Bev King and his brother Felix are sent to live in Carlise, the place their father grew up. While they were more than excited about visiting their father's boyhood home, they are not as excited about meeting Sara Stanley, whom their other cousins call "The Story Girl". With her tales of ghosts and love, of tragedy and magic, the cousins and their friends weave a life of idyllic childhood that none of them will ever forget.

Children. I suppose L. M. Montgomery had written this as a children book, although it also has a feel of nostalgia, of reminising one's childhood, about it. Thus, this book is also perfect for reliving those old childhood summers.

The characters are funny in the sense that children are funny. Their petty squabbles, musings and adventures are hilarious and give the book a nostalgic and endearing charm.

The end comes rather abruptly, as if it was intended to have a sequel (which it does, "The Golden Road"). On its own, however, this ending does not work, and it's rather annoying.

Nostalgic --- need I stress that?

Reading this book forces one to a journey back to his/her childhood. I highly recommend this book to those who have enjoyed their young lives and would like to reminisce on the magic they have now lost.

This book is in its barest form a reminisce. People who wish to find some sort of political or social relevance in it should stay away. Its as close to such things as a child would get.

The series "Road to Avonlea" was partly based on this book. The main character, the Story Girl, is Sara Stanley. Her cousins, however, slightly differ from the series as Felicity and Cecily have a brother called Dan, while Felix is another cousin and has a brother called Beverley (who happens to narrate the book).

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Created May 08, 2005 at 3:25pm • Submit your own review...