June 15, 2022
The Book of Wondrous Possibilities starts with a bang and doesn’t let up. Arlo lives a quiet life with his uncle and pet mouse Herbert above their bookshop, until the feisty Lisette swoops into their lives. In her possession is an old book of magical properties called a grimoire. With the use of special glasses the illustrations in the book come to life—with Arlo as the hero! This particular grimoire has been written by Arlo’s mother who we find out has recently died in suspicious circumstances. Deborah Abela has written a rollercoaster of a tale featuring baddies, goodies, heroines and heroes, but above all, the true bond of friendship. Readers will get swept up in the action and adventure as Lisette and Arlo try to right the wrongs of the past. Abela delights in language and phrase, with descriptions such as ‘a large wardrobe of a man’ and a face ‘the colour of an old sock’ that will be sure to have young minds firing. The book also promotes the joys and benefits of reading, which will no doubt hearten those working in bookshops and libraries. The Book of Wondrous Possibilities is indeed a wondrous book to get caught up in, for readers aged 8–12.
Katie Haydon is a library officer in Geelong and a former assistant editor of Books+Publishing. She once had a pet rat called Fagin.