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The World Between Blinks #1
The World Between Blinks
Have you ever blinked, and thought you saw something that was gone a moment later? Have you ever turned to pick up an item, only to find it wasn't where you left it?
Jake and Marisol are cousins. Jake's great at leaving things behind - his mum's a diplomat, and he never settles anywhere for long. His latest friends and new favourite places are lost with depressing regularity. Marisol's great at finding things - she's American and she's Bolivian, and this cross-cultural childhood has taught her to pay attention to details. She's got such an eagle eye, and she's so gifted at finding things, that sometimes she even wonders if things find her.
Together, Jake and Marisol are about to discover The World Between Blinks. The place where everything we lose - from the front door keys to ancient cities buried under hot desert sands - eventually appears.
The trick's going to be finding a way home. Before they're lost forever.
Jake and Marisol are cousins. Jake's great at leaving things behind - his mum's a diplomat, and he never settles anywhere for long. His latest friends and new favourite places are lost with depressing regularity. Marisol's great at finding things - she's American and she's Bolivian, and this cross-cultural childhood has taught her to pay attention to details. She's got such an eagle eye, and she's so gifted at finding things, that sometimes she even wonders if things find her.
Together, Jake and Marisol are about to discover The World Between Blinks. The place where everything we lose - from the front door keys to ancient cities buried under hot desert sands - eventually appears.
The trick's going to be finding a way home. Before they're lost forever.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2021
82 people are currently reading
7518 people want to read
About the author
Amie Kaufman
42 books13.3k followersAmie Kaufman is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of young adult fiction. Her multi-award winning work is slated for publication in over 30 countries, and is in development for film and TV. Raised in Australia and occasionally Ireland, Amie has degrees in history, literature, law and conflict resolution. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and daughter, their rescue dog, and an extremely large personal library. She is the host of the podcasts Amie Kaufman on Writing, and Pub Dates.
You can sign up for her newsletter to see what she's working on, hear when she releases a new book, and be automatically entered for giveaways: https://amiekaufman.substack.com/
You can sign up for her newsletter to see what she's working on, hear when she releases a new book, and be automatically entered for giveaways: https://amiekaufman.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
Want to read
October 23, 2018I will read anything this woman writes.
August 30, 2020
Cousins Jake and Marisol are helping to clean out the house of their recently deceased grandmother. Neither want the house sold as it holds so many memories, but it is not up to them. Their grandmother was always on adventures and she would share the stories with the family. This life of adventure was passed down to Jake and Marisol. They decide to take one more adventure when they find a map left by their grandmothers. This leads them to an almost lost lighthouse which in-turn leads them to the land between blinks. The land between blinks if where people, places, and things go when they are lost of forgotten. Think Atlantis, think dinosaurs, and so on. When Jake and Marisol get to the World Between Blinks they learn they are not meant to be there, but were drawn there and now they need to find out why and how to get back to their world. This is a middle grade fantasy book which appears will be a series. I love all things written by Amie Kaufman and would gladly enjoy seeing this as a series of adventures.
July 11, 2022
The concept for this story is so clever and imaginative. It’s basically a history buff’s dream come true, while at the same time, middle grade readers can easily get lost in the World and will have fun imagining themselves within the pages.
While the story is a fun little adventure, it also hits an emotional punch with the cousins dealing with the grief of losing their grandmother. Kaufman and Graudin dealt with the subject matter well.
*Disclaimer* I received an eARC from Harper Collins on Edelweiss. An honest review was provided.
While the story is a fun little adventure, it also hits an emotional punch with the cousins dealing with the grief of losing their grandmother. Kaufman and Graudin dealt with the subject matter well.
*Disclaimer* I received an eARC from Harper Collins on Edelweiss. An honest review was provided.
January 4, 2021
3.5/5 Stars
** I received this as an E-ARC from Edelweiss Plus and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**
This was a fun and interesting concept. I really enjoyed that family was a major aspect of this book. I found that with this particular middle grade, I had to suspend my disbelief and just accept the way things worked in the world between. I did really enjoy that we had some history and all of these lost things in the world between. I loved the entire portion about memories ( if you read it then you will know). Overall I had fun reading this book. It was short, fun, and easy to read. I know kids that would absolutely love it and would for sure recommend it.
** I received this as an E-ARC from Edelweiss Plus and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**
This was a fun and interesting concept. I really enjoyed that family was a major aspect of this book. I found that with this particular middle grade, I had to suspend my disbelief and just accept the way things worked in the world between. I did really enjoy that we had some history and all of these lost things in the world between. I loved the entire portion about memories ( if you read it then you will know). Overall I had fun reading this book. It was short, fun, and easy to read. I know kids that would absolutely love it and would for sure recommend it.
February 21, 2021
I didn’t technically finish this....it just did not hold my interest. I read more than half though. I like these authors a lot, and I love the idea for this story, and the setting for the story. I just didn’t care about any of the characters, and I’m a character reader. I also felt like they were trying too hard to sound “young.” It wasn’t natural enough. Maybe I’ll try again later? And maybe it’s just me at this moment.
April 28, 2022
This was so much fun to read! Kaufman is one of my favorite authors and her middle grade books are a joy. I loved the history, the silliness, and the friendship in this book. The premise is that there's a world between worlds, where everything lost ends up. Atlantis, the Lock-Ness monster, that sock you never found a match for, all of it ends up in one place. When Jake and Marisol accidentally shipwreck there, they have to find a stolen ledger to be sent home and every minute there is a chance they'll start forgetting their lives.
I found the story well paced, with interesting characters and an exciting adventure. There's also a lesson about how our memories shape us and that you have to go through the bad to appreciate the good. I can't wait to check out the sequel!
