The Summoning

by Hannah Shoop

Fifteen-year-old Wesley Conner and his 14-year-old sister, Anna, step inside their house one day to find their parents missing. After a vain police search, the siblings, and their best friend, 15-year-old Drew Vincent, an orphan since infancy, are taken into the foster care of the elderly Josiah Smith. Exploring the old man’s house, the three teens discover a mirror that is a portal to another world—a world of knights, elves, dwarves, and strange creatures. They soon find themselves caught in a country that is on the brink of war, threatened by an evil elf lord. When their new friends at the Citadel enlist their help, offering to train them as knights, the teens accept, in hopes of finding their parents. But when the teens are assigned a quest to rescue a man, an elf, and a dwarf, they are soon caught up in a struggle much bigger than they ever could have imagined, one that will test their friendship, their courage, and their faith.

293 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2018

About the author

Hannah Shoop once lived a mere hike from castle ruins in Germany. She traveled to 20 countries in her 20s, wrote her first novel at the age of nine, met Peter Pan, and wishes she enjoyed lembas bread (but she'd rather eat a croissant alongside a cup of black coffee). Hannah now resides in Alabama, where she gushes over sunshine, explores literature with junior high students, and dreams of her next trip to Disney World. She is the author of the YA fantasy Camnoel Trilogy and the sweet contemporary Christian romance Straight on till Morning.

Reviews

[Anna Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Lord of the Rings, you will find this book very delightful!
The pacing is very exciting, and pretty much every chapter ending left me hanging and wanting desperately to know what was next.
The description is well done--the scenery, the food, and the appearance of the characters. It’s all very easy to see in your mind, and that makes it more enjoyable to read.

I found the characters very relatable, and their thoughts resembled some of those that I have thought in my own life.

The plot is very fun: the main characters, Wesley, Anna, and Drew, are only ordinary children, but something extraordinary happens to them, and they end up fighting on the good side vs. evil side.

This book led me closer to God because of a struggling relationship two of the characters had with Him. It’s a whole other journey inside of the adventure wanting to know if those characters are going to fully decide that they believe that all things are possible with Him. This book has very good Christian insights, and lots of wisdom in it.

One of the characters says mean words but the good thing is that his friends encourage him to stop, and that it is a bad habit. I really appreciate this because some books I’ve read before have mean language in them, and the characters or the author do not tell or hint to readers that it is wrong.

The ending had me on the edge of my seat for the next book.

Overall, this book is a must-read! I’m actually thinking of rereading it one of these days.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like books such a Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, you will enjoy this book! Shoop creates her masterpiece by a mirror and three young youths, and they are “summoned” by elves, and are sent on daring journeys about this new world called Camnoel. I believe this book is very helpful, especially to young readers who might be struggling with their faith or just need a good book to read. I love this book, it is my top favorite, and I am so excited to read more of this trilogy!

[Haley Pattison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! Hannah and I go to the same church and Sarah and Scott Shoop are both leaders in the youth group there. It was so fun reading a book of someone I actually know

[Mackenzie Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun story! You will feel connected to the characters quickly, and be gasping and the twists and turns of a fun adventure. If you like fantasy or Narnia-type stories, you will love this one!