From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7–
Drift House chronicles the extraordinary experiences of three children placed in the guardianship of their eccentric uncle in the aftermath of September 11th. Uncle Farley lives in the nautically designed Drift House, which is situated on the Bay of Eternity in Canada. Shortly after their arrival, 12-year-old Susan and her two younger brothers discover that the mysterious house is actually a ship, and that they have unwittingly embarked on a voyage across the Sea of Time. What ensues is a thrilling and perilous adventure in which the children meet an almost superfluous cast of fantastical creatures, including a crew of Time Pirates and a band of malevolent mermaids who serve as minions of the wicked undersea Queen Octavia. When Susan is commandeered into playing a pivotal role in a diabolical plot to stop time, she must resist an otherworldly power in order to triumph over evil. This otherwise fast-moving and compelling fantasy/adventure becomes somewhat mired in convoluted discourse on metaphysics and complex explanations of temporality, which includes an overtly didactic message regarding the ramifications of humankind's proclivity for racing headlong toward the future. However, readers will find themselves drawn in by the appealing characters, generous doses of humor, and the palpable presence of the narrator, who addresses readers directly, sharing intimate details and inviting them to take part in the story as it unfolds.
–Debbie Lewis O'Donnell, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Gr. 8-11. After the events of 9/11, Mr and Mrs. Oakenfeld send their three children from New York City to Uncle Farley's home on the Bay of Eternity, somewhere in Canada. Uncle Farley and his often-sassy parrot, President Wilson, inhabit a strange, shiplike home called the Drift House. A flood sends the Drift House (and the children) into the bay and then beyond into the Sea of Time, where they meet mermaids, pirates, a talking frog, and Pierre Marin, the builder of the Drift House. The complex plot contains ruminations on the nature of time, but fortunately the story isn't swamped by philosophical insights. Funny lines come at needed intervals, and Susan, the oldest of the Oakenfeld children, turns out to be a plucky heroine that readers will cheer for. This title, by a well-known literary critic, is best for fantasy fans with a philosophical bent.
Todd MorningCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