I found the story well paced, with interesting characters and an exciting adventure. There's also a lesson about how our memories shape us and that you have to go through the bad to appreciate the good. I can't wait to check out the sequel!
April 12, 2021
This book was a book that I wanted to enjoy but i didn't really get the story or the message behind it. But its very like magical and full of adventure. Its aimed for younger readers but other that I would give it 2 stars. Not the best but not the worst. The World Between Blinks is a magical place, where all sorts of lost things and people wind up. Everywhere they turn, the cousins find real mysteries from history and a few they thought were just myths, from pilot Amelia Earhart to the fabled city of Atlantis.
February 11, 2021
Cousins Marisol and Jake are at the packing up of their grandmother's house before the sale when they decide to boat out to a lighthouse, following a map they found. They lose the boat, they find a key, they use the key, and they find themselves -- in another world.
A world of lost things.
Christopher Creaturo explains that he and his fellow Curators could get them out, but there's a lot of red tape, and if they steal a ledger for him, he can make sure it's done irregularly but in time to get them out.
Complications ensue. Losing memories, getting another -- irregular assignment, learning more (and then more) about Christopher, a jungle, several underwater cities and a woman who dances in one, what Jake and Marisol think about loss and finding, a very jumbled royal court, and more.
A world of lost things.
Christopher Creaturo explains that he and his fellow Curators could get them out, but there's a lot of red tape, and if they steal a ledger for him, he can make sure it's done irregularly but in time to get them out.
Complications ensue. Losing memories, getting another -- irregular assignment, learning more (and then more) about Christopher, a jungle, several underwater cities and a woman who dances in one, what Jake and Marisol think about loss and finding, a very jumbled royal court, and more.
March 11, 2021
I had to read this gorgeous looking story. As I adore both these lovely authors and their books. I felt certain that this book would be for me. As it sounded so special and fun. And it was for me, I just sadly did not love it as much as I had hoped I would. And so I have to give this three stars. Not perfect, but still so very good.
I will try not to write such a long review of this book, just going to share a few of my thoughts about it. I will begin with the writing. Which was pretty much perfect, though I knew it would be. I had no trouble with reading this one and no trouble getting a little lost in the world. Just wish I had loved the story more. But still great.
This book tells the story of twelve year old Marisol and Jake, her cousin. They just arrived at their Nana's beach house for the last time. As she died a little while ago, and now their families have to sell her house, and so they are packing everything down. The two cousins are not happy about it. After they find a hidden map their Nana had left behind a photo, they set out on an adventure. Stealing or borrowing a small boat to take to a lighthouse nearby. Which is not at all allowed. Things go badly, and they climb up to try to signal their family. While doing so, they suddenly enter a different world. Which was called The World Between Blinks. Which they learn is a place where all lost things end up. Lost famous humans, places, treasures. Everything you can think of.
I did like reading about all of this. I liked this different world. I just had trouble connecting with everything. It annoyed me a little how an exclamation mark was used almost all the time. I did love the writing, but I hated that smaller part. Marisol and Jake arrive in this new strange place. And they learn so many new things. Like how they could get lost there forever, slowly losing all their memories. How the mega shark might eat them. How they can visit underwater cities and visit deserts as well. They both loved this place.
Yet decided to try everything to get back home. Right after they arrived, they were tricked by the villain of this book. And have to spend the entire book trying to hunt him down. I did find some parts of this a little silly, even more so when the villain was revealed. Yet kind of interesting too, and I did like reading about these cousins and their adventures. I simply wish I had been able to love this book more. Maybe I wanted it to be more fantasy. I don't fully know. It was a stunning book, yet sadly not that perfect to me personally.
Marisol is not at all ready to leave behind her Nana's house. She does not want them to sell her beach house at all. As she loves being there every summer, even with Nana now being gone. Jake is a boy that wants to forget things. All the friends and places he had to leave behind, all the bad memories. Marisol keeps holding on to things, Jake just wants to let go. All of this I did find to be pretty interesting. But I felt that the way it was dealt with, at the end of the book, was not done very well at all, sadly. Was too rushed.
I think one of the reasons for why I had a few issues with this book was that the boy and girl was cousins. Which is totally a me thing. As I can't help but ship every characters that I read about, especially in middle grade too. And with this book, that was not possible, with them being related. Still. I did adore them both a whole lot. I also felt like it was a little too much, a little too many famous people and places in this World Between Blinks. I know, that was the point of it, but I still grew tired of it, to be honest. Still. Not that bad.
Even though The World Between Blinks was not fully perfect to me, it was still such a great read. And I am glad that I read it. As it was pretty much adorable. And I will for sure be reading the sequel when it comes out. And reading more books by both these authors. I am hoping I will have more luck with book two, that I will love it a little more. Still. This book look stunning. The Australian paperback even more so. You should all read this story. The cousin relationship was written really well. I think you will all adore this.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2021...
I will try not to write such a long review of this book, just going to share a few of my thoughts about it. I will begin with the writing. Which was pretty much perfect, though I knew it would be. I had no trouble with reading this one and no trouble getting a little lost in the world. Just wish I had loved the story more. But still great.
This book tells the story of twelve year old Marisol and Jake, her cousin. They just arrived at their Nana's beach house for the last time. As she died a little while ago, and now their families have to sell her house, and so they are packing everything down. The two cousins are not happy about it. After they find a hidden map their Nana had left behind a photo, they set out on an adventure. Stealing or borrowing a small boat to take to a lighthouse nearby. Which is not at all allowed. Things go badly, and they climb up to try to signal their family. While doing so, they suddenly enter a different world. Which was called The World Between Blinks. Which they learn is a place where all lost things end up. Lost famous humans, places, treasures. Everything you can think of.
