A review by annewithabook
Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Where do I start with this book without adding a heart eyes emoji. This book beautifully examines themes of death, life, love, and hope through the fictional story of a girl and her sick brother. Megs is a 17 year old college student attending Oxford in 1950 whose sick young brother is obsessed with The Chronicles of Narnia. He desperately wants to ask C.S. Lewis one question: where did he get his magical story of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Megs dutifully and timidly approaches Lewis and his brother and asks her brother's question, only to have him answer in riddles, stories of his life from boyhood. These stories she relays to her brother. At first she only wants to get to the real answer, and yet she grows to realize all our stories are shaped from magic throughout our lives. This is such a bittersweet story. I loved the friendships between Megs and the Lewis brothers, and her deep love for her little brother. Its a book which truly encompasses the Christmas season as well, making it a perfect Christmas read. I could gush about it more, but instead I'll just tell everyone to go read it!