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Tales from the Land of Forever: The Bookkeeper's Portal
Being transported to a magical, faraway land was everything Sarah has longed for. But would that wish become her downfall?
Have you ever wanted to just disappear and escape from all your troubles? 10-year-old Sarah George certainly did after the unexpected death of her beloved father.
But when Sarah accidentally stumbles across an ancient book in the Manor library and is somehow magically transported to a far-off, enchanted land, she soon begins to regret her wish when she finds herself stuck in the In-Between.
In her epic quest to locate the elusive Bookkeeper and find a way to return home again, Sarah enlists the help of a rag-tag but fiercely loyal group of friends that she is fortunate enough to meet during her time in the fantastical Land of Forever. Together they must battle the dark and sinister forces lurking in the Silent Forest, just waiting to snatch them into its horrifying bowels.
But will the Bookkeeper be able to help our desperate travelers? Or must they continue on to the Middle Lands and the Tournament of the Four Kingdoms, where the most powerful sorcerer in the land holds Sarah's fate entirely in his hands.
"It reminded me of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." - On My Kindle Review
"A wonderful tale of friendship and adventure." - JED Says Children’s Book Review
Have you ever wanted to just disappear and escape from all your troubles? 10-year-old Sarah George certainly did after the unexpected death of her beloved father.
But when Sarah accidentally stumbles across an ancient book in the Manor library and is somehow magically transported to a far-off, enchanted land, she soon begins to regret her wish when she finds herself stuck in the In-Between.
In her epic quest to locate the elusive Bookkeeper and find a way to return home again, Sarah enlists the help of a rag-tag but fiercely loyal group of friends that she is fortunate enough to meet during her time in the fantastical Land of Forever. Together they must battle the dark and sinister forces lurking in the Silent Forest, just waiting to snatch them into its horrifying bowels.
But will the Bookkeeper be able to help our desperate travelers? Or must they continue on to the Middle Lands and the Tournament of the Four Kingdoms, where the most powerful sorcerer in the land holds Sarah's fate entirely in his hands.
"It reminded me of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." - On My Kindle Review
"A wonderful tale of friendship and adventure." - JED Says Children’s Book Review
278 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2015
1 person is currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
B.A. Keating
5 books9 followersI’m B.A. Keating, teller of tales, wrangler of words, proud Essex girl, and author of middle grade adventures Tales from the Land of Forever, The Academy, The Wood at the Bottom of the Garden Gate, and The Last Pirate.
Long before I began writing books, I was spinning across ballet studios in London, England, where I trained as a classical dancer for fifteen years. It was all pirouettes and pointe shoes—until the stories begging to be told in my head became too insistent to ignore.
I was born on a chilly November evening in London, and since then, life has taken me on quite the journey! I’ve lived on three continents, called both Auckland, New Zealand and the sunny Algarve in Portugal home, and now reside in San Francisco, California with my husband and our small (but mighty) fur-family.
I’m a lifelong bibliophile, animal rescue advocate, travel junkie, movie lover, pizza connoisseur, and occasional lemondrop sipper (well, maybe more than occasional). If you’re ever looking for me, just follow the trail of glittering ideas, crumpled notebook pages, and a suspiciously empty pizza box.
Visit www.bakeating.com for more information or join me on Instagram @bakeatingauthor
Long before I began writing books, I was spinning across ballet studios in London, England, where I trained as a classical dancer for fifteen years. It was all pirouettes and pointe shoes—until the stories begging to be told in my head became too insistent to ignore.
I was born on a chilly November evening in London, and since then, life has taken me on quite the journey! I’ve lived on three continents, called both Auckland, New Zealand and the sunny Algarve in Portugal home, and now reside in San Francisco, California with my husband and our small (but mighty) fur-family.
I’m a lifelong bibliophile, animal rescue advocate, travel junkie, movie lover, pizza connoisseur, and occasional lemondrop sipper (well, maybe more than occasional). If you’re ever looking for me, just follow the trail of glittering ideas, crumpled notebook pages, and a suspiciously empty pizza box.
Visit www.bakeating.com for more information or join me on Instagram @bakeatingauthor
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 15, 2015
This is a beautifully written book for middle grade readers, and it was a fun way for my daughter to increase and expand her vocabulary without her even knowing. In our house, we love books that transport the reader to magical lands, where exciting adventures and lovable characters abound; and ‘Tales from the land of Forever’ does not disappoint. Although we liked the main character, Sarah George, our favorites were Tiberius the Fire Dragon and Fidget the weasel. And my daughter particularly liked the Christmas Cottage chapter. This book ranks up there with other classic portal stories such as ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and will be enjoyed by generations to come.
