Caroline and Mordecai the Gand is a middle grade fantasy written by USA Today bestelling author and cancer survivor Jeff Gunhus. Read about this unique novella and enter to win a wonderful prize pack!
About the Book:
Book Title: Caroline and Mordecai the Gand by Jeff Gunhus
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 186 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Literary
Publisher: Seven Guns Press
Release date: March 31, 2021
Tour dates: Mar 31 to May 11, 2021
Content Rating: PG: The language is G. There is one scene with the main character punches a bully resulting in a bloody nose. The emotional treatment of grief and the death of a loved one can be somewhat intense. Recovery and closure.
This novella was written by USA Today bestselling author Jeff Gunhus after he received a devastating diagnosis of state 3 cancer. The story is a message to his five children on how to deal with grief and a plea for them to grasp onto joy and love even in the darkest of times.
Caroline loses her spark. It takes a great adventure for her to find it again.
Caroline loses her father in a car accident for which she feels responsible. Consumed by grief, she has a difficult time readjusting to a world that has changed so dramatically for her. On the anniversary of her father’s death, a strange window opens in the middle of the small lake behind her house. She climbs up an old oak to peer inside, but falls out of the tree and discovers that the window also serves as a door into a different world.
Enter Mordecai the Gand, a mysterious traveler who befriends Caroline and promises to help her find a way back home since the window she fell through has disappeared. The two set out on a series of adventures that include visiting a tree village populated by a tribe known for eating travelers, running into a witch under a spell of her own making, hiding in a cave with a dragon encased in a wall of ice (prone to melting by campfire), all the while being pursued by a mysterious entity call the Creach which promises to devour Caroline and trap her in an eternity of despair.
As they navigate these adventures and this new world, Caroline slowly discovers that she is meant to help each of the characters she meets. As she battles internally whether to stay or return home to the sadness and grief waiting for her there, she must regain perspective and open her heart to the act of caring and to the joy of love itself. In the end, she must demonstrate great courage, loyalty, and caring as the plot unfolds, becoming the active hero of her own story.
My Review:
Experiencing the loss of a loved one can be extremely painful for a young girl. Thinking of herself as the one to blame for such a loss would be all the more devastating. Drowning in grief and guilt arising from the loss of her father, young Caroline becomes more cynical, rebellious, irritable and hostile to the world around her. No one seems to be able to understand what she is going through. One month after her dad's funeral, she manages to sneak away from her home and stumbles upon the portal to a magical world, where she meets a mysterious nomad called Mordecai the Gand. A series of unusual adventures start to unfold as Caroline tries to find her way back home with the help of Mordecai the Gand.
The book is an intense, emotional read that is also uplifting and thought-provoking. With extensive and highly engaging descriptions of the protagonist's inner struggle, the story delves into the complexity of grief and the challenges associated with recovery and closure. Its artful mix of reality, fantasy, mystery, and humor encourages the reader to stay positive, to regain inner peace and strength, to find purpose, joy and love in life, and to battle adversities with great courage. It offers a more in-depth view about the underlying causes of bullying. Although written with middle graders in mind, the book is inspiring for older readers as well. Highly recommend!
Order a copy: Amazon | Audible
About the Author:
Jeff Gunhus is the USA TODAY bestselling author of thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle grade fantasy series, The Jack Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year-old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His books for adults have reached the Top 30 on Amazon, have been recognized as Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalists and reached the USA TODAY bestseller list.
Jeff wrote Caroline & Mordecai the Gand after receiving a devastating diagnosis of stage 3 cancer. The novella was meant as a private story for his five children on how to face grief by holding onto joy and love. He leads an active life in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to constantly keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of Old Fox Books in Annapolis working on his next novel or on JeffGunhus.com.
Connect with the author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Bookbub
One lucky reader will win a signed copy of Caroline and Mordecai the Gand & a $50 Amazon gift card!
Giveaway ends 5/17. Open to US only. Please enter below and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclosure: I received a free copy of the book to facilitate my honest review. All views and opinions expressed are my own. icefairy's Treasure Chest is not responsible for winner selection or prize fulfillment.
Posts
0 Treasure Hunters :
Post a Comment