I did like reading about all of this. I liked this different world. I just had trouble connecting with everything. It annoyed me a little how an exclamation mark was used almost all the time. I did love the writing, but I hated that smaller part. Marisol and Jake arrive in this new strange place. And they learn so many new things. Like how they could get lost there forever, slowly losing all their memories. How the mega shark might eat them. How they can visit underwater cities and visit deserts as well. They both loved this place.
Yet decided to try everything to get back home. Right after they arrived, they were tricked by the villain of this book. And have to spend the entire book trying to hunt him down. I did find some parts of this a little silly, even more so when the villain was revealed. Yet kind of interesting too, and I did like reading about these cousins and their adventures. I simply wish I had been able to love this book more. Maybe I wanted it to be more fantasy. I don't fully know. It was a stunning book, yet sadly not that perfect to me personally.
Marisol is not at all ready to leave behind her Nana's house. She does not want them to sell her beach house at all. As she loves being there every summer, even with Nana now being gone. Jake is a boy that wants to forget things. All the friends and places he had to leave behind, all the bad memories. Marisol keeps holding on to things, Jake just wants to let go. All of this I did find to be pretty interesting. But I felt that the way it was dealt with, at the end of the book, was not done very well at all, sadly. Was too rushed.
I think one of the reasons for why I had a few issues with this book was that the boy and girl was cousins. Which is totally a me thing. As I can't help but ship every characters that I read about, especially in middle grade too. And with this book, that was not possible, with them being related. Still. I did adore them both a whole lot. I also felt like it was a little too much, a little too many famous people and places in this World Between Blinks. I know, that was the point of it, but I still grew tired of it, to be honest. Still. Not that bad.
Even though The World Between Blinks was not fully perfect to me, it was still such a great read. And I am glad that I read it. As it was pretty much adorable. And I will for sure be reading the sequel when it comes out. And reading more books by both these authors. I am hoping I will have more luck with book two, that I will love it a little more. Still. This book look stunning. The Australian paperback even more so. You should all read this story. The cousin relationship was written really well. I think you will all adore this.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2021...
did-not-finish
February 5, 2021For Magic Tree House fans that have outgrown that reading level. 9-12 year olds.
January 28, 2021
The World Between Blinks was so clever and fun! Such a fantastic book and definitely one I will be recommending to students or anyone looking for a well-told story. Pitched for 8-12 year olds, discerning adults will also enjoy (and I certainly did!). So much detailed historical research is included; I learned a lot and appreciated how seamlessly everything was woven together. If you’re worried you missed anything, you can check out the glossary at the back which explains any historical references.
The world feels like such a magical place to be. While there’s strong currents of adventure and wonder, throughout it all cousins Jake and Marisol need to get back home before it’s too late. I loved how the relationship between the cousins changes and deepens throughout the story as they work together to leave the World Between Blinks. This was a bright, fun adventure that came to me right when I needed it.
The World Between Blinks has some profound lessons about grief and loss that are handled elegantly. The writing is simply superb, from the world-building to the sensory-filled descriptions. It’s the perfect middle-grade escape! If you’ve ever wished you could visit a Frost Fair on the Thames, meet Amelia Earhart, or hang out with one of the last Tasmanian tigers then you need to check out The World Between Blinks.
The world feels like such a magical place to be. While there’s strong currents of adventure and wonder, throughout it all cousins Jake and Marisol need to get back home before it’s too late. I loved how the relationship between the cousins changes and deepens throughout the story as they work together to leave the World Between Blinks. This was a bright, fun adventure that came to me right when I needed it.
The World Between Blinks has some profound lessons about grief and loss that are handled elegantly. The writing is simply superb, from the world-building to the sensory-filled descriptions. It’s the perfect middle-grade escape! If you’ve ever wished you could visit a Frost Fair on the Thames, meet Amelia Earhart, or hang out with one of the last Tasmanian tigers then you need to check out The World Between Blinks.
January 24, 2021
4.25 stars
The World Between Blinks was an absolutely adorable, cute journey through the titular world, where all the things which have been lost end up, which is sometimes visible from our world between blinks.
Marisol and her cousin Jake accidentally (or is it an accident?) end up pulled into this World, and have to try to find their way home. Along the way, they meet many historical figures and places which no longer exist in our world, to try to solve the mystery of how they got there and how to get home!
The World Between Blinks was an absolutely adorable, cute journey through the titular world, where all the things which have been lost end up, which is sometimes visible from our world between blinks.
Marisol and her cousin Jake accidentally (or is it an accident?) end up pulled into this World, and have to try to find their way home. Along the way, they meet many historical figures and places which no longer exist in our world, to try to solve the mystery of how they got there and how to get home!
March 22, 2024
A serious page turner, full of mystery, magic, family and understanding, follow the cousins Marisol and Jake as they journey through the Unknown and into the world between blinks, full of the past and all things lost, meeting new (and old) friends on the way. Will they ever get back home?
Definitely recommended if you're looking for adventure probably ages 8 and up.
Definitely recommended if you're looking for adventure probably ages 8 and up.
Want to read
December 4, 2019I need this.
N O W.
N O W.
November 12, 2022
Lots of history... the boys and I really enjoyed this.
August 14, 2021
Slow at the start. Eventually picks up with quite an interesting turn of events! Character development was somewhat underwhelming. Overall, a charming kids book with a subtle message.
April 8, 2021
Marisol and Jake’s beloved grandmother has recently died. The cousins are supposed to be helping to pack up her rambling seaside house—jammed with warm and wonderful memories—so it can be sold. Instead, coming across one of Nana’s special maps, they set out to see what lies at the place she has marked. They end up in the strange World Between Blinks and are soon embroiled in a crime that could cost them everything.
