Abi’s dad Theo marries Max and Louis’ mom Polly, Abi’s Granny Grace decamps immediately back to Jamaica, and they need a bigger place to live. They find a tiny, ivy-covered oasis in the heart of London, move in, and then Polly leaves the country for work.

This is too much change for Abi, who retreats into books. Or she does until she notices a startling byproduct of reading too deeply, which is that either the books are manifesting around her or she is transporting into the worlds of the books themselves. Salt water, green parrots, and snow falling on her hair are so real and so vivid that Louis can even see them.

Meanwhile, Max loses his best friend and then falls in love for the first time, which is agony for him but agonizingly funny for us. Louis is so desperate for companionship that he invites a—-well, no, I’ll leave you to discover that for yourselves. All the while, the house seems to be living in there with them, the ivy dropping leaves into their hair and books and turning the sun into green gold shadows on the floor.

A tale funny enough to make you laugh out loud and poignant enough to make you weep, and an immensely sympathetic portrait of parents who are also full-time employees, especially E.R. nurses. The title page says this is a book for ages 8-12, but I say baloney to that. Read it and  you’ll be transported out of your life for a few precious hours and you’ll love every moment of it.

Book Review Monday Chatter Hilary McKay The Time of Green Magic