This is a story of a child who finds herself in an “alternate universe” where she spends forty years of her life. The unfolding events ask the reader to contemplate on what could happen when one inadvertantly visits an unsuspecting “another” world. It is an obvious rip-off of, and a critical commentary on, books like the Harry Potter series, the Narnia series, the Eragon series, His Dark Materials, etc. It is also a metaphor for the effects of (benevolent, or at least nonmalfeasant) colonialism.
From Chapter 9.1:
You know how in these stories... I had read a few before getting to that world, and have actually read quite a few more since I've been back... that children read, fantasies, science fiction, whatever, the children arrive at some strange world through a mysterious gateway, and they meet creatures that already speak English, where everything speaks English, even the desk lamps and icicles, and then they go on some mission where they go fetch something or deliver something or go to school and learn how to destroy the source of evil or rescue the source of good, riding in a magical car or animal or flying carpet, with a beautiful princess as a companion or a talking clock or something...
Well, my life with the creatures didn't really turn out that way. It was exciting and eventful at times, but mostly it was just boring. It took years for them to learn enough English to speak to me comfortably, and I never did learn their language that well. No one asked me to go on a great quest to save their planet. All I did was tell them where to plant the trees and invent the wheel. No great sorcerers demanding my sacrifice for peace. No great warriors bashing down the walls of my castle. No magic whatsoever. All very ordinary, and boring.
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Thanks for this story Jennifer. I enjoyed immersing myself in this highly detailed and well imagined world. The writing style reminds me a bit of Mary Brown (ie. The unlikely ones) It’s a wonderful blend of concise, practical description with lyrical, almost mythic, story telling.
My favourite parts of the story are the description of the same events from the viewpoints of Christa, and the different native cultures. The alternation of viewpoints adds a real poignancy to the story. These characters may now be in the same universe but they still live in different worlds.
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