Spellbound (review)

Twelve-year-old Athene is so tired of her six-year-old brother, Zach, that when an opportunity unexpectedly presents itself, she gets rid of him, deliberately sending him to shelter under a particular tree, known to the gnome-like "Gloam" folk as the tree whose roots would pull you down into the land of the Low Gloam, where you would have to work forever. Soon overcome with regret, Athene, with the help of new friends from the Humble Tribe of the above-ground Gloams, goes forth to rescue young Zach and heads underground to look for him. There she becomes part of the multi-species (rabbit, fox, Gloam, and badger, just to name a few) workforce enslaved by the Low Gloam, and she spends every spare moment on two tasks: searching for her brother, and searching for a way to break the magic spell that keeps the workforce imprisoned below the English countryside. This is a charming cautionary tale for older siblings, with plenty of remorse, adventure, and success to keep youngsters turning pages. From Athene's scheming to her change of heart, middle-schoolers will identify with her dilemma, and they'll share her sense of empowerment as she finds a way to save the day. Plenty of action moves the narrative along, and simple magic comes into play at key moments, helping Athene and her posse solve problems without adult intervention. After following Athene on her rescue and retrieval mission, young readers will wish for their own time underground with stalwart Gloam-ish and animal companions.