A bit more fantastical than I was expecting. While the starting chapter was intriguing, it quickly took a turn. The crack in reality was a fun element and I liked the unique details in the other world. The characters, while not especially likeable, were at least consistent and believable. A solid read if you like fantasy with some mystery and can ride out some high weirdness.

I'm not usually a reader of middle grade books but this one was so cute. It kind of reminded me of Pan's Labyrinth but less creepy. I will definitely recommend this book to my nieces and nephews so I can start them young on the world of magic and fantansy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The cover of this book really drew me in. However, the story took me a while to get into. The first chapter was incredible, but sadly the pacing seemed to fall off after the next few chapters. It eventually picked up, but fell off again. The descriptions in the book is amazing...almost to a fault. The world-building was also interesting so I wonder if this book will be part of a series.

This is a tale that you can read by the fire while all comfy and cozy. I would have adored this even more when I was a child. Lose yourself along with Benjamiah in the fantastical world of Wreathenwold. Beware of hidden doors and Hanged Men. Don’t ever go more than one or two streets from your home, or you will never find your way back. In a world that literally can’t be mapped, how can Benjamiah ever hope to find the way again to the world he came from?

I recommend this to anyone who loves myths, fairytales and fantasy with a childlike twist. Fair warning, there are a few scary scenes that younger children might want to skip.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

“I’m very, very old,” said the Minotaur, “and I’ve never met a reader who wasn’t special in one way or another. When you read, you connect with the world. You connect with the world as it once was, as it is, and as it one day might be. We are only dust, brief moments of ether. To read, to be curious, is the most astonishing kind of magic.” - Jordan Lees @the_whisperwicks

Benjamiah, a self proclaimed nonfiction bookworm, finds himself lost in a new world after following a small bird. In this world, no one can remember how to get home if they stray too far, the color of your eyes is drained for money, a pack of playing cards is currency, and there seems to be no way back home. He’s taken in by Hansel much to this dismay of his daughter, Elizabella, who makes sure Benjamiah does not feel welcome because she does not want anyone to take the place of her lost brother Edwin.

Elizabella and her poppet, a doll that becomes any animal when willed to life by its human, plan to go find Edwin. Benjamiah gets caught up in the search in hopes that once Edwin is found that he would be able to go home.

What transpires is two children doing their best to find someone lost, trying to solve a puzzle, and coming together to be the best of friends. They encounter both adults and children that are unkind and situations that are beyond dangerous. Together they fight to find Edwin and hope that in the end Benjamiah will find his way back home. There is magic in these pages- the kind of magicians and the kind of magic that friendship and love are made of.

Jack and I loved this book. We can’t wait to read the next one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for this #advancedreaderscopy - Pub date was 5/28/24 go run and grab this!

#2024bookchallenge60of75
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DNF @30%

This was just not for me. I had VERY high expectations [ater reading some excellent middle-grade fantasy/mystery books as of late] and after a strong opening, all of my expectations were dashed when Chapter 2 started and were were transported into "modern times" and with the introduction of [in my opinion] one of the dullest characters ever [as well as snotty and pretentious, which just made for an odious and deeply unlikable character], and I found [even though I kept trying] I could no longer engage in the story after that. I am very disappointed as this was truly a highly anticipated read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jordan Lees, Vivienne To - Illustrator, and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees is a breathtaking addition to the world of epic fantasy for ages 9+. The story follows two brave children, Benjamiah and Elizabella, as they go on a quest. The world they explore is richly detailed and filled with both dark and hopeful moments.

Lees does a fantastic job of creating a magical world called Wreathenwold, where getting lost is a constant danger. The characters are lovable and well-written. Benjamiah, who loves books, finds his life turned upside down when he enters this magical realm. He teams up with Elizabella to find her missing brother, and together they face their fears and rely on each other.

The book also tackles tough themes like family problems and grief but does so in a way that is accessible and engaging for readers of all ages. It’s an exciting start to a new series that fantasy lovers will devour. Lees’ storytelling is both classic and fresh, making The Labyrinth of Lost and Found a book that is hard to put down.

As a debut novel, The Labyrinth of Lost and Found showcases Jordan Lees’ impressive talent for weaving together complex themes. The book explores deep issues like family problems and grief, while also celebrating the power of hope, friendship, and imagination. Its rich plot and relatable characters make it a wonderful read for all ages, offering something meaningful for both young readers and adults. Additionally, the book is illustrated with beautiful and slightly spooky black-and-white drawings that will keep young readers engaged, despite the massive length of 380 pages, which is slightly unusual for a middle-grade story.

Lees’ ability to create a world that is both fantastical and emotionally resonant marks him as an exciting new author in the genre, promising great things for the future.

I LOVED this middle grade book so much! What a fantastic message around love and what makes a family. The magic in this book was new and fresh, and the world of wreathenwold is dark, dangerous, and interesting. From the concept to the execution, this book hits all the marks of a book that will suck you in. The friendship between Elizabella and Benjemiah is so special and sweet.

Highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book! Lee's knocked it out of the park.

The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found is an amazing fantasy book filled with magic and great characters! I loved the poppets, the mystery, and the reluctant friendship.

Sadly I'm going to have to call this quits at 47% I have been trying to get through this for 2 weeks. I loved the first chapter, it was dark mysterious and super engaging and I was ready to find out what was going on and what this frightening entity was that kidnapped a child, sadly after that the pacing just completely fell off. I don't find either of the main characters Elizabella and Benjamiah interesting at all. Elizabella is such an angry character that it makes it hard to want to follow her and see if she grows from it, especially since she takes her anger out on people she both knows and doesn't know, its exhausting. Benjamiah is honestly boring and uninteresting to follow as well, which sucks because he could be interesting but there is something lacking in his execution character wise. I also really dislike their names.

