ABANDONED. YA Fantasy. Boy is stuck in a strange land with an old man (wizard?) on top of a waterfall with lots of made up creatures. Read around 2007.

[Lewis]

I vaguely remember a book about a boy who lives with an old man in a strange land, and all the creatures are very abstract made up by the author and i remember something about waterfalls, maybe living at the top of a waterfall, and birds in cages. May have had a magic undertone.

It may have a similar setting to the Never Ending Story or the Phantom Tollbooth where a boy from our world is taken to another somehow.

Might have been quite a long book and illustrated throughout, maybe full pages with some small illustrations throughout. Definitely some of the creatures spoke i kinda remember one being very big and hairy and living with the main characters. Its right at the tip of my tongue but can't quite place it.

Some questions or suggestions might jog my memory. i know its vague but i just can't quite place it.

[Lark]

Long shot, but maybe The Secret Room by Antonia Michaelis?

[Lewis]

no thats not it, I'm pretty sure there was only one main boy character and i think it was set in a more open world rather than just the one room, but thanks for the suggestion

[Sophie]

When did you read this?

[Lewis]

maybe 8 years ago?

[Anna]

Another longshot, and perhaps a much older book than the one you read, but the mention of imaginary animals in your description made me think of The Talking Parcel by Gerald Durrell.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Lewis, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Lewis]

still looking!!

[Kris]

Can you tell us more about the boy - his age, skills, interests, personality, etc.?

Is he on a quest to find something or save someone? Or is he just trying to get back home/Earth?

Is there a battle?

Are there dragons?

What's the tone - mystery, suspense, adventure, somber/sad, funny, etc.?

[Nicole]

This is a long shot, but Water Keep?

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

Lewis (OP) was last active on the site in October 2020.