There are many satisfying things about this story. For one, the juxtaposition of people, places and things from different times makes for surprising twists and turns in the fast-paced plot. For another, the operational features of the world are clever and believable. Above all, the main characters think and feel deeply; while Jake’s memories are almost too painful to bear, Marisol can’t bear to lose hers. These flaws help to reveal thoughtful themes—the importance of memory in making us who we are, of never letting go those who matter to us most, and of the value of things, people and of love.
Favourite line:
In the Great Library of Alexandria: ‘And then the entire aisle of hourglasses came crashing down. Glass and memories sprayed everywhere.’
There are many satisfying things about this story. For one, the juxtaposition of people, places and things from different times makes for surprising twists and turns in the fast-paced plot. For another, the operational features of the world are clever and believable. Above all, the main characters think and feel deeply; while Jake’s memories are almost too painful to bear, Marisol can’t bear to lose hers. These flaws help to reveal thoughtful themes—the importance of memory in making us who we are, of never letting go those who matter to us most, and of the value of things, people and of love.
Favourite line:
In the Great Library of Alexandria: ‘And then the entire aisle of hourglasses came crashing down. Glass and memories sprayed everywhere.’
January 9, 2021
Sometimes you hold on to things.
Sometimes you lose them.
And sometimes, just sometimes, you had to let go of something so you could find it again.
Starting this review off by saying I'm not exactly the target audience for this book, and I realize that! It's been a while since I've mentioned that in the review for a middle grade book, but this is also the first one I've read in quite a while that read... on the younger side, if that makes sense? I love reading middle grade books. I have cousins in this age range, and I like knowing what's out there for them these days versus what I had to read as a kid - but I also just enjoy the wild magical adventures that often take place in middle grade books! I like reading about kids off doing something awesome, and I love that middle grade books often have strong moral compasses in them.
This book is not an exception there, by the way. This book holds great lessons about appreciating family while you have them, because things can change in an instant, and about how sometimes you have to take the bad parts of life to appreciate the good - and that both of those things are what make us who we are.
There's also so much history in this book! If you have a kiddo - or, hey, are a kid - who is interested in the obscure parts of history (think Amelia Earhart, Roanoke, etc.) and tall tales (as in the Loch Ness monster, Atlantis, etc.) then ohhhh man, this book is for you. So many fun pop-up appearances are scattered throughout the whole thing, and even better, there's a section at the back of the book after the story ends that gives a tiny bit of history/detail about everything and everyone that shows up. I could totally see this book being used for classroom reading and book reports because of that, too. I would've loved to read something like this in school and then have to pick one of the historical figures to write about!
There's also a tiny bit of Spanish in here that could possibly be discussed in an educational setting, although it isn't very much - just bits and pieces and phrases. (It can all pretty much be figured out via context clues, for anyone like me that doesn't speak Spanish. I took German for my foreign language, okay? Don't judge me, haha.)
Anyway, circling back around to the writing - it's really the only thing that made me knock a star off here. I haven't read any of Ryan Graudin's work, so I'm not sure if my issues here are just me being unfamiliar with her writing style, but I've read a lot of Amie Kaufman's work at this point. This just felt like a notch below those stylistically. I don't really know how to describe it except that this just reads quite young at times - moreso than most middle grade I've read in the last few years. It felt like a purposeful lessening of the talent I know she's capable of writing with. Less fluid and less developed.
Some authors, you read their middle grade stuff and it doesn't really feel that different than their other works, but this did. It definitely feels like this is geared more towards the borderline of early reader to middle grade rather than late middle grade (which I guess is what I'm more used to?), but that definitely doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it! It was just a different experience for me; I do think I'll still continue with the series whenever the next book comes out, because I'm curious to see where the story will go. This one felt like it wrapped up pretty well, but there's definitely more in this story world coming, which has me intrigued!
July 12, 2022
If time travel storylines make your mouth water like the promise of a Van Dee's peanut butter crunch coat Blitz on a blistering Iowa summer day, then the premise of The World Between Blinks is your cherry on top. Here civilizations from ancient to modern-day are piled together in a land where anything lost (people, places, and things) is collected and categorized in a very unusual alternate world, resulting in a hodge-podge of architecture and a time-and-culture diverse citizenry that provides an engaging setting for this story co-written by Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin.
When funds are short, and their late Nana's beloved beach home is prepped to hit the real estate market, cousins Marisol and Jake follow in steps left behind by Nana to search for a treasure that could save this special place packed with precious memories. The quest pulls them into The World Between Blinks, where a series of circumstances put them in contact with people, places, and animals that are lost in history and found again in this magical land.
But Marisol and Jake's search for treasure is interrupted when Christopher Creaturo tricks them into stealing a book from the library of the Curators. As soon as he controls the book, Christopher begins erasing entries from it, causing things to be returned to their initial spots in the world. This leads to serious rips in the fabric between worlds - something that could cause everything to be lost if Christopher continues this dangerous practice.
The cousins are tasked with stopping Christopher by rescuing the book. When they are successful, the Curators promise to send them back to their world to be reunited with their families. This leads to a series of adventures that will take readers to exciting locations within the land.
The two cousins have different thought processes as they travel the land, and I found this encouraged my own reflections as I thought about experiences in my past. Marisol is fueled by the desire to find a treasure so she can retain her Nana's home as a way to hold onto precious memories. Jake is intrigued by the loss of memory he sees in The World Between Blinks. In varying degrees, inhabitants lose recollections of their pasts here - and Jake, navigating a life in which he constantly looks ahead to avoid being mired in the heaviness of the past - finds this holds appeal. Would he be happy if he could forget the things in the past that had saddened him?
It took me a bit to get into the story, but the rich setting and "what if" thought processes that The World Between Blinks offers are compelling, and I found myself thinking of the things once 'lost' I would love to see in such an alternate world. I also appreciated the lessons learned by the cousins - and the way the story wrapped up was satisfying! This book, by award-winning authors, will appeal to fans of Chris Colfer's Land of Stories, Margaret Haddix Peterson's The Missing series, and students who have outgrown The Magic Tree House, as well as many others!