The world is intriguing but unfortunately feels so overwritten that I find myself wandering away and skipping over long drawn out paragraphs. I love a descriptive world, and I have nothing against lyrical writing but this feels like the author is trying to hard to create that whimsical yet dark mysterious feeling that I find myself feeling bored and uninspired. I also was not a fan of the chapter length, they were so long and felt like they just kept going and going and going. I found myself taking long pauses after each chapter instead of jumping right into the next. Sometimes having shorter chapters in a really descriptive world can make the book feel faster, and as this is for kids, longer chapters can be a pain. I always read middle grade books as if I was still a kid and I know for a fact the chapter length would have annoyed me so much.

I wanted to see more from Edwid's point of view, I think it would have been a bit more intriguing to see where and what he was going through since the opening chapter was so engaging and exciting. I don't know if this ever comes up and I unfortunately don't have the will to find out.

The art in the book is fantastic and ads a nice bit of fun to the book.

My son read this book and we talked about it. He's 11 and he loved it - it's his new favorite book.

He specifically called out
- the characters had a believable and interesting friendship develop over the course of the book. He described it as being kind of antagonistic at first but they became trusted friends by the end.
- he liked the plot twist/betrayal at the end! He though that was interesting.
- he described it as plot driven and liked the action.
- he liked the main character's relationship with the magic within the world.

He wants a second book! he called it 'the best book he's ever read' and was speculating about how a sequel could work during our discussion. He's a somewhat reluctant reader but he devoured this almost as soon as it got on the kindle.

What an exciting middle grade book! This book is fantasy and thriller and a little bit of horror wrapped up in a whimsy and fun and friendship. I loved and feared the alternative world of poppets and eye color thieves, of magic and mischief. Benjamiah and Elizabella are on a quest to find Elizabella's missing brother, even if there is danger at every turn. This good is such an adventure for readers of any age.

When I was child, I like labyrinth because I think that is wonderful. But since I grow big, I am a little scared of labyrinth because I am afraid that I can be lost and cannot be found forever. This is fascinating to follow the story of Benjamiah, will he ever go home or in labyrinth forever.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

This story was more complex than I was expecting, in a good way. Once it got going, the pace was quick and kept the story interesting. The reveal at the end was good, and even though there was a big hint about it, I was paying too much attention to the action to think much about it. I think this book had a good mix of both fast and emotional parts. Fun read.

“It was well known that dirt and grease could spoil a book quicker than a lazy plot twist.”

This was a truly wonderful reading experience. A vibrantly written story with a magical world full of interesting characters, mystery, and exciting circumstances. I loved all the nuisances and the thoughtful moments sprinkled throughout. There was even a twist I didn’t see coming.

“Love is the very highest form of courage.”

This quote of love was so powerful, especially because this has a dark undercurrent to it but there are light and lovely moments that made it feel less intense. The story was made even better by the illustrations that helped paint a vivid picture of the magical land of Wreathenwold. I will definitely be having my daughter read this in the future and can easily recommend it to anyone who enjoys middle grade fantasy!

“I’ve never met a reader who wasn’t special is one way or another. When you read, you connect with the world. You connect with the world as it once was, as it is, and as it one day might be. We are only dust, brief moments of aether. To read, to be curious, is the most astonishing kind of magic.”

( I purchased a finished copy of this from Waterstones before I even started this arc and thankfully it was well worth it!)

A solid 4 stars for this middle-grade novel.

A young boy follows a strange creature into another world - a world of magic, mystery, and mazes - where he finds himself thrown together with a young girl in search of her lost brother. Together, the two venture through the labyrinth of the city, looking for clues and answers as a threatening darkness looms closer.

I really enjoyed this story and the world it took place in! The characters were enjoyable, and I was fascinated by the magic, lore, and history of Wreathenwold. As a long-time doll collector and someone who finds voodoo dolls adorable... I desperately wish I had a poppet.

What worked for me:
- The world building was a lot of fun! The labyrinth aspect of the city and the connections to mythology were really enjoyable.
- Even though I am definitely older than the target audience, I enjoyed the characters and the story.
- The bittersweet ending. I really liked the way the ending showed the way grief and loss can still leave room for joy and hope and those feelings can coexist.

What didn't work for me:
- The writing was occasionally a bit awkward and clunky. Some sections felt like they could have used a bit more editing and polishing.
- The beginning was almost too slow. I had a hard time getting into the story, and I feel like juvenile readers might struggle as well.
- I was not a fan of the names. Being so close to typical English names meant that my brain kept getting tripped up by them.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. The dark magic was a fun twist on things I’ve read recently. Will look for more from this author

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees in exchange for an honest review. This is such a a fun and fantastic book. I loved the storyline and want to share it with my nephew.

The Whisperwicks is a novel about a boy Benjamiah who enters a world that is very much not like home. Appearing into a world of magic where people have poppets they control at their side and an inability to leave the few streets that surround their house, Wreathenworld is fantastical, creepy, and plagued with unfortunate circumstances.
I think students who love fantasy will love this book. The magical world is interesting and creative. It’s slow in the beginning and sometimes the descriptions or writing feels like it’s breaking the flow of the story.
This book also deals with themes of divorce and loss which I feel like are handled really beautifully.

This was great! My kiddos really enjoyed something age appropriate but spooky at the same time. This reminded me of the spooky little book that was popular when I was growing up! Definitely interested in more!