What do you think?
Rate this book
The Land of Neverendings
As hilarious as it is heartbreaking, another future classic from Costa Winner Kate Saunders (Five Children on the Western Front).Emily watched, in a trance of astonishment, as the bear opened the picnic basket, took out a tartan rug and spread it on Holly's bed. And then the penguin spoke. Actually spoke. 'What's going on? This isn't Pointed End!'The bear said, 'It looks like a human bedroom. We must've come through the wrong door.''But there aren't any doors to the hard world in Deep Smockeroon! And we don't have a human bedroom any more. We're in a box in the attic.'What if there exists a world powered by imagination?A world of silliness, where humans and their toys live on long after they've left the Hard World . . . and what if the door between that world and this one was broken?Welcome to the Land of Neverendings.Moving, raw and funny in all the right ways, The Land of Neverendings is a rip-roaring adventure, but it also gives an honest portrayal of grief for young readers, and shows us that whilst sadness does exist in the world, it doesn't have to cancel out happiness, or silliness, even when you lose someone you love.'This is written from the heart and can't fail to make yours sing.' The Times'Imagination, memories and new beginnings triumph.' The Sunday Times'A beautiful and often very funny book about imagination, family and love.' BookTrust'Funny and tender, heartbreaking and life-affirming.'Bookseller
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2017
About the author
Kate Saunders
71 books425 followersKate Saunders (born 1960) was an English author, actress, and journalist. The daughter of the early public relations advocate Basil Saunders and his journalist wife Betty (née Smith), Saunders has worked for newspapers and magazines in the UK, including The Sunday Times, Sunday Express, Daily Telegraph, She, and Cosmopolitan.
She has also been a regular contributor to radio and television, with appearances on the Radio 4 programs Woman's Hour, Start the Week, and Kaleidoscope. She was, with Sandi Toksvig, a guest on the first episode of the long-running news quiz program Have I Got News For You.
Saunders has also written multiple books for children and for adults.
She has also been a regular contributor to radio and television, with appearances on the Radio 4 programs Woman's Hour, Start the Week, and Kaleidoscope. She was, with Sandi Toksvig, a guest on the first episode of the long-running news quiz program Have I Got News For You.
Saunders has also written multiple books for children and for adults.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
December 12, 2017
The best fantasy books for children rely on escapism, books like The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Harry Potter series and Peter Pan. Central to each of these stories is the real world: the dryness that permeates the everyday. The children involved are often bored of their lives, or of school and their parents: the world of reality. So when they get to escape into a world that is much more interesting they are enamoured by a sense of magic and adventure that comes their way. For Kate Saunders' heroine Emily, the bizarre and eerily familiar world of Smockeroon awaits.
Like Neverland and Wonderland for Wendy and Alice, the new world makes little sense to Emily. It is mystical and otherworldly. She is met by strange people (and toys) with even stranger habits and dress senses. Emily's life is undeniably a sad one; she has recently lost her sister (Holly) before beginning her adventures. It was her who first told Emily of Smockeroon, the land her family thought was merely fictitious. Holly would tell them of this place and they would listen with patience and in good humour before she passed away. But now, after her loss, Emily finds herself transported to what she thought was make-believe.
What I saw in such a thing was the need for stories and escape when dealing with bereavement and heartache. Fantasy and imagination are a large part of what it is to be human, and sometimes we really do need them. Emily gets her wish; she manages to cope through temporarily escaping to a new place in order to adjust to the realities of loss. Although the novel is fairly short, Emily undergoes much in the way of character development. She overcomes her initial trepidations and fears, growing as a person. By the end she even begins to understand herself a little bit better along with life itself.
Smokeroon expands as the story progresses, and it becomes clear that such a name was merely what Holly gave it. Imagination is the key, the dream of another land; it propels the story forward as Emily looks for answers. On her way she encounters other people and their imaginations combine to form The Land of Neverendings. I loved the idea behind it, the possibility that this other world could be shaped and reached by a multitude of people in need of it. Their ideas become mixed up and their thoughts leaked into each other to create something rather individual. It all pushed even further towards a rather strong resolution.
