MrsK Books: Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

ISBN: 9780385753562

Publisher's Synopsis:
This is the story of unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard who doesn't believe in anything that can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. On her very first day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty, the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help.

As Ophelia embarks on an incredible journey to rescue the boy everything that she believes will be tested. Along the way she learns more and more about the boy's own remarkable journey to reach her and save the world.

"In which Ophelia rescues a magical boy,

battles the Snow Queen,

and saves the world."

MrsK's Review:

Can you imagine...being at a museum and discovering a locked room... with a boy locked in it? Ophelia isn't necessarily brave. Although she is very curious. Now imagine being asked to save the world from the Snow Queen. Then consider that the Wintertide Clock is running out of time and soon everyone will gather for the chiming (which only happens every 300 years).

"On Christmas Eve, Battle: The Greatest Exhibition of Swords in the History of the World will begin

and

will coincide with the opening of the Wintertide Clock's chime doors.

We shall hear those chimes and understand this clock's true purpose."

Ophelia's quest will be difficult, after all a museum is a vast vault of unique items with many, many areas to discover:

"You must find the key to this door.

We need to find my sword....

and the One Other,

who will know how to wield."

With a map of the museum, a key hidden in her pocket, and just a few moments of time... Ophelia will find herself running through the hall of girls, in a room with ghosts, being chased by wolves, and ultimately dealing with Miss Kaminski (the museum curator). With a sister who is enthralled with Miss Kaminski's attention and every thing dazzling, a father who is engrossed in learning and preparing the collection of swords, and the voice of her mother encouraging her, Ophelia will begin unraveling the boy's (unnamed because it has been such a long time since he has heard it) mystery... identity... the sword... and the One Other. Only time will tell if Ophelia can be ready before the clock chimes.

This story is quite the adventure. The story line weaves in and out of the museum and the boy's retelling of how he came to be imprisoned in the museum. Ophelia has so many threads to unravel that at times you, the reader, will be trying to guide her as she fumbles through the quest. Ophelia is a delightful character. The boy is unsure about details, a bit clueless, but very patient and encouraging. The museum's curator is diabolical and extremely annoyed with Ophelia. Her father is present but way too consumed with his job. Her sister, well she will learn that beauty can be deceiving. Each room of discovery is detailed with authentic artifacts, extraordinary touches of clarity (perfected word choice) and page-turning action.

Such a splendid quest... you must hurry to open the covers of this quest... time is running out!

MrsK

Marvelously fantastical... imagination gone wild!

Excellent for classroom and library shelves.

Meet the Author:

Karen Foxlee trained and worked as a nurse for most of her adult life and also graduated from university with a degree in creative writing. She is the author of The Midnight Dress and The Anatomy of Wings, which Markus Zusak called “so special that you want to carry it around for months after you’ve finished, just to stay near it.” Karen Foxlee lives in Gympie, Australia, with her daughter.

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)