I normally don't DNF books so quickly, but I had a hard time getting into this one. The protagonist was just too precocious for my liking. I also couldn't tell which time period the story was supposed to be in.

This story is listed in the categories of Children’s Fiction, Literary Fiction, as well as Middle Grade, which seems to me to be accurate since it is a story that children will enjoy, but adults will, as well since Whippoorwill Willingly seems to be wise beyond her years.

This is a story of a journey that is filled with charm, but also moments that share how Whippoorwill Willingly navigates the world. As this begins, she meets a stranger who entices her to board a curious train which takes her to an enchanted lake with the Swiss Alps in the distance. It’s there that she begins to view the world in a way that she had never seen before.

It’s rare that I find a book that can be enjoyed by all, with a bit of mystery, something between a mixture of fantasy and reality, while seeming to remain in reality, and still having a sprinkling of magical realism.


Pub Date: 02 Nov 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Listen Well