This book lives its message: Literature gives answers without answers. Stories conceal and reveal great Truth. Life isn't a math equation in math equations aren't even math equations themselves.

Just as the main character, Megs, discovers, we are all digesting our experiences by reading between the lines and interpreting both consciously and unconsciously. To be honest, I didn't identify with her lack of imagination nor her inability to see that Truth lies in the scope rather than in finding facts. However, I know many people who live their lives from that perspective and perhaps I'll pass this book onto them.

There's so much familial and friendly love expressed in this book that it shines with Truth (and makes me wonder if the author had someone close to her suffering from a long illness). As you can read in the summary, Megs loves her brother as much as she loves life itself and would be willing to go to the ends of the Earth for him. Instead of going to the ends of the Earth, she goes to Narnia, to the feet C.S. Lewis in his home, and then to Ireland.

The treasure within this book is the peek into C.S. Lewis' process and perspective. There's great character development, certainly, but my TBR pile has been rearranged because I must return to reading more C.S. Lewis on a regular basis after reigniting my love for his words and insight.

I was delighted to return to this book day after day and missed a lot of sleep trying to drink it all in. That's the sign of a good one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

When I saw what this book was about I knew I had to read it. I adore C.Lewis’s ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wadrobe’ so this story intrigued me.
The story is set in 1950. 8 year old George is terminally Ill with a weak heart but he loves to read, especially his favourite book, the lion the witch and the wardrobe. He climbs into the wardrobe hoping to find some answers to the questions he asks about the book. his older sister Megs is studying Maths in Oxford and doesn’t buy in to stories and fantasies, however, when her brother finds out that the author of his favourite book is in Oxford he asks Megs to find out if Narnia and everyone in it is real. This starts a unique and surprising friendship for Megs with the Lewis brothers and a fellow student Padraig. Mr Lewis retells the story of his life to Megs in the hope she will understand. Can Meg give George the answers he desperately desires?
I really wanted to love this book. The end would have been a 4.5 star for me, however the majority of the book fell short of my expectation. It was quite a slow burner. I couldn’t really connect with Megs which is a shame as she is one of the main characters of the book. I really liked the other characters. Unfortunately, I think I enjoyed reading it more for my love of Narnia than the story this book was telling.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for for providing me with a digital arc in return for my honest review.

A boy and a girl, a brother and sister, one’s stance is so definitive, a woman of math and science, the other, a young boy has a more abstract view of the world. One is hale, hearty and very healthy, the other has a heart that is failing - they are each devoted to the other. They are going to travel together as far as they can, as long as they can and all the while the girl is looking for answers to the question her brother poses “Where did Narnia come from?”

So to quote Megs and George; “Once upon a wardrobe, not very long ago and not very far away” there is an exquisite story of love and devotion, heartbreak and profound loss, but always stories, filled with wonder and loyalty, stories that make something wonderful out of something awful. Slowly, gradually, the rigid curtain of definitive science is lowered and the light of the possible, maybe not probable, is allowed in and there may just be answers without answers. The young boy is brilliant, seeing into the depths and ultimately understanding it all.

Patti Callahan Henry has written an extraordinary book with much information revealed in the most interesting piece of historical fiction told by giving the reader beautiful slices of the life of C.S. Lewis. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you Harper Muse and NetGalley for a copy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ecopy for my Kindle.
What a delightful story for all ages!
This book is so different than any Patti Callahan Henry has written, but it's a great one.

5 stars just doesn’t seem enough to do this book justice. Once Upon a Wardrobe is one of those stories that will for some of us, remind us of a wonderful story we read when we were young and for others it will enforce and remind you of why you began reading and still do to this day.

The beauty of the words and the thought provoking ideas within this story will stay with you long after you finish reading. The vivid detail in the places this story takes is done with such care and reverence, you can feel it in everything.

This is a story of love, of family, of faith and imagination and how it encompasses everything and everyone within our own daily lives. I wanted to stay wrapped up inside this story and didn’t want it to end. It also reminded of a book a read a very long time ago and how much I loved the story then and definitely need to read it again today.

