Out of the Ordinary - Softcover

Dalton, Annie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0060214244 ISBN 13: 9780060214241

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 1990

Synopsis

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

About 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.

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.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0060214244
• ISBN 13: 9780060214241
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 243