Dark Hedges, Wizard Island, and Other Magical Places That Really Exist

February 28, 2020

Gr 4-8-This curious collection of stories about both natural and man-made places around the world features 37 locations. The text does not follow any apparent order and has a heavy European focus. Stock photos, albeit lovely ones, grace full-page and two-page spreads. Each location gets a one- to three-page annotation, the content of which varies from fact to tall tale to legend. While the bibliography for each place is substantial, the text does not explicitly state which information is factual and which is based on lore. The book concludes with "M.A.G.I.C. Tips for Traveling," some of which are genuinely helpful, though others are just perplexing. Ultimately, the book reads like a middle grader's coffee table book. It's not substantial or instructive enough to support an assignment or research, and it's not fanciful enough to be classified with fairy tales, despite the author's attempts to infuse the writing with whimsy. This title may be quite enjoyable for niche audiences, but its widespread youth appeal is questionable. VERDICT Not quite magical enough. A pretty safe pass for most collections.-Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR

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