Saunders writes with clarity and is able to mix very adult themes with a children's narrative. Despite dealing with issues such as loss and death, the prose is colourful and this new world remains rather enchanting, quirky and unique. The book has the potential to be enjoyed by adults and children alike and I especially recommend it to those that enjoy dark fantasy books such as Coraline by Neil Gaiman.
Like Neverland and Wonderland for Wendy and Alice, the new world makes little sense to Emily. It is mystical and otherworldly. She is met by strange people (and toys) with even stranger habits and dress senses. Emily's life is undeniably a sad one; she has recently lost her sister (Holly) before beginning her adventures. It was her who first told Emily of Smockeroon, the land her family thought was merely fictitious. Holly would tell them of this place and they would listen with patience and in good humour before she passed away. But now, after her loss, Emily finds herself transported to what she thought was make-believe.
What I saw in such a thing was the need for stories and escape when dealing with bereavement and heartache. Fantasy and imagination are a large part of what it is to be human, and sometimes we really do need them. Emily gets her wish; she manages to cope through temporarily escaping to a new place in order to adjust to the realities of loss. Although the novel is fairly short, Emily undergoes much in the way of character development. She overcomes her initial trepidations and fears, growing as a person. By the end she even begins to understand herself a little bit better along with life itself.
Smokeroon expands as the story progresses, and it becomes clear that such a name was merely what Holly gave it. Imagination is the key, the dream of another land; it propels the story forward as Emily looks for answers. On her way she encounters other people and their imaginations combine to form The Land of Neverendings. I loved the idea behind it, the possibility that this other world could be shaped and reached by a multitude of people in need of it. Their ideas become mixed up and their thoughts leaked into each other to create something rather individual. It all pushed even further towards a rather strong resolution.
Saunders writes with clarity and is able to mix very adult themes with a children's narrative. Despite dealing with issues such as loss and death, the prose is colourful and this new world remains rather enchanting, quirky and unique. The book has the potential to be enjoyed by adults and children alike and I especially recommend it to those that enjoy dark fantasy books such as Coraline by Neil Gaiman.
September 13, 2022
Why didn't more libraries buy this?
Absolutely lovely. Reminds me a bit of Kevin Henkes' more intense works, or Sonya Hartnett's less intense works, or The Swallow: A Ghost Story even. It's also an homage to Narnia, Winnie-the-Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, etc. It's got an awful lot of melancholy & grief & anger, but also joy & humor & adventure. If you ever invented stories about your toys, or assumed they had their own lives when you were asleep, or were intrigued by the fact that other children had that kind of creative imagination, you'll be interested in this.
I will definitely look for more by the author.
Absolutely lovely. Reminds me a bit of Kevin Henkes' more intense works, or Sonya Hartnett's less intense works, or The Swallow: A Ghost Story even. It's also an homage to Narnia, Winnie-the-Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, etc. It's got an awful lot of melancholy & grief & anger, but also joy & humor & adventure. If you ever invented stories about your toys, or assumed they had their own lives when you were asleep, or were intrigued by the fact that other children had that kind of creative imagination, you'll be interested in this.
I will definitely look for more by the author.
July 15, 2019
This book is so much more than just a story about living toys. It’s about relationship, it’s about dealing with grief. It’s about feeling lost, helpless but being brave enough to hope. It’s a hopeful book, and I might have shed a tear or two.
Thank you for a fun yet beautiful story, Kate!
Thank you for a fun yet beautiful story, Kate!
Shelved as 'not-sure'
December 12, 2019I'm only not sure about this because I don't do well with this kind of emotion. But it still does sound good....
April 19, 2019
A book for children to get lost in. A book best suited to the top years of primary schools, 'The Land of Neverendings' mixes toys coming to life, sadness at losing family memories, coming of age and, most importantly, the necessity of imagination in a child's (and adult's) life.
A lot of fun.
3.5/5
A lot of fun.
3.5/5
February 25, 2019
" Are you really talking toys?" Asked Emily.
Omg i loved kate saunders great book.
