This is an enchanting read for young readers that skillfully ties together a coming of age story with magical elements.
We start the novel off with Gwendolyn, a smart, resourceful girl who dreams about participating in the Broad Street Race and going to journalism school. Her plans start off well, then everything is derailed when she is disrupted in her sleep; thereby becoming an elk. For Gwendolyn is no ordinary girl, she is a dream shifter like her grandmother was. For dreamshifters, waking up as an animal is normal. Some choose to stay in such a form for fun. But for Gwendolyn, it wasn’t a conscious choice. And thus she is stuck. She has until Thanksgiving to change back, or she will stay as an elk forever. In addition to that, she has to avoid getting shot, as it is elk hunting season.
Gwendolyn has an eclectic group of friends and acquaintances she falls on for help. Steadfast Wally, slightly antagonistic Jeela, matter of fact Taran, eccentric Marjorie and of course her parents. As a reader, we laugh at times and are horrified at other times by the crazy antics the characters get into. It is frustrating to see Gwendolyn struggling so hard to change back, and refusing to explore the options given to her, in preference to her own hare-brained schemes. Along the way, she discovers she needs her friends, her family, and she needs to rely on herself, for her power comes from her own strength and love.
Every character had his/her own quirks, and was fully fleshed out with particular dialogue that made it easy to see who was talking. Every scene moved the story forward and kept the suspense going in a fun way. The pacing was perfect, with different subplots connecting and moving the story forward so everyone had character growth. This was an engaging read from start to finish.
I award this book 4.5 stars.