Patti Callahan has a way of conveying a story that has you smiling and crying all at the same time. She is one author that I know I can turn to when things are difficult within my own life that for just a little while makes everything better and whole again.

Thank you #netgalley and #harpermuse for allowing me the opportunity to read this story.

This book was absolutely the sweetest! I adored it. The way that the story unfolded, and the beautiful connection between George and his sister was incredibly touching. This book is a quick read. It's absolutely stunning.

I really enjoyed this book. Callahan used the history of C.S. Lewis and wove it into a historical fiction book that will intrique any reader.

In this book, a young boy George, is sickly and loves to feed his imagination with Lewis's books. He becomes interested in how Lewis came up with the idea. His sister, Megs, wants to help George answer his questions. She goes on a journey to meet Lewis and his brother. She forms a friendship with them and begins to meet frequently with them. As Megs learns about them, Lewis also teaches her a lesson about life.

If you love THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, this is a must read! I would encourage young adults to read this book after finishing the series to incorporate various genres into the classroom.

I loved this book. I'm not really much of a book collector or one who has book hangovers but by the time I finished this book I knew I needed to own a physical copy to sit on my shelf and that I was going to need to process this story. It's a truly wonderful story that pulled me in right from the beginning and I loved it more and more every page. As the parent of a child with severe health issues I was worried that this story would be too much for me. However, it's such a story of hope and healing and magic that it wasn't an issue.

I don't want to say too much about this story because I want you to read it and discover it for yourself! This is one of those books that not only do I want to own but it's one that probably most of my family will be receiving as Christmas gifts because I want everyone to read it. This is the first book I've read by Patti Callahan but I now want to read anything that she has written. This will easily be in my Top Ten Books of the year.

There’s something so magical, so gently radiant about this “previous” chapter in the CS “Jack” Lewis story. We first met Jack in Becoming Mrs Lewis, and for readers who have already visited the ethereal world of the 1940s & 1950s English countryside, dipped past the Kilns, or passed by Oxford, this book has much the same kind of feel. When George Devonshire, a little boy with a weakening heart condition, reads the brand new The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, he’s enthralled. Assisted by his big sister Megs, a student at Oxford where Jack Lewis is a tutor, George seeks to find out where Narnia originated. Jack and Warnie Lewis have substantial roles in this book, and even Joy makes a cameo appearance. In the retelling of what shaped Jack’s formative years, readers glimpse a wisp of the boy he was, the man he became, and see how a sick little boy could touch his life and bring joy to everyone who knew him. I listened on audiobook and Fiona Hardingham is an unforgettable narrator. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a review.

Wow! Once Upon a Wardrobe is an enchanting tale that will stick with you always. This is the story Patti Callahan was meant to write. You will fall in love the Megs & George and gain a better understanding about who C.S Lewis (Jack) was. But most importantly you will be transported into this beautifully written story with magic, wonder, love, family, strength, imagination and heartache. This is a story you will want to read again and again. It's a masterpiece! Also, the narrator of the audiobook, Fiona Hardingham, was fantastic. I read the book and listened to the audiobook because this story is that special. 5 stars!

Just like young George, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe has been a favorite story from the time I read it’s first words in my childhood. I loved introducing my own children to the magic of Narnia and continuing to share the joy with my grandchildren. C.S. Lewis is an intriguing personality. Patti Callihan has written a heartwarming story beautifully blending history and fiction, recounting the events of Mr. Lewis’ life that impacted him as a storyteller while creating a delightful story of her own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read and review.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan pulls us back to the lamppost and we get to rediscover the magic of Narnia through a young boy who needs it and his older (extremely logical sister) who is determined to find where it all began - from the source, C.S. Lewis himself.

George has a heart defect and his time is limited. As he begins to wither he discovers Narnia, Aslan, and the magic of there being something more. The problem is he must learn where Narnia came from.

His older sister Megs has an analytical mind. She is at Oxford studying mathematics and in order to find the answers for George she must break away from the comfort of numbers and ask questions without clear answers. Fortunately, she is at Oxford while Jack Lewis (C.S. Lewis) is in residence. She has the fortune to meet him and he begins to tell her stories that she takes back to George.

The novel is less coming of age as it is a growth of uncompromising beliefs. Megs has to dig deeper and see the world through the glow of the lamppost, not merely quantifiable equations with resolute answers.

Such a magical, lyrical novel! A story of love between a 17 year old student and her 8 year old brother, who was born with a defective heart, and they both know that his time on earth won't be long. When George begs Meg to find out where Narnia came from by contacting the author C.S. Lewis, at first Meg balks, as she doesn't know the author and being a math person, her word is defined in black and white definable answers. But her love for her little brother overrides her logical mind, and she embarks on visits with C.S. Lewis and his brother in an attempt to find answers to George's questions. As Jack tells Megs stories. she realizes the answer isn't a straight-forward equation, but instead stories evolve - and they are sometimes based on our experiences and sometimes are born within us, begging to be told. This book moved me to tears - in a good way. A heart-felt beautifully written book - a five star from me!

I listened to the audio and the reader did a fantastic job. It was interesting to discover new insight into the author C.S. Lewis. If you enjoyed Patti Callahan's novel Becoming Mrs Lewis, you will definitely enjoy her newest book. It's a heartwarming tale about the power of stories.

This was such an interesting read through exploring CS Lewis and Narnia. The characters Megs and George captured my heart and I couldn't put the book down.

This is a wonderful and creative novel that explores the life of C.S. Lewis and his inspiration for the Narnia books through interviews by young Meg Devonshire, a physics student at Oxford. Callahan artfully weaves the stories together - of Lewis' life and that of Meg and her brother George. The novel explores the idea of stories and fantasy and how they relate to our world and lives. There is beauty in the world that goes beyond science and concrete facts. I loved the message and this story.

This story is a beautiful ode to C.S. Lewis’s Narnia collection.

Megs Devonshire has started college at Oxford but unlike the rest of the students, Megs can’t wait to go back home every chance she gets. She adores her younger brother, George, who has a terminal illness and is mostly bed ridden. When he falls in love with a new book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and asks Megs to contact the famous author C.S. Lewis, who is a professor at her school. Despite her timidity, Megs reaches out to the author to answer her brother’s question – where did Narnia come from?

Patti Callahan has created a beautiful story that’s not only a tribute to one of the classic titles of the 29th century but also a tale of hope, love, heartache and self-discovery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to review this title before its release.

Once I started reading Once Upon a Wardrobe, I couldn't read fast enough. Megs and George captured my heart from the start. I loved the way the story unraveled through time, stories within stories, and the ending is poignant but perfect. I think it is time that I paid another visit to Narnia. FWIW, I enjoyed Becoming Mrs. Lewis, but I found this book to be magical.

I picked this book because the title and the description was intriguing. Thank you for providing me with a copy, I ABSOLUTELY enjoyed reading this one.

If you are a fan of the Narnia chronicles, you're bound to take a nostalgic trip reading this one. The book is the discovery of Meg when she tried answering questions about the wardrobe for her brother George

Recommending it to anyone who wants to revisit this childhood series in a different perspective.

An amazing book indeed!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I am often asked what book would I rate five stars, and more often what book has me cry silent tears. My answer is always the same "None. Not even close." Today, that is no longer true. Today I was invited to come along and sit in Mr. Lewis' house beside his fire to hear his life stories that may have been the explanation of where Narnia began - to understand that Narnia comes from many experiences, and that the experiences we all have may make up that magical place. Once Upon A Wardrobe is many stories combined. There is the story of Megs and her brother George, the story of Jack Lewis and his brother Warnie, it is a love story of more than just two people; it is a love story of adventure, beginnings and rebirth of experiences. I was able to walk with the characters, was terrified in a boy's school as the others taunted, and I stood looking at the ruins of a castle that was reimagined as a safe haven for four children who walked out of a wardrobe into a castle called home. The tears didn't come until the ending when Padraig hands Megs his own beginning of their story. The tears flowed from that part until the ending which felt more like a beginning of a new story. And now, I set off to re-read the entire collection of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and to read once again my favorite work of C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape letters, and to challenge myself to read as many of the other books that were mentioned in this book. Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse and to Patti Callahan for giving me this treasured gift.