Emily's poor sister dies and Emily is upset. people are trying hard to cheer her up. But all that will cheer hervis if her sister comes back to life...
One night, Emily hears sounds from her sister's room. She peeks in ands finds a brand new world of joy and suprise....
Total recommendation! Love this story. Honestly.
Emily is afierce and formidable girl. She can please me to my limits. Congrats Kate Saunders, you deserve and irish book award!
Omg i loved kate saunders great book.
Emily's poor sister dies and Emily is upset. people are trying hard to cheer her up. But all that will cheer hervis if her sister comes back to life...
One night, Emily hears sounds from her sister's room. She peeks in ands finds a brand new world of joy and suprise....
Total recommendation! Love this story. Honestly.
Emily is afierce and formidable girl. She can please me to my limits. Congrats Kate Saunders, you deserve and irish book award!
May 19, 2021
What a wonderful book.
This deals with childhood death and what happens to the children's much loved toys.
We see how it affects both children and adults.
Tissues will be needed.
This deals with childhood death and what happens to the children's much loved toys.
We see how it affects both children and adults.
Tissues will be needed.
October 6, 2020
This is such an amazing tale, I was hooked from the beginning and it just kept getting better and better and better. Everything about this book is about as close to perfect as I could ask for, bar none. I loved that nearly all the characters were girls, excepting Emily's dad. It felt quite right to have it this way, and all the girls were fabulous and individually drawn, but not typical or too grown up. There was a bit of churlishness between them at times - which felt totally realistic, and never overdone - but the overwhelming feeling was friendship, caring, and understanding. And belief in magic, of course! The parts about Holly made her a real character, not just a trope to use for emotional weight. The adults were definitely side characters, but still had meaningful parts, especially Ruth. Without a doubt the best parts were anything and everything that involved the toys. Overwhelmingly funny and cute and superbly imaginative. Sure, we have all read "talking toy tales", right? This felt different, and in a unique sort of way. Seriously well done. There are a lot of emotions running through the story - plenty of sadness and awkwardness and confusion - but these are kept to a minimum. The story is mostly lovely and heartwarming and fantastically fun and adventurous. I love the escape of a great Middle Grade book! The best ones set aside reality and sense and just give in to the possibilities that are inside young people's minds and hearts. And this is most assuredly one of the best. Not to be missed, for sure.
October 22, 2020
It's another middle grade story which deals with death and acceptance. This one with the element of "toys come alive" and "the power of imagination".
.
The story is about Emily, a young girl whom sick sister has just died. Emily feels bad because rather than missing her sister, she misses Bluey, her sister's teddy bear, more. Bluey was cremated along with Emily's sister, so it's clear that Emily won't ever see it again. Emily used to imagine stories about Bluey, and she won't stop now. She writes them all in a pink notebook.
And ... You know what? The imagination makes the toys come alive, in a world called The Land of Neverendings.
Now for some mysterious reasons, the toys can slip into the real world. Emily sees them, and she wonders if she can, in turn, slip into their world to meet Bluey.
.
The story is heartbreaking, but also fun and full of hope. I think the plot is kinda slow, and there are moments when I feel loss, I don't know where it's taking me. But the writing style is good and I like the ending. Too bad this book doesn't have inside illustrations.
.
"Humans die, but love never dies."
.
The story is about Emily, a young girl whom sick sister has just died. Emily feels bad because rather than missing her sister, she misses Bluey, her sister's teddy bear, more. Bluey was cremated along with Emily's sister, so it's clear that Emily won't ever see it again. Emily used to imagine stories about Bluey, and she won't stop now. She writes them all in a pink notebook.
And ... You know what? The imagination makes the toys come alive, in a world called The Land of Neverendings.
Now for some mysterious reasons, the toys can slip into the real world. Emily sees them, and she wonders if she can, in turn, slip into their world to meet Bluey.
.
The story is heartbreaking, but also fun and full of hope. I think the plot is kinda slow, and there are moments when I feel loss, I don't know where it's taking me. But the writing style is good and I like the ending. Too bad this book doesn't have inside illustrations.
