Review by Booklist Review
Eight-year-old George has a weak heart but big plans for his limited time. He's inspired by the recently published The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis, and is sure that if he can learn how Narnia was created, he'll be content. He pleads with his sister Megs, a physics student at Oxford, to seek Lewis out and get the answers. Megs isn't really interested in stories, or in making friends, for that matter, but her brother is dear to her. She manages to meet the esteemed tutor and share George's request with him. Over several visits, Lewis tells Megs stories of his life, which she brings home to George. Along the way, and with the help of a handsome fellow student, she learns that truth lies both in physics and in fairy tales, and new worlds open for her family and herself. This is a heartwarming tale about the transformative power of books, with engaging and detailed descriptions. George's earnestness and imaginative nature uplift his family and will charm any reader who enjoys looking at the stories behind our favorite childhood stories.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Callahan (Becoming Mrs. Lewis) mines the life and work of C.S. Lewis in this enjoyable exploration of the power of imagination to see one through difficult times. In 1950 Worcester, England, eight-year-old George Devonshir, born with a weak heart, is often restricted to his bed, where he devours adventure and fantasy books. After he comes across The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, he asks his sister Megs, a student at Oxford, to ask C.S. Lewis, who is a don at her university, where the idea for Narnia came from. After being caught on Lewis's property mustering up the courage to knock on the door, she's invited into his home, where Lewis and his brother tell her the story of their lives. Lewis's childhood, Megs learns, has many parallels with George's: he was often ill and comforted himself with wildly imaginative stories. As Megs relates the stories to her brother, she comes to appreciate how fantasy and real life can interact in productive, beautiful ways. While Callahan's prose verges on saccharine--nearly every page contains a reminder of George's illness or his family's devotion to his happiness--the heartfelt characters will win over sentimental readers. Callahan's fans will love this. (Oct.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Callahan (Becoming Mrs. Lewis) once again visits the life and works of C. S. Lewis in this enlightening novel of logic and imagination, faith, and reason. Eight-year-old George Devonshire, housebound with a fatal heart ailment, lives his life through his favorite books. Captivated by The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, George wants his sister to ask C. S. Lewis where Narnia came from. Meg, a mathematics student at Oxford, is determined to find the answers her brother seeks. But Lewis won't give her the direct answer that her logical mind wants. Instead, he tells Meg a series of stories from his life, stories that may or may not solve the mystery of where his novels' world and characters were born. As she spends time with Lewis, Meg slowly begins to find her logical mind expanding to encompass a love of storytelling and imagination. Her remaining time with George becomes more precious, and Meg finds that his question has given her a truly priceless gift. VERDICT This enchanting novel of faith and hope is a must-read for fans of C. S. Lewis. Readers will be eager to return to the world of "The Chronicles of Narnia" with new insights.--Catherine Coyne, Mansfield P.L., MA
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
