  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 08/01/2015 Gr 4–7—Gracie Lockwood is a spirited girl and journal writer, who lives with her parents, brother, and sister right down the street from a T.J.Maxx that was recently burned down by dragons. Her world mirrors ours, in that there is a Wendy's, Taco Bell, and McDonald's off of Route 1. It differs, however, because Sasquatches roam the forests, depressed ghosts linger, and for a pretty penny, one can hire a guardian angel should one require protection. Perhaps the most ominous thing about her world is the fact that dark clouds visit the homes of anyone whose life they're about to take. When such a cloud appears over Gracie's home, the family believes it has come for her ailing younger brother, Sam. Their one chance at outrunning his death is crossing over into the Extraordinary World. Her father, a somewhat unreliable scientist believes that a parallel universe exists, one in which humans thrive without the death clouds and other dangers found in their own world. When the Lockwoods purchase a Winnebago to flee their town in pursuit of the Extraordinary World, readers are taken on a fun-filled, well-paced, modern adventure. VERDICT Fans of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" will enjoy this heartfelt, bittersweet, and ever-so-clever coming-of-age fantasy. It is a must-add to any middle grade collection.—Pilar Okeson, Allen-Stevenson School, New York City - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 11/01/2015 Within the pages of Gracie Lockwood’s diary is an extraordinary adventure: her family embarking to save her sickly little brother, Sam. Gracie’s world is strikingly similar to our own, except it is inhabited by dragons, poltergeists, sasquatch, and mermaids. When a Dark Cloud, a bringer of death, settles in the Lockwoods’ backyard, the family decides to try to outrun it before it can take Sam. They pack up a Winnebago and, joined by Gracie’s friend, set out across the country with plans to escape into the Extraordinary World. Gracie’s thoughtful, fresh-eyed perspective is the perfect lens through which to view Anderson’s alternate Earth, which tweaks history and familiar landscapes to accommodate its supernatural residents. Mentions of string theory and parallel universes serve as fleeting explanations for the existence of other worlds and endless possibility, yet the crux of the story lies in the closeness of the Lockwood family, which is challenged and strained along the journey and proves to be the most magical element of all. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: This author of the May Bird trilogy and Tiger Lily is best-selling and critically acclaimed, so have extra copies on hand. - Copyright 2015 Booklist. Loading...
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