.
"Humans die, but love never dies."
March 24, 2019
The stories I remember loving when I was younger were those where the real work exists in a shadowy form, and a more vibrant place becomes the reality for the characters.
In this charming story, Emily is coming to terms with the death of her sister. She misses her terribly, so when old toys start to come to life around her Emily is more than happy to investigate this world more carefully.
With the help of her older next door neighbour, Ruth (whose teenage son died unexpectedly), Emily tries to work out how to get to the world of Smockeroon and save the toys from the spread of unhappiness.
Definitely one I want to read with my youngest son, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he makes of it.
In this charming story, Emily is coming to terms with the death of her sister. She misses her terribly, so when old toys start to come to life around her Emily is more than happy to investigate this world more carefully.
With the help of her older next door neighbour, Ruth (whose teenage son died unexpectedly), Emily tries to work out how to get to the world of Smockeroon and save the toys from the spread of unhappiness.
Definitely one I want to read with my youngest son, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he makes of it.
December 5, 2019
I loved this story! It is a sweet story of toys (mostly stuffies and some Barbie dolls) that come to life, but only a few people can see them. One of them is Emily, whose severely disabled sister Holly recently passed away. And to add salt to the wound, her best friend has abandoned her and started palling around with another girl. Emily has to deal with feelings of loss and betrayal, while navigating a fascinating situation in which living toys start showing up in her late sister's bedroom. Emily is a very appealing character, easy to identify with. The plot is interesting and the characters are well-developed and spot on. The setting is a small town not far from London (where the author hangs out). This book was so good, that I will want to hunt down other books by her. It was an excellent choice for the Carnegie Shortlist.
July 6, 2022
The Land of Neverendings is a great book about a girl called Emily. When her sister dies, she discovers two alive toys in her room from a made up land called Smockeroon she created with her sister. She thinks she’s going mad until she discovers her friends can see them too! This lovely book is a bit sad, but it’s really funny and I would totally recommend it.
November 13, 2018
What a sweet, wonderful read! The first paragraph makes you think its going to be a real tear jerker, but its more of an adventure and mystery story. The characters are so well written and believable! I loved Ruth, and Maze, and Martha, and of course Emily. I loved how they handled their unique situation, and how the characters come together to figure out the mystery and solve the issues. This is one of those rare stories with wonderful parents as well, and very helpful grown-ups. I did cry at the ending, but it was a hopeful, touching cry, not a sad one. I think kids will thoroughly enjoy the story, and parents and grown-ups will get the deeper meaning along with the adventure. Highly Recommended!
March 20, 2019
It was epic!!!!!
March 26, 2019
A charming and thoughtful book about coping with grief. Full of both sadness and fun .
August 21, 2021
Lovely book 💖💙
May 19, 2023
It does deal with grief and loss, but I simply found it unbearably boring. Maybe it's me and my fiery dispassion for talking plushies.
January 30, 2019
A wonderfully heartwarming story about the loss of loved ones, remembrance and finding happiness in acceptance. I read the book to see whether it would be suitable for my 7y/o daughter. After the first ten pages I realized that thematically it would be a bit too much for her, but by then I was hooked myself and ended up enjoying it very much.
May 4, 2019
A sweet, hopeful, often funny fantasy/family story. After her sister Holly's death, Emily and her family are devastated. A tiny ray of hope lightens Emily's heart as characters - old, beloved toys - from the land of Smockeroon start appearing in Emily's own world. Is there a chance she could see Holly again in Smockeroon?
Reading the afterword, and then the dedication, moved me to tears.
Perfect for those who loved Piers Torday's 'There May be a Castle' and Lisa Evans's 'Wed Wabbit'.
Reading the afterword, and then the dedication, moved me to tears.
Perfect for those who loved Piers Torday's 'There May be a Castle' and Lisa Evans's 'Wed Wabbit'.
September 5, 2022
One of the most emotional but yet beautiful books I have ever read
April 23, 2019
Sweet. Definitely could have had better world building with Smockeroon, the magic, and the toys. I often thought I had missed something in the story or was kind of confused about what was going on.
