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Joey's best friend Ben has moved away. Saddened, he and his dog, Lady, venture down to the swimming hole where the two boys used to fish away their afternoons. Joey's entire world is turned upside-down when he meets a most peculiar character named Frendric, who eventually leads the boy through a portal to a fantastical parallel realm. Joey is ecstatic to discover Ben is there, waiting for him. The two spend extended periods of time together—equaling barely any time back home—due to time differentials, so Ma and Pa are none the wiser. There is, however, one huge catch: the best friends have been chosen for an enormous mission, involving an intriguing girl named Ella, lively dwarfs, dangerous trolls, giants, and more. This "world" where their amazing adventure unfolds is the birthplace of all ideas—ones shaping the history, present, and future of humanity on Earth.
Cross' intricate, exciting fantasy and action-adventure story will surely please young readers who enjoy intelligent, witty writing. Entirely immersive and set within a whimsical parallel world rich in detail and full of well-developed characters, many sections read like pure poetry. While outlandish imagination reigns in Cross' plot, an underlying logic underpins the story itself. That which happens on "the other side," where Joey and Ben are active participants, ultimately results in the very formation of ideas. This strange, exotic world of silly creatures' antics and imaginative goings-on is precisely that which births the material necessary for Earth's humanity. Full of humor, wisecracking creatures, and two young boys' bravery, the narrative is woven into a colorful tapestry in this most riveting tale, where hidden wonders lie just out of reach, yet one never knows what lurks just around the corner. Frankly, this material is the stuff of delightfully wonderful, whimsical dreams.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review