January 6, 2016
When I saw the cover, I was sure this was going to be an enjoyable read. And it was. Sarah is a sweet girl who is struggling to cope with the most horrid circumstances: loss of her father, leaving her home and landing in a place where love seems to be a distant memory. It's so easy to sympathize with Sarah, and when she finally happens across the other world, it was like a fresh breeze she desperately needed. I couldn't wait to explore the strange world with her.
One of the things which drew me in the most was the traditional fairy tale feeling to Sarah's adventures. The creatures are mystical and the land is magical--a wonderful setting for a child's imagination to take flight. Despite the dangers and troubles she runs across, there's always a sense of hope which keeps the plot from going too dark. This was something which I really appreciated and found very fitting for the intended audience. The basic messages of trust, friendship and perseverance flow throughout the story like a faint glow of sunshine even when Sarah and her friends faced tough and dangerous situations.
The world Sarah encounters is vibrant and curious, offering new surprises around every corner while keeping enough familiarity that young readers will have no trouble picturing the scenes around them. There was never a dull moment, but with all the fun and caring friends Sarah runs into, there's not much room for boredom. Of course, there's more than enough 'evil' creatures out there determined to keep the heroes on their toes. But each character, good or bad, had a distinct personality and spiced up the adventures in their own way.
The writing is very fitting for kids ages eight and up, although I'm not sure much older kids will enjoy it quite as much. Especially girls will enjoy following Sarah on her journey. The length of around 270 pages did make me wonder if this might be a bit heavy for more reluctant readers, but the chapters are carefully broken down in such a way that a reader can go through one bit at a time without feeling overwhelmed. I see this as a great bedtime read and can imagine that it would bring several nights of sweet dreams.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
One of the things which drew me in the most was the traditional fairy tale feeling to Sarah's adventures. The creatures are mystical and the land is magical--a wonderful setting for a child's imagination to take flight. Despite the dangers and troubles she runs across, there's always a sense of hope which keeps the plot from going too dark. This was something which I really appreciated and found very fitting for the intended audience. The basic messages of trust, friendship and perseverance flow throughout the story like a faint glow of sunshine even when Sarah and her friends faced tough and dangerous situations.
The world Sarah encounters is vibrant and curious, offering new surprises around every corner while keeping enough familiarity that young readers will have no trouble picturing the scenes around them. There was never a dull moment, but with all the fun and caring friends Sarah runs into, there's not much room for boredom. Of course, there's more than enough 'evil' creatures out there determined to keep the heroes on their toes. But each character, good or bad, had a distinct personality and spiced up the adventures in their own way.
The writing is very fitting for kids ages eight and up, although I'm not sure much older kids will enjoy it quite as much. Especially girls will enjoy following Sarah on her journey. The length of around 270 pages did make me wonder if this might be a bit heavy for more reluctant readers, but the chapters are carefully broken down in such a way that a reader can go through one bit at a time without feeling overwhelmed. I see this as a great bedtime read and can imagine that it would bring several nights of sweet dreams.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2018
We loved this children's novel!! My kids (aged 6 to 11) couldn't get enough of this wonderful book. We read it every night before bedtime. The youngest loved Jack the cheeky leprechaun character, and my eldest's favorite was the lead character Sarah and her loyal fire dragon, Tiberius. I really can't recommend this book enough. Grab a copy today - your kids will thank you. Brilliant read.
April 6, 2016
This is a wonderful tale of friendship and adventure. Sarah is dealing with some upsets in her life including the sudden loss of her father when she discovers a portal to a different, fantastic world.
Once there she discovers new friends and goes on an epic, amazing, frightening quest where she discovers the amazing things she is capable of.
The author brings us into this new, wonderful world then leaves us on the edge of our seats the rest of the way. It's an amazing adventure that will be enjoyed by any young reader. The relationships of the characters feel genuine and the read is thrilling from the beginning until the end.
A five star story that will fit in every youth's library.
**A free copy of this book was received in return for an honest review**
Once there she discovers new friends and goes on an epic, amazing, frightening quest where she discovers the amazing things she is capable of.
The author brings us into this new, wonderful world then leaves us on the edge of our seats the rest of the way. It's an amazing adventure that will be enjoyed by any young reader. The relationships of the characters feel genuine and the read is thrilling from the beginning until the end.
A five star story that will fit in every youth's library.
**A free copy of this book was received in return for an honest review**
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews