Spellbound [Paperback]

Anna Dale (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

An innocent summer holiday turns out to be anything but for Athene and her younger brother, Zach, when they find themselves caught up in a skirmish between two groups of gnome-like creatures: The Humble Gloam live above ground and get along with humans; the Low Gloam live below ground and despise everyone. But when Zach stumbles into Low Gloam territory, Athene disguises herself to rescue him--and discovers a secret that could bring the two Gloam tribes together--if it doesn’t tear them apart first.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Anna Dale: 'The writing is fresh and vivid, with many humorous touches' The Children's Bookseller 'Dale nimbly ties together the spidery threads of the story in a beguiling denouement' Publisher's Weekly Praise for Spellbound: 'I was reminded of two other distinguished writers as I read this - Enid Blyton and C.S. Lewis. The story has that same magical edge about it, with its well-formed imaginary creatures and their world ... [it] would work well as a bedtime story or as a book for a pre-teen to read by themselves' Thebookbag.co.uk --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

ANNA DALE lives in Southampton, England, where she works part-time as a bookseller. She has written two previous novels, Whispering to Witches and Dawn Undercover.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599903709
• ISBN-13: 978-1599903705
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,446,729 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A charming and funny tale, August 6, 2008

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spellbound (Hardcover)

Twelve-year-old Athene and her little brother Zach have nothing in common. Even their names are at the opposite ends of the alphabet. Athene is clever, loves big words and is very neat. Zach is six, has messy hair and is very annoying. Athene has hated Zach ever since she first laid eyes on him in his little white baby blanket.

While the family is vacationing at a remote farmhouse, Athene stumbles upon magical gnome-like folk called the Humble Gloam, who hide from humans whom they call the Glare, only coming out at night. She is having the time of her life with her new Gloam friends when her pesky brother decides to tag along, spoiling her fun as always. Athene tricks Zach into entering a tree stump that she knows has been put under a terrible magic spell by the Low Gloam, the sworn enemies of the Humble Gloam. Anyone who enters the tree stump becomes a slave of the cruel Low Gloam and can never escape. Trusting, naïve, stupid Zach enters the stump and disappears forever.

Life could not be better for Athene. The Humble Gloam have put a spell on Athene's parents so that they forget Zach ever existed. They spend their days doting on her, and only her. She has everything she has ever wanted, and most especially, there is no Zach around to annoy her. Why then does she feel so bad?

Athene decides that there is only one thing to do: she must disguise herself as a Gloam and enter the magic tree to rescue her little brother. Accompanied by her new friends, she descends into the underground caves where the Low Gloam hold Zach captive and plots a daring rescue. Can she bring him back, end the long-standing feud between the Low Gloam and Humble Gloam, and maybe even convince the Gloam that humans aren't so bad?

SPELLBOUND is a charming and funny tale from British children's writer Anna Dale. The first half of the story is considerably stronger than the second half, but the book as a whole is very entertaining. The reader is kept guessing as to what our little firebrand Athene will come up with next. Dale has a winner in the characters of Athene and Zach, and I hope we get to read more about their adventures soon.

--- Reviewed by Usha Reynolds

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, December 18, 2011

By 

good energy (DC, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spellbound (Hardcover)

An excellent little read for children of all ages with an interesting societal set-up of Day creatures (people who live in the Day) and Night creatures. The Night beings are driven underground into the roots of a great tree and will enslave anyone including the day creature, bunnies, turtles, etc who ventures there.

If you have an older girl who is less than amorous with her little brother, this is the book to give her to set things right. Could apply to any older child regardless of sex.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining, must be patient, reads by itself., December 2, 2011

By 

A. Mendez "Elite Photo" (FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spellbound (Hardcover)

Look beyond the basics and the book teaches you many things about judging others, perseption, attitude, the value of simple things we take for granted, etc.

I like the book is not spoon-fed, it unravels itself, very easy reading, her reading tempo is very good, highly recommended.