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Michael Alexander, with his second book for children, Until
Wishes Are Fulfilled, has created a world of such wondrous hope,
children of all ages will find it difficult to put the book down in
favour of any thing else that might distract them, once they have
turned to the first page.
Michael’s descriptive prose and
ability to ensnare a readers attention from the off, is a wonderful
gift to own. Holly is such a well-rounded character, readers will
want to reach into the page and offer her a comforting shoulder on
which to cry or a congratulatory hand to slap in high-five
celebration.
Yet it is the pace of the story
that stands out. Almost Frank Cottrell-Boyce in its ceaselessness,
Michael Alexander keeps the plot rolling with delightful dialogue,
unexpected twists and a “need to know” hook at the end of each
chapter.
This, it has to be said, is a truly
special book. Though set at Christmas, Until wishes are fulfilled
can be read at any time of year and Michael Alexander, following on
from Adventures In Cuckoo’s Hollow, shows an assured lightness of
touch many others writing in this field will envy.
The stories are set in and around
Peterborough, and local readers will recognise many of the places,
including Queensgate, the museum and the Cathedral.
Until wishes are fulfilled
For eleven year old Holly, the last six weeks have been the
worst of her young life. Her mother lies in a coma following a car
accident, the doctors unable to say when, if ever, she might regain
consciousness.
With Christmas just one week away,
Holly’s one wish is to have her mother home with her on Christmas
Day – a wish she knows is unlikely to be fulfilled.
Then, on the eve of her twelfth
birthday, her dad buys her a magician’s set from a strange old man
he bumps into by accident in town. The set proves to be very
special; a spell book and a real wand, and suddenly Holly finds that
magic exists everywhere – even in the saddest moments of her life.
Under the guidance of Charlie,
Holly learns to do the sort of magic we can only dream about, with
hilarious and sometimes dangerous results!
As Holly’s life begins to brighten,
she still holds onto her one true wish – to have her mother home
again, and muses over the opening words in the spell book:
This book is for the use of Holly
Jackson
Congratulations on being chosen
All is yours until your wishes are
fulfilled
With Christmas fast approaching and
an evil, sinister character trying to take the wand for himself, can
Holly find it in herself to rise to the challenges that face her and
get back the one thing she wants most of all?
Until wishes are fulfilled 2 -
Alec's story
It would be fair to say that 13 year old Alec’s life is
definitely not going to plan.
His wheelchair bound dad is
suffering more each day, and three bullies seem determined to make
things as difficult as possible for him at school.
Then, the discovery of an odd
scratch card, and a visit to a shop that doesn’t actually exist,
changes his life completely.
Magic, it seems, has decided to
take an interest in Alec’s life and that means all sorts of things
are about to happen.
But with the bullies giving him
more and more attention, and the frighteningly mysterious ‘shadow
creatures’ after him, can things really turn out as he wants them?
And where exactly did the talking cat come from?
Follow Alec as he casts spells,
meets ghosts, takes midnight train journeys into the past, and tries
his best to deal with all the problems in his difficult life.
Peterborough UK
Community Website - January 2008
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