Caroline and Mordecai the Gand by Jeff Gunhus | Review
A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.
Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me the information for this tour.
Caroline and Mordecai the Gand by Jeff Gunhus Published by Independent on 03/31/2021
Genres: Adventure, Children's, Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Middle-Grade, Teen, Young Adult
Format: Audiobook, eBook, Paperback
Pages: 170
Caroline loses her spark. It takes a great adventure for her to find it again.
When Caroline loses her father in a car accident, she can't shake the feeling that it was her fault. Consumed by grief, she has a difficult time readjusting to a world that has changed so dramatically for her.
Not long after her father's death, a strange window opens in the middle of the small lake behind her house. She climbs up an old oak to peer inside, but falls out of the tree and discovers that the window also serves as a door into a different world.
Enter Mordecai the Gand, a mysterious traveler who befriends Caroline and promises to help her find a way back home since the window she fell through has disappeared. The two set out on a series of adventures that include visiting a tree village populated by a tribe known for eating travelers, running into a witch under a spell of her own making, hiding in a cave with a dragon encased in a wall of ice (prone to melting by campfire), all the while being pursued by a mysterious entity called the Creach which promises to devour Caroline and trap her in an eternity of despair.
As they navigate these adventures and this new world, Caroline slowly discovers that she is meant to help each of the characters she meets. As she battles internally whether to stay or return home to the sadness and grief waiting for her there, she must regain perspective and open her heart to the act of caring and to the joy of love itself. In the end, she must demonstrate great courage, loyalty, and caring as the plot unfolds, becoming the active hero of her own story.
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Source: iRead Book Tours, Received from the author or publisher for review.
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Purchase links for Caroline and Mordecai the Gand by Jeff Gunhus
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My thoughts on Caroline and Mordecai the Gand by Jeff Gunhus
Wow, this is one fantastic story. I was all set to enjoy a nice middle-grade tale of another world, witches, dragons, and such. What I got was both an entertaining tale of a little girl traveling through a strange new world and a deeply touching story of facing and overcoming grief.
The world-building is superb. I felt like I was right there with Caroline and Mordecai, spending the night in a tree city, facing down witches, dragons, and the Creach.
But the real magic of this book is in the allegories presented to Caroline, proving our choices in life can be as simple as which road to take. While overcoming grief is the main theme, the minute details of the story make it much deeper and thought-provoking.
The story is entertaining and a quick read, but you could pick up on different aspects each time you read the book. Knowing the back story of the author makes this novella much more poignant. I know I will be re-reading it in the future. I’ve dealt with a fair share of grief in my life. I wish I had learned some of Caroline’s lessons when I was younger.
I don’t want to give the impression this is a story full of sadness. It’s ultimately a story about the celebrations of life. The lessons taken from the story will depend upon the age of the reader. It also provides an entry to talking about some of the most difficult aspects of life.
I highly encourage you to pick up a copy today. Caroline and Mordecai the Gand is one of the best books I’ve read this year!
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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Caroline and Mordecai the Gand by Jeff Gunhus
About Jeff Gunhus
Jeff Gunhus is the USA TODAY bestselling author of thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle-grade fantasy series, The Jack Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year-old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born.
His books for adults have reached the Top 30 on Amazon, have been recognized as Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalists, and reached the USA TODAY bestseller list.
Jeff wrote Caroline & Mordecai the Gand after receiving a devastating diagnosis of stage 3 cancer. The novella was meant as a private story for his five children on how to face grief by holding onto joy and love.
He leads an active life in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to constantly keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of Old Fox Books in Annapolis working on his next novel or on JeffGunhus.com.
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Giveaway!
Win signed copy of CAROLINE AND MORDECAI THE GAND & $50 Amazon Gift Card (1 winner) (USA only) (ends May 18)
Visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win.
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Purchase the book online from a local book store.
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Similar reviews:
The Gatekeeper of Pericael by Hayley Reese Chow
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- Inspire Me Monday with Anita Ojeda
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