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A review by ellielabbett
The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay
5.0
A wonderful, transportative read. McKay's story is a one of magic and discovery, involving three children moving into a narrow house encased with ivy, who begin to notice unbelievable things happening when they are on their own. A story with strong elements of fantasy, but also one of transition and adapting to new family circumstances, as two single parents marry and their children find themselves having to negotiate a chaotic and originally unwanted new home life.
A story that is easy to fall for from the offset. Abi, Max and Louis are three strong willed characters, each with vulnerabilities and I would be surprised if readers were unable to see either themselves or someone they are close to within at least one of them. The interactions between these characters was just excellent, and I loved the way that they were able to navigate through the real and the fantasy in this story.
McKay's narrative read just as seamlessly as The Skylark's War but I think The Time of Green Magic possibly topped it. Something about this growing family sold it for me, and the shimmers of humour and love between the three characters leave such warmth when the story is finished.
A story that is easy to fall for from the offset. Abi, Max and Louis are three strong willed characters, each with vulnerabilities and I would be surprised if readers were unable to see either themselves or someone they are close to within at least one of them. The interactions between these characters was just excellent, and I loved the way that they were able to navigate through the real and the fantasy in this story.
McKay's narrative read just as seamlessly as The Skylark's War but I think The Time of Green Magic possibly topped it. Something about this growing family sold it for me, and the shimmers of humour and love between the three characters leave such warmth when the story is finished.