The World Between Blinks
When funds are short, and their late Nana's beloved beach home is prepped to hit the real estate market, cousins Marisol and Jake follow in steps left behind by Nana to search for a treasure that could save this special place packed with precious memories. The quest pulls them into The World Between Blinks, where a series of circumstances put them in contact with people, places, and animals that are lost in history and found again in this magical land.
But Marisol and Jake's search for treasure is interrupted when Christopher Creaturo tricks them into stealing a book from the library of the Curators. As soon as he controls the book, Christopher begins erasing entries from it, causing things to be returned to their initial spots in the world. This leads to serious rips in the fabric between worlds - something that could cause everything to be lost if Christopher continues this dangerous practice.
The cousins are tasked with stopping Christopher by rescuing the book. When they are successful, the Curators promise to send them back to their world to be reunited with their families. This leads to a series of adventures that will take readers to exciting locations within the land.
The two cousins have different thought processes as they travel the land, and I found this encouraged my own reflections as I thought about experiences in my past. Marisol is fueled by the desire to find a treasure so she can retain her Nana's home as a way to hold onto precious memories. Jake is intrigued by the loss of memory he sees in The World Between Blinks. In varying degrees, inhabitants lose recollections of their pasts here - and Jake, navigating a life in which he constantly looks ahead to avoid being mired in the heaviness of the past - finds this holds appeal. Would he be happy if he could forget the things in the past that had saddened him?
It took me a bit to get into the story, but the rich setting and "what if" thought processes that The World Between Blinks offers are compelling, and I found myself thinking of the things once 'lost' I would love to see in such an alternate world. I also appreciated the lessons learned by the cousins - and the way the story wrapped up was satisfying! This book, by award-winning authors, will appeal to fans of Chris Colfer's Land of Stories, Margaret Haddix Peterson's The Missing series, and students who have outgrown The Magic Tree House, as well as many others!
The World Between Blinks
January 26, 2022
This book has an adventurous premise, being that of two children who disappear accidentally into a parallel universe.
There are many witty references to real-life people, creatures and artefacts that have disappeared mysteriously whom they encounter on their journey to try to return ‘home’. For example, former Australian prime minister, Harold Holt, who went swimming and was presumed drowned, makes a cameo appearance, as does aviatrix, Amelia Earhart, frequently. (I don’t personally like fictionalised references to people who died tragically being made for entertainment, but perhaps I am overly sensitive about death.) The guide at the end of the book explains these real life references in greater detail.
The main characters are cousins, Jake and Marisol. Jake is better ‘fleshed out’ than his cousin; we learn about Jake’s anxieties and sense of loss in living an itinerant lifestyle with his diplomat mother. Marisol, we discover, has magnetic fingers, but we don’t learn that much more about her personality. The bond between the cousins was a bit forced at times; for example, it is not implied that they were close prior to the book’s timeframe, then suddenly they are stealing a boat and heading off into the unknown. I found it unrealistic that they cuddled up to sleep next to one another (in all innocence) twice in the book. I’m not suggesting anything weird or amiss, but I wouldn’t have done that with my male cousins at age 12.
As Marisol is bilingual, some of her dialogue is in Spanish. To be honest, I found this a bit overdone, even though I understood the words and phrases. Having said that, readers in the USA would find this easier to accept as Spanish is much wider spoken there than in Australia.
An aspect that was well done was the portrayal of the cousins’ dead grandmother, Nana Lucy. The sense of loss felt by Marisol and Jake is poignant, and Lucy ‘comes alive’ in their recollections of her.
I am not usually a reader of the fantasy genre, but had to read this one for a specific educational purpose. While I didn’t love it, I liked it well enough.
There are many witty references to real-life people, creatures and artefacts that have disappeared mysteriously whom they encounter on their journey to try to return ‘home’. For example, former Australian prime minister, Harold Holt, who went swimming and was presumed drowned, makes a cameo appearance, as does aviatrix, Amelia Earhart, frequently. (I don’t personally like fictionalised references to people who died tragically being made for entertainment, but perhaps I am overly sensitive about death.) The guide at the end of the book explains these real life references in greater detail.
The main characters are cousins, Jake and Marisol. Jake is better ‘fleshed out’ than his cousin; we learn about Jake’s anxieties and sense of loss in living an itinerant lifestyle with his diplomat mother. Marisol, we discover, has magnetic fingers, but we don’t learn that much more about her personality. The bond between the cousins was a bit forced at times; for example, it is not implied that they were close prior to the book’s timeframe, then suddenly they are stealing a boat and heading off into the unknown. I found it unrealistic that they cuddled up to sleep next to one another (in all innocence) twice in the book. I’m not suggesting anything weird or amiss, but I wouldn’t have done that with my male cousins at age 12.
As Marisol is bilingual, some of her dialogue is in Spanish. To be honest, I found this a bit overdone, even though I understood the words and phrases. Having said that, readers in the USA would find this easier to accept as Spanish is much wider spoken there than in Australia.
An aspect that was well done was the portrayal of the cousins’ dead grandmother, Nana Lucy. The sense of loss felt by Marisol and Jake is poignant, and Lucy ‘comes alive’ in their recollections of her.
I am not usually a reader of the fantasy genre, but had to read this one for a specific educational purpose. While I didn’t love it, I liked it well enough.
December 10, 2020
I really enjoyed the fun little adventure. Maribel and Jake are cousins visiting their Nana's house after her passing. As they each deal with her passing and their families work at packing her belongings, Nana has one last adventure for the two. I loved the idea of the treasure map left behind for them to find. In a way it felt as if it was their last connection to the grandmother they both cherished and adored.
