Title: The Land of Neverendings
Author: Kate Saunders
Publication Date: 5th October 2017
Synopsis: "What if there exists a world powered by our imagination...
A world where silliness is the norm, where the fashion-conscious wear hats made of cake, where a stuffed bear and penguin strut around like they own the place.
A world where humans and toys live on, long after the leave the Hard World?
And what if the door between that world and this one was broken?
Welcome to the Land of Neverendings."
My thoughts: Oh. This book was sweet, glorious, and heart-breaking. It looks at grief and loss from a child's perspective, trying to make sense of the world through stories and 'adult things'. It looks at play, and fun, and imagination, and what happens when those aren't very balanced. It looks at love, and how sometimes we will do whatever we can to get even a hint of someone we love back in our life.
The humour in this is pretty great - yes, sometimes a little childish (there are many children involved, after all), but sometimes I was surprised into laughing out loud. I also cried a little with this book - let that be your warning. It does deal with some pretty heavy topics at time, particularly the weight that grief can have on someone's life, so it can hit you right where you feel it most.
Emily, the main character, is absolutely wonderful. Flawed and yet curious and real. She asks the hard questions at times, and takes other things in her stride. When things go wrong, she doesn't try to hide away from it, and she tries to stay present. I loved her character, and could happily read other books with her as the main. The other characters - particularly Ruth, Toby, and Smiffy - delighted me almost as much, and the connections that Saunders forms with other children's classics was amazing.
This book was heart-warming and wonderful. I cannot recommend it enough if you have a child, or if you are a child at heart.
{I received a review copy of this book from Allen & Unwin in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!!}
A favourite line from the book: "'Would you mind telling me why you're wearing those moustaches?'
Both toys looked surprised.
Smiffy said, 'It's the latest fashion in Pointed End - everybody's got a false moustache.'"
You would like this book if: You enjoy wonderful, deep, charming children's stories.
Tea to drink while reading this book: Cocoa would be best, I think.
Rating: 10/10
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