It did drag in the middle, and was a bit hard to pinpoint the timeframe of the story. They had cellphones but it still sounded like it wasn’t taking place in modern times. Maybe that was just the Britishness of it?
I thought it was going to make me cry but I’m glad o didn’t. It was a fun idea that could have been executed better with more detail. But it got me out of my reading funk (hopefully) so I’m not complaining.
It did drag in the middle, and was a bit hard to pinpoint the timeframe of the story. They had cellphones but it still sounded like it wasn’t taking place in modern times. Maybe that was just the Britishness of it?
I thought it was going to make me cry but I’m glad o didn’t. It was a fun idea that could have been executed better with more detail. But it got me out of my reading funk (hopefully) so I’m not complaining.
April 4, 2018
A lovely story about what I initially thought would be a dark subject.
Emily and her family are grieving the loss of Emily’s sister, Holly. Emily is naturally finding things hard, and, when she thinks she sees and hears her toys talking to her, assumes she is dreaming or losing her marbles.
Fortunately, Emily’s neighbour (Ruth) sees something similar - she lost her son when he was young - and together the two of them start to explore how and why this could be happening. More and more toys begin to talk and it appears that the magic of imagination is leaking into the real world.
Toys past and present bring comfort to Emily, Ruth and others. The story shows us the power of imagination, love and memory. This resonated with me: grief can affect us all but talking about those we’ve lost is important, and the characters here were strong. Ruth was a kindly, encouraging neighbour, Mum and Dad were trusting and loving, and even Emily’s wantaway friend Maze shows the importance of a lasting friendship.
A strong story of escapism, dealing with grief and friendship.
Emily and her family are grieving the loss of Emily’s sister, Holly. Emily is naturally finding things hard, and, when she thinks she sees and hears her toys talking to her, assumes she is dreaming or losing her marbles.
Fortunately, Emily’s neighbour (Ruth) sees something similar - she lost her son when he was young - and together the two of them start to explore how and why this could be happening. More and more toys begin to talk and it appears that the magic of imagination is leaking into the real world.
Toys past and present bring comfort to Emily, Ruth and others. The story shows us the power of imagination, love and memory. This resonated with me: grief can affect us all but talking about those we’ve lost is important, and the characters here were strong. Ruth was a kindly, encouraging neighbour, Mum and Dad were trusting and loving, and even Emily’s wantaway friend Maze shows the importance of a lasting friendship.
A strong story of escapism, dealing with grief and friendship.
October 26, 2017
I might suggest this if you loved Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans as it contains some similar themes, but if you're looking for something to match Five Children on the Western Front (Saunders' previous book), as I was, you might be disappointed. Probably a case of high hopes and expectations adversely influencing my enjoyment of this.
November 4, 2018
I didn't really enjoy this book. I only finished it to see if it would get better and to get through it. It is about magic which I do like, and toys coming to life is fun in Toy Story, but this was just not very entertaining for me. Not a fan
March 4, 2019
I was a bit unsure of this book, but it is amazing!
June 17, 2019
This was a fun, magical exploration of grief and imagination. This read like a more mature novelisation of a Disney film.
June 5, 2019
It was fun, compelling and told a lovely story of a girl and woman overcoming grief. I really enjoyed it and would highly recomendamos for children:)
January 23, 2018
This is an extremely cute story about Emily dealing with the loss of her older sister Holly. Somewhere along the way she begins to believe that she is going mad because toys start coming to life...then her neighbour sees them and gradually, the silliness spreads....
The world of make-believe, created and sustained by all of the children playing with their toys and making up stories, is where you can find toys. In the 'hard' world, they are brought to life by being loved by a child. Emily's neighbour helps her and she gradually discovers that many of the people around her are struggling with their own losses. The Land of Neverendings is where the soul of toys and the children who have loved them can live happily ever after...but something has gone wrong and, not only is the barrier between worlds failing, the awful frog of despair has entered Smockeroon.
What can they do to make sure their loved ones can have a happy ever after instead of letting the sadness of the real world infect the Land of Neverendings?