Their adventure leads them to a lighthouse and the World Between Blinks. The two meet all sorts of historical and mythical characters along the way. Of course there is a big bad villain thrown in the mix as well. The story switches point of view between the two characters. While normally I'm not a fan of this style, I didn't seem to mind. The story is fun and fast paced. I think this is a perfect journey and introduction for kids to fantasy and adventure books. In addition, even though this is a book written for a middle school audience, the writing is intelligent and doesn't dumb down the story for the audience. What really excited me was the Curators' Files at the end. I'm a sucker for little additions like this. This is a wonderful little go-to guide that teaches the reader about the different locations, creatures, and people in the book. Almost like a glossary of terms but so much more! I'm really looking forward to more additions to this series.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy and the opportunity to read and review this fun adventure!
Their adventure leads them to a lighthouse and the World Between Blinks. The two meet all sorts of historical and mythical characters along the way. Of course there is a big bad villain thrown in the mix as well. The story switches point of view between the two characters. While normally I'm not a fan of this style, I didn't seem to mind. The story is fun and fast paced. I think this is a perfect journey and introduction for kids to fantasy and adventure books. In addition, even though this is a book written for a middle school audience, the writing is intelligent and doesn't dumb down the story for the audience. What really excited me was the Curators' Files at the end. I'm a sucker for little additions like this. This is a wonderful little go-to guide that teaches the reader about the different locations, creatures, and people in the book. Almost like a glossary of terms but so much more! I'm really looking forward to more additions to this series.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy and the opportunity to read and review this fun adventure!
March 28, 2023
This book was a struggle to get into. The world concept was interesting and the side characters could be fun, overall the story wasn't very gripping for me. The good thing is that I think you can get a good sense in the first chapter if the narrative style and thus the story as a whole is going to work for you.
It's told in a 3rd person, split perspective following two twelve-year-old cousins, Jake and Marisol, as they travel to the "World Between Blinks", where lost people and things from history end up. Basically, the story is about them trying to get home.
A lot of the story reads as very repetitive chase that, without going into major spoilers, has a pretty lackluster and disappointing end. Much of the story feels like the characters are wandering through the various lost historical sites, but there's no real interaction or emotion there. As for the history itself, it mostly easter eggs of Western History. I have no problem with a focus on American-based history, but given the premise for the world and how the lost things don't follow our world's geography, it seemed odd that there wasn't more lost items from other cultures.
As for Jake and Marisol themselves, I really couldn't connect with them. They don't read like 12-year-olds. For the most part, their dialogue is pretty age-neutral, though every now and again they have a thought or line that's sounds too childish, like someone who's 8 or 9. They also don't really react much to being trapped in the world or what's going on around them.
It's told in a 3rd person, split perspective following two twelve-year-old cousins, Jake and Marisol, as they travel to the "World Between Blinks", where lost people and things from history end up. Basically, the story is about them trying to get home.
A lot of the story reads as very repetitive chase that, without going into major spoilers, has a pretty lackluster and disappointing end. Much of the story feels like the characters are wandering through the various lost historical sites, but there's no real interaction or emotion there. As for the history itself, it mostly easter eggs of Western History. I have no problem with a focus on American-based history, but given the premise for the world and how the lost things don't follow our world's geography, it seemed odd that there wasn't more lost items from other cultures.
As for Jake and Marisol themselves, I really couldn't connect with them. They don't read like 12-year-olds. For the most part, their dialogue is pretty age-neutral, though every now and again they have a thought or line that's sounds too childish, like someone who's 8 or 9. They also don't really react much to being trapped in the world or what's going on around them.
January 30, 2021
The following review is from my personal blog:
In this series opener, cousins Marisol and Jake are helping their families pack up their recently-deceased grandmother’s personal belongings when they come across what seems to be a treasure map. Marisol has a knack for finding things, so she persuades Jake to take her treasure-hunting. But on their expedition, the kids suddenly get pulled into the World Between Blinks, a magical place where people, places, and things go when they disappear from the real world.
After getting tricked by a con-man named Christopher Creaturo who has them steal a ledger from the curators of the World Between Blinks, Marisol and Jake are sent on a mission to track him down before they can go home. Along the way, they are helped by historical figures including Amelia Earhart and Nefertiti and they visit a Roman marketplace, the “quasi-mythical” Russian town of Ketezh, and the Amazon rainforest.
With its immersive fantasy setting including a variety of sub-settings and lots of historical fun facts, this book is an exciting adventure perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Peter Lerangis. Although characterization takes a back seat to world-building in the early chapters of the book, this minor flaw is essentially resolved by the feel-good life lessons about family and the value of memories later in the story.
In this series opener, cousins Marisol and Jake are helping their families pack up their recently-deceased grandmother’s personal belongings when they come across what seems to be a treasure map. Marisol has a knack for finding things, so she persuades Jake to take her treasure-hunting. But on their expedition, the kids suddenly get pulled into the World Between Blinks, a magical place where people, places, and things go when they disappear from the real world.
After getting tricked by a con-man named Christopher Creaturo who has them steal a ledger from the curators of the World Between Blinks, Marisol and Jake are sent on a mission to track him down before they can go home. Along the way, they are helped by historical figures including Amelia Earhart and Nefertiti and they visit a Roman marketplace, the “quasi-mythical” Russian town of Ketezh, and the Amazon rainforest.
With its immersive fantasy setting including a variety of sub-settings and lots of historical fun facts, this book is an exciting adventure perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Peter Lerangis. Although characterization takes a back seat to world-building in the early chapters of the book, this minor flaw is essentially resolved by the feel-good life lessons about family and the value of memories later in the story.
