a real page turner throwing you into new adventures in every chapter, from a research vessel in the arctic to a sweltering desert, to a gothic castle and haunted labyrinth - there's so much for our heroes to overcome. Along the way we also learn about the lives of the protagonists, and how although they may all come from different backgrounds and lead very different lives, a friendship can blossom! It was such a heartwarming journey to go on with these kids, and promotes such an inspiring message to young readers about overcoming fears and believing in yourself and your friends.
I had such an incredibly fun time reading this, the worlds visited are so vivid and creative, and the added layer of the real-life icons such as Isaac Newton, Thomas Eddison, and Mary Shelley to name a few, add something really special to this story. I loved every moment!
Thank you to NetGalley and Walker Books for the e-arc of this!