Until Wishes Are Fulfilled
Michael Alexander
Publisher:
Upfront Publishing
ISBN: 978 1844 264 08-7
March, 2007
 |
Written
by
MICHAEL
ALEXANDER
Michael Alexander, with his second book for children, Until Wishes
Are Fulfilled, has created a world of such wondrous hope, children
of all ages will find it difficult to put the book down in favour of any
thing else that might distract them, once they have turned to the first
page.
For eleven-year old Holly, the last six weeks have been the worst of
her young life. Her mother lies in a coma following a car accident,
the doctors unable to say when, if ever, she might regain consciousness.
With Christmas just one week away, Holly's one wish is to have her mother
home with her on Christmas Day – a wish she knows is unlikely
to be fulfilled. Then, on the eve of her twelfth birthday, her dad buys
her a magician’s set from a strange old man he bumps into by accident
in town. The set proves to be very special; a spell book and a real
wand, and suddenly Holly finds that magic exists everywhere –
even in the saddest moments of her life.
Under the guidance of Charlie, Holly learns to do the sort of magic we can only dream about, with hilarious and sometimes dangerous results.
Michael’s descriptive prose and ability to ensnare a readers attention from the off, is a wonderful gift to own. Holly is such a well-rounded character, readers will want to reach into the page and offer her a comforting shoulder on which to cry or a congratulatory hand to slap in high-five celebration.
Yet it is the pace of the story that stands out. Almost Frank Cottrell-Boyce in its ceaselessness, Michael Alexander keeps the plot rolling with delightful dialogue, unexpected twists and a “need to know” hook at the end of each chapter.
This, it has to be said, is a truly
special book. Though set at Christmas, Until Wishes Are
Fulfilled can be read at any time of year and Michael
Alexander, following on from Adventures In Cuckoo’s Hollow,
shows an assured lightness of touch many others writing in this field
will envy.
8/10
Order this book online - Linghams
Booksellers
“Thank you so much.
This is my first review and therefore the one which I will remember
more than any other. The fact that it is such a wonderful review makes
it all the more special and has reaffirmed my commitment to keep working
at the stormy relationship with my keyboard and my imagination. Thank
you again, it is great to be in contact with someone so passionate about
that most wondrous thing - the written word.”
Michael
Alexander - April 2007
break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.