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February 14, 2021Isn’t this book just so cute?! And then add in these amazing authors and I knew before even picking it up I was in for a treat. But let me tell you, the story doesn’t disappoint either. I always find that I either really appreciate middle grade books or I’ve just gotten far too old to get into it. And this was one of those that anyone of any age can pick up and fall in love with. It’s just so cleverly written and a wonderful story.
There’s just so much to unpack with this story because there’s so many elements that were woven into the story. There are the unique fantasy elements found within but there are also some darker deeper elements mixed in with the story. We get to dive into grief and how children deal with losing someone close to them, something many of us have to deal with at such a young age.
Overall this is such a wonderful story that anyone can relate to. The world is unique and the concepts are fresh. Plus adding in dealing with loss just makes this such a more meaningful and touching book.
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
There’s just so much to unpack with this story because there’s so many elements that were woven into the story. There are the unique fantasy elements found within but there are also some darker deeper elements mixed in with the story. We get to dive into grief and how children deal with losing someone close to them, something many of us have to deal with at such a young age.
Overall this is such a wonderful story that anyone can relate to. The world is unique and the concepts are fresh. Plus adding in dealing with loss just makes this such a more meaningful and touching book.
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
December 10, 2020
3.5 stars!! i won this in a goodreads giveaway, and was really way too excited about that lol. it comes out january 5th, so it's not like i read it SUPER early and will be tortured with the wait for the sequel. the story in here is definitely wrapped up (no cliffhangers or anything), but i'd love to return to the world between blinks!! it's so fascinating.
i think the best part of this for me was how basically any question i thought of was already answered in text. underwater city? wear this charm to breathe under water. and don't worry, it anchors to your body underwater, so you won't lose it. YES. i appreciate logic, especially in middle grade. just because it's intended for a younger audience doesn't mean you have to dumb it down. i appreciated how these authors DIDN'T do that.
the thing that tripped me up a bit was trying to figure out why it was dual POV. jake and marisol are cousins, and while they don't always see each other more than once a year, i fell like they really know each other. strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and special abilities. we don't need to be in both of their heads and hear their little catch phrases repeated a million times. the only thing i'd say is we got to see each character guilt trip themselves in each pov, which seems like more of a YA thing to me, honestly. i appreciate when characters seem real and have depth and learn lessons and such, but i was much less interested in their emotional reactions. lots was happening in the world between blinks! i'm an adult who reads middle grade when i want to go on an adventure, not a guilt trip.
i don't think i knew much going into this book, but the world between blinks really surprised me with its variety of awesomeness. there are mythical creatures, landmarks, historical figures, random people and things...there's so much in here! i loved the bit at the end that went over all the history/real world things our characters ran into in the world between blinks. and i LOVE how the authors took a real world lighthouse and not only built a magical story around it, but drew attention to a real issue in a sort of subtle way. really just overall well done *applauds* = )
so while the writing style and dual POVs didn't always click for me, i still really enjoyed this book!! would definitely recommend. i'm just the type of reader who wants to get right through that portal into the crazy fantasy world...not spend time looking at all the knickknacks on nana's shelves, you know? i imagine that sort of thing won't be a deterrent for most other readers, though!
also...can we go to atlantis in the next book?!?! what a tease that sign was, lol.
i think the best part of this for me was how basically any question i thought of was already answered in text. underwater city? wear this charm to breathe under water. and don't worry, it anchors to your body underwater, so you won't lose it. YES. i appreciate logic, especially in middle grade. just because it's intended for a younger audience doesn't mean you have to dumb it down. i appreciated how these authors DIDN'T do that.
the thing that tripped me up a bit was trying to figure out why it was dual POV. jake and marisol are cousins, and while they don't always see each other more than once a year, i fell like they really know each other. strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and special abilities. we don't need to be in both of their heads and hear their little catch phrases repeated a million times. the only thing i'd say is we got to see each character guilt trip themselves in each pov, which seems like more of a YA thing to me, honestly. i appreciate when characters seem real and have depth and learn lessons and such, but i was much less interested in their emotional reactions. lots was happening in the world between blinks! i'm an adult who reads middle grade when i want to go on an adventure, not a guilt trip.
i don't think i knew much going into this book, but the world between blinks really surprised me with its variety of awesomeness. there are mythical creatures, landmarks, historical figures, random people and things...there's so much in here! i loved the bit at the end that went over all the history/real world things our characters ran into in the world between blinks. and i LOVE how the authors took a real world lighthouse and not only built a magical story around it, but drew attention to a real issue in a sort of subtle way. really just overall well done *applauds* = )
so while the writing style and dual POVs didn't always click for me, i still really enjoyed this book!! would definitely recommend. i'm just the type of reader who wants to get right through that portal into the crazy fantasy world...not spend time looking at all the knickknacks on nana's shelves, you know? i imagine that sort of thing won't be a deterrent for most other readers, though!
also...can we go to atlantis in the next book?!?! what a tease that sign was, lol.
November 14, 2020
With thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for an early copy in return for an honest review.
The World Between Blinks is filled with everything presumed lost or missing from our world...like Atlantis, Amelia Earhart, the Loch Ness Monster, etc. A clever premise for the setting of a fantasy book...real people, places and things that have gone missing or are quasi-mythical. During one last summer trip to their Nana's house, Jake and Marisol decide to embark on an adventure. They decide to follow the treasure map left to them by their grandmother when she passed away. Soon they find themselves transported to the World Between Blinks and chasing after an evil villain. As they wrestle with the idea of retaining both good and bad memories they explore many treasures of the world and work to try and get back home.
For middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy, this will be a great addition to their 2021 reading list. And I am looking forward to reading more books in this middle grade fantasy series.
