The Book of Second Chances

Starred review from May 1, 2020
Ten days. That is all the time Emily Robinson has to solve the puzzle quest created by her late grandmother, Catriona Robinson, an adored English children's author. Many people hope that the prize at the end of the search is the last, unpublished installment in the best-selling Tales of Ophelia and Terence series written by Catriona and illustrated by Emily. The goal for Emily is to be able to hold onto her beloved cottage in Wells-Next-the-Sea, which she will lose if she fails to complete this treasure hunt. Along with her old friend Tyler Montgomery, Emily sets off on a journey that will not only change her own future but also provide an unexpected window into her grandmother's past. Slee's bewitching debut not only offers a thoughtful meditation on life, love, and loss; it is also a lovely tribute to all things British, a beautiful paean to the importance of books in our lives, and a powerful celebration of the imagination and the creative process. With its superb depth of characterization and an ingenious plot shaped by a bird leitmotif, this magical and dazzling novel is the literary equivalent of serotonin.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)