I liked a lot of elements of this book, but did find it quite slow going with lots of retrospective and not much happening at times. Emily is a realistic character and her neighbour, Ruth, is incredibly supportive. It was really good to see positive relationships with adults and both Emily's parents being present and supportive as they go through the grieving process as a family. I also liked how the book touched on some of the issues in female friendship at this age, when some people want to grow up faster and others are quite happy being children for a little longer.
Overall, a very interesting read and I can tell that this is a book very close to the author's book as she has also experienced the pain of losing a child. She said she wrote this book to allow children and families going through this process to see the light at the end of the tunnel and all of the joy life still has to bring.
The world of make-believe, created and sustained by all of the children playing with their toys and making up stories, is where you can find toys. In the 'hard' world, they are brought to life by being loved by a child. Emily's neighbour helps her and she gradually discovers that many of the people around her are struggling with their own losses. The Land of Neverendings is where the soul of toys and the children who have loved them can live happily ever after...but something has gone wrong and, not only is the barrier between worlds failing, the awful frog of despair has entered Smockeroon.
What can they do to make sure their loved ones can have a happy ever after instead of letting the sadness of the real world infect the Land of Neverendings?
I liked a lot of elements of this book, but did find it quite slow going with lots of retrospective and not much happening at times. Emily is a realistic character and her neighbour, Ruth, is incredibly supportive. It was really good to see positive relationships with adults and both Emily's parents being present and supportive as they go through the grieving process as a family. I also liked how the book touched on some of the issues in female friendship at this age, when some people want to grow up faster and others are quite happy being children for a little longer.
Overall, a very interesting read and I can tell that this is a book very close to the author's book as she has also experienced the pain of losing a child. She said she wrote this book to allow children and families going through this process to see the light at the end of the tunnel and all of the joy life still has to bring.
September 8, 2018
Interest Level: 5-8; Reading Level: 6.1
How would you react if your toys started to come to life? Would you think it is fun or would it freak you out? Emily has experienced this and it started off fun but turned bad really quick. Emily's sister and best friend, Holly, had a disability, had a seizure one night, and died. When Holly was buried she had her favorite blue bear, Bluey, with her. Three months after her sister's death Emily has been going through a lot of changes. Her best friend has started being very distant and hanging around with some mean girls, Emily has been cast as the lead role in the school play, and her toys have started coming to life. When the toys tell her tales of the land in which they live, Emily knows these are the same stories that her and Holly made up. Then she finds out that Bluey is there and even possibly, Holly. Emily will do whatever it takes to go to Smockeroon to find her. However, things are beginning to go terribly wrong in Smockeroon and it is starting to spill into the real world. Can Emily and her friends make things right before everything goes wrong? Will Emily get to see Holly again? Read this incredible story of friendship, love, and incredible imagination.
I just loved this story! Emily has gone through so much heartache in her young life. When the toys come to life she actually gets hope that keeps her going when her friend lets her down. Through this process Emily finds new friends and she also finds herself. Don't miss this book!!
Follow me:
Blog - Blazer Tales - https://blazertales.com/
Facebook - Laurie’s Library Place - https://www.facebook.com/LauriesLibra...
Instagram - laurieslibrary - https://www.instagram.com/laurieslibr...
Twitter - @laurieevans27
Goodreads - Laurie Purser - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/auburngirl2...
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCulD...
How would you react if your toys started to come to life? Would you think it is fun or would it freak you out? Emily has experienced this and it started off fun but turned bad really quick. Emily's sister and best friend, Holly, had a disability, had a seizure one night, and died. When Holly was buried she had her favorite blue bear, Bluey, with her. Three months after her sister's death Emily has been going through a lot of changes. Her best friend has started being very distant and hanging around with some mean girls, Emily has been cast as the lead role in the school play, and her toys have started coming to life. When the toys tell her tales of the land in which they live, Emily knows these are the same stories that her and Holly made up. Then she finds out that Bluey is there and even possibly, Holly. Emily will do whatever it takes to go to Smockeroon to find her. However, things are beginning to go terribly wrong in Smockeroon and it is starting to spill into the real world. Can Emily and her friends make things right before everything goes wrong? Will Emily get to see Holly again? Read this incredible story of friendship, love, and incredible imagination.
