Out of the Ordinary [Paperback]

Annie Dalton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1992

Fifteen-year-old Molly, who lives in a turbulent, single-parent household, is asked by mysterious, otherworldly visitors to protect an enchanted child from great danger.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although 15-year-old Molly Gurney feels "weighed down with ordinariness" with her "large feet all too solidly on the ground," she possesses special powers that enable her to predict the future and communicate with the inhabitants of other worlds. After encountering three mysterious strangers, Molly is appointed the guardian of Floris, an enchanted, mute child whose life has been threatened. When the boy appears in the Gurney home as an abandoned fledgling, he immediately wins the hearts of Molly, her social-minded mother and two obnoxious brothers. All goes well until the evil Magus kidnaps the child. With the help of two friends, Molly attempts a daring rescue and is able to save her ward as well as break an ancient curse. Fantasy buffs will be intrigued by the characters and plot of this suspenseful first novel. As skillfully wrought as the medieval landscapes of Molly's visions are scenes depicting her troubled home life. Like C. S. Lewis and Madeline L'Engle, Dalton successfully employs elements of both magic and realism to express themes about the power of love to combat even the darkest forces. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

An engaging blend of fantasy and reality from an author to watch. Molly sees herself as plain, clumsy, and overwhelmingly ordinary; yet she sometimes feels a "special singing in her bones." Sensing something extraordinary, she catches fleeting images of another world in her dreams but cannot focus fully on them. She is charged with protecting Floris, a little boy from a medieval-type realm geographically located in Molly's own village, but existing in another dimension of time and space. Dalton's story, however, is firmly rooted in reality. The first chapter establishes threads that run throughout the rest of the book, making the magical ingredients believable as a part of the larger narrative. Molly and Floris are well drawn, as are the minor characters who effectively fill in the details of Molly's life. Many elements combine to create the story's richness. On one level, Molly is a normal teenager who feels out of step with her classmates and confused about her growing affection for a young street musician. Floris' world is first introduced through an ancient ballad, which describes a beautiful, harmonious land destroyed by a tragedy that is echoed through the generations. The climactic battle to save Floris is reminiscent of L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time (Farrar, 1962), when love proves to be the ultimate weapon against curses and hate. The only minor quibble with the book is that the fantasy sequences, which go on for several pages, are printed in italics, which is tough to read and may discourage some readers who would otherwise have no difficulty with the text. --Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, County of Henrico Public Library--Fairfield Area Library, Richmond, VA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books (April 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064470814
• ISBN-13: 978-0064470810
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,544,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Prose that shines; unforgettable characters; a great story, June 28, 2005

By 

Laraine A. Barker "Laraine A Barker" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Out of the Ordinary (Paperback)

In Molly Gurney's chaotic, lively home where her mother is always busy with children, neighbours, kittens and hens, domestic needs always come first. No wonder Molly considers herself to be very ordinary! However, Molly is anything but ordinary. When, in a fit of boredom, she writes an advertisement for a job--"quests undertaken, lost things found, enchantments broken"--and doesn't even send it to the newspaper, it leads her to a magical tryst far beyond her cosy home. First a small child is dumped without warning on the Gurneys' doorstep. Though Molly is used to sharing her home with foster children, Floris wasn't sent by the social services, who can't trace his origins. And there is something even more mysterious about him. To protect the child, Molly has to enter a world of dangerous witchcraft, in which her only ally is the devastatingly handsome musician, Icarus.

Annie Dalton has it all: an exceptional story-telling skill, a style that, though deceptively simple, can only be described as poetry in prose, and the ability to create characters so complex they aren't just three-dimensional; they're almost four-dimensional. Judging from one of the review excerpts quoted in this edition, Out of the Ordinary may have been her first published book. An unforgettable read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing tale of good versus evil, March 1, 2004

By 

Raven tales (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out of the Ordinary (Paperback)

Molly is saddled with a moronic older brother, a games freak younger brother and an imagination that is belied by her too sensible face and red hair. When she writes a mock advert for 'Quests undertaken', she doesn't realise that she will soon be thrust into an age old feud as she is chosen to care for Floris.

Annie Dalton writes eloquently and with beauty. Out of the ordinary draws you into Molly's life, filled with her mother's fosterlings and into the magical world that she is drawn into. The prose moves along with an almost dreamlike quality and the characters make you laugh and cry with them. A must read for any fan of the slightly surreal.

4.0 out of 5 stars unexpected plus, February 18, 2002

By 

kate (Augusta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out of the ordinary (Teen) (Hardcover)

This book was a bit out of the ordinary but the mix of science fiction, parallel universes, romance, and wonderfully portrayed characters its a very good read. Molly is the out of the ordinary girl who seems oh so ordinary.