The World Between Blinks is filled with everything presumed lost or missing from our world...like Atlantis, Amelia Earhart, the Loch Ness Monster, etc. A clever premise for the setting of a fantasy book...real people, places and things that have gone missing or are quasi-mythical. During one last summer trip to their Nana's house, Jake and Marisol decide to embark on an adventure. They decide to follow the treasure map left to them by their grandmother when she passed away. Soon they find themselves transported to the World Between Blinks and chasing after an evil villain. As they wrestle with the idea of retaining both good and bad memories they explore many treasures of the world and work to try and get back home.
For middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy, this will be a great addition to their 2021 reading list. And I am looking forward to reading more books in this middle grade fantasy series.
May 19, 2021
I was excited to receive a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
The World Between Blinks is set in such a creative and imaginative world. The concept is original and gives middle grade readers an entertaining way to explore a mishmash of historical people and places. It’s the ideal book for a history lover, and seamlessly weaves in just enough backstory to explain who or what the historical additions are.
Jack and Marisol were well developed and multidimensional characters. Their motivation matures throughout the book as they work through grieving for their grandmother and learn the importance of family and memory.
I did find that I had a hard time getting into the story, potentially because it moved so quickly from one thing to the next. Much like Marisol and Jake, the reader is tossed from one adventure to another. The pace of the story left me feeling a little disconnected from the characters and plot.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to readers looking for a fast-paced adventure.
The World Between Blinks is set in such a creative and imaginative world. The concept is original and gives middle grade readers an entertaining way to explore a mishmash of historical people and places. It’s the ideal book for a history lover, and seamlessly weaves in just enough backstory to explain who or what the historical additions are.
Jack and Marisol were well developed and multidimensional characters. Their motivation matures throughout the book as they work through grieving for their grandmother and learn the importance of family and memory.
I did find that I had a hard time getting into the story, potentially because it moved so quickly from one thing to the next. Much like Marisol and Jake, the reader is tossed from one adventure to another. The pace of the story left me feeling a little disconnected from the characters and plot.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to readers looking for a fast-paced adventure.
January 19, 2021
I’m not sure where to even begin with this review. It’s been a while since I’ve been left wanting to say such big things about a book, but have also been left feeling like there are no words.
Brilliant. Magical. Colorful. Emotional.
Adventure. This book was a magnificent adventure.
The story follows and alternates POV between Jake and Marisol. They are young cousins whose families have come to clean out their Nana’s home after her passing. Upon arriving they find a map which takes them on quite the magical adventure. Both of them struggle to process this death for different reasons. I absolutely loved how the death of the loved one is portrayed in this book. Even though they shared the same Nana, the way they needed to cope and grieve and remember was completely different and was done so beautifully. There is a lot of complex feelings involved with death and I thought there was such a phenomenal representation of that in this book.
This book is a must-read!
Brilliant. Magical. Colorful. Emotional.
Adventure. This book was a magnificent adventure.
The story follows and alternates POV between Jake and Marisol. They are young cousins whose families have come to clean out their Nana’s home after her passing. Upon arriving they find a map which takes them on quite the magical adventure. Both of them struggle to process this death for different reasons. I absolutely loved how the death of the loved one is portrayed in this book. Even though they shared the same Nana, the way they needed to cope and grieve and remember was completely different and was done so beautifully. There is a lot of complex feelings involved with death and I thought there was such a phenomenal representation of that in this book.
This book is a must-read!
February 20, 2021
There is a lot to say about this book. First, it was a great book. Second... it has its faults.
Some events seemed random, like they were included just because they involved some lost place or object. Others were completely out of place and unnecessary, like Jake's encounter with the Administrator. Some events were sped through while others dragged on.
I was also disappointed by the moral. Throughout the book, Jake and Marisol's differing views on "holding on" are displayed. While reading, I expected that Marisol would be the one proved wrong, because you cannot, in fact, hold on to everything, and you shouldn't. However, as the book came to a close and more pieces started falling into their perfect places, I realized that each character held on to everything, mainly their memories and the beach house. There was one exception, a giant diamond, but it could have definitely been expanded.
That is the reason I am giving it 3 stars. I would still recommend it, though.
Some events seemed random, like they were included just because they involved some lost place or object. Others were completely out of place and unnecessary, like Jake's encounter with the Administrator. Some events were sped through while others dragged on.
I was also disappointed by the moral. Throughout the book, Jake and Marisol's differing views on "holding on" are displayed. While reading, I expected that Marisol would be the one proved wrong, because you cannot, in fact, hold on to everything, and you shouldn't. However, as the book came to a close and more pieces started falling into their perfect places, I realized that each character held on to everything, mainly their memories and the beach house. There was one exception, a giant diamond, but it could have definitely been expanded.
That is the reason I am giving it 3 stars. I would still recommend it, though.
March 22, 2021
A clever plot line with a parallel world that 'collects' items lost or forgotten in our world - people, places and creatures. Jake and Marisol are cousins, drawn together through the selling of the much adored grandmother's house after her death. Marisol's 'magic' fingers are able to find lost things, and Jake, constantly moving due to his mother's embassy job is great at leaving the past behind. Together they are drawn to the World Between Blinks to unravel a mystery.
There is lots to love about this book - adventure, mystery, magic and some well rounded characters who are basically nice people (though not always good). The writing duo - Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin have draw on their different backgrounds and heritage to present a strong multicultural storyline.
The end pages present some facts about some of 'the lost' but there are more - all wold porivde great stimulus to set a class of kids off for some investigative research. A potential read aloud for upper primary.
There is lots to love about this book - adventure, mystery, magic and some well rounded characters who are basically nice people (though not always good). The writing duo - Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin have draw on their different backgrounds and heritage to present a strong multicultural storyline.
The end pages present some facts about some of 'the lost' but there are more - all wold porivde great stimulus to set a class of kids off for some investigative research. A potential read aloud for upper primary.
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