I just loved this story! Emily has gone through so much heartache in her young life. When the toys come to life she actually gets hope that keeps her going when her friend lets her down. Through this process Emily finds new friends and she also finds herself. Don't miss this book!!
Follow me:
Blog - Blazer Tales - https://blazertales.com/
Facebook - Laurie’s Library Place - https://www.facebook.com/LauriesLibra...
Instagram - laurieslibrary - https://www.instagram.com/laurieslibr...
Twitter - @laurieevans27
Goodreads - Laurie Purser - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/auburngirl2...
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCulD...
October 6, 2018
Toy Story meets Monsters, Inc. meets Velveteen Rabbit? 🤣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
.
〰️
〰️
I found this book delightful, charming and surprisingly deep. THE LAND OF NEVERENDINGS is absolutely hilarious at times; just imagine all the indignant toys of the world who have been written upon. had hair hacked off, etc -- what demands would they have for improvements if they could talk? Prison Wendy was by far my favorite toy; she is at turns terrifying and totally ridiculous (she wants gold boots and she wants them now!). Amidst all this silliness there is a scary black toad that has invaded Smockeroon, as well as an intense look at the grief process that Emily and Ruth are experiencing. The author's afterword shares her inspiration for the book; her son died as a teenager and she has an eternal fondness for the toys he played with when he was young. .
〰️
〰️
Don’t miss this quirky, beautiful MG book! I really enjoyed it. It reminded me a bit of THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE by @jenmaschari .
〰️
〰️
Summary: Emily's older, disabled sister Holly died recently and Emily is bereft without her and her sister's bear Bluey, about whom Emily created many stories of a land called Smockeroon (Bluey was cremated and buried with Holly). Emily has also lost her best friend, Maze, who doesn't know how to talk to Emily now and Emily's parents are stuck in their own grief, as well. Emily wanders through her own life feeling lost. She begins to spend after school time at her neighbor Ruth's antique shop and finds an instant kinship since Ruth is still mourning the loss of her son. Then all the toys start coming to life. Several escape into the real world for short trips At first, having live toys is great fun, but soon it becomes clear that all is not well in Smockeroon, the land of the toys. A door has been breached, magic is leaking out into the real world and sadness has invaded Smockeroon.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
.
〰️
〰️
I found this book delightful, charming and surprisingly deep. THE LAND OF NEVERENDINGS is absolutely hilarious at times; just imagine all the indignant toys of the world who have been written upon. had hair hacked off, etc -- what demands would they have for improvements if they could talk? Prison Wendy was by far my favorite toy; she is at turns terrifying and totally ridiculous (she wants gold boots and she wants them now!). Amidst all this silliness there is a scary black toad that has invaded Smockeroon, as well as an intense look at the grief process that Emily and Ruth are experiencing. The author's afterword shares her inspiration for the book; her son died as a teenager and she has an eternal fondness for the toys he played with when he was young. .
〰️
〰️
Don’t miss this quirky, beautiful MG book! I really enjoyed it. It reminded me a bit of THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE by @jenmaschari .
〰️
〰️
Summary: Emily's older, disabled sister Holly died recently and Emily is bereft without her and her sister's bear Bluey, about whom Emily created many stories of a land called Smockeroon (Bluey was cremated and buried with Holly). Emily has also lost her best friend, Maze, who doesn't know how to talk to Emily now and Emily's parents are stuck in their own grief, as well. Emily wanders through her own life feeling lost. She begins to spend after school time at her neighbor Ruth's antique shop and finds an instant kinship since Ruth is still mourning the loss of her son. Then all the toys start coming to life. Several escape into the real world for short trips At first, having live toys is great fun, but soon it becomes clear that all is not well in Smockeroon, the land of the toys. A door has been breached, magic is leaking out into the real world and sadness has invaded Smockeroon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews