Between Worlds by Skip Brittenham (review)

Outsiders at their school, Marshall and Mayberry are drawn to a tree in a nearby forest that’s rumored to grant wishes. The legend proves true, and the two are thrown into a parallel world where evil creatures and a seemingly neverending stream of dangers await. After an enormous troll-like creature makes them his slaves, adding to the one he already has, he decides to teach them magic in order to make them more useful; the two crafty teens use those new skills against him, attempting to save the other enslaved human at the same time. That third teen’s story is particularly compelling, as his wish to be away from his own life was driven by much more desperate reasons than teen malaise, and the notion of a wishing tree works its usual narrative magic. However, the identity of the third teen is held out as a mystery, but it’s already been revealed in the prologue, and the early section of the book lags. In addition, the rosy wrap-up is too pat, and the tossing in of something that suggests a sequel smacks of contrivance. Patient readers may still enjoy the adventure when it happens, however, and look forward to a second book that can cut straight to the action. Dramatic full-page color illustrations can be paired with an app to make them “immersive augmented reality.”