Book Details:
Book Title: Caroline & Mordecai the Gand by Jeff Gunhus
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 186 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Literary
Publisher: Seven Guns Press
Release date: March 31, 2021
Content Rating: PG:
The language is G. There is one scene where the main character punches a
bully resulting in a bloody nose. The emotional treatment of grief and
the death of a loved one can be somewhat intense.
of all ages who look for ethereal, haunting stories of recovery and
courage will find Caroline & Mordecai the Gand may hold the
trappings of a fantasy adventure; but inside there is so much more. Make
the right decision, to read this!” – D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review“Caroline’s
story is profoundly sad, and yet hopeful, magical, and yet rooted in
reality. There is magic, mystery, and daring adventure.” – BooksCoffee
Book Description
This novella was written by USA Today bestselling author Jeff Gunhus after he received a devastating diagnosis of state 3 cancer. The story is a message to his five children on how to deal with grief and a plea for them to grasp onto joy and love even in the darkest of times.
Caroline loses her spark. It takes a great adventure for her to find it again.
Caroline loses her father in a car accident for which she feels responsible. Consumed by grief, she has a difficult time readjusting to a world that has changed so dramatically for her. On the anniversary of her father’s
death, a strange window opens in the middle of the small lake behind her house. She climbs up an old oak to peer inside, but falls out of the tree and discovers that the window also serves as a door into a different world.
Enter Mordecai the Gand, a mysterious traveler who befriends Caroline and promises to help her find a way back home
since the window she fell through has disappeared. The two set out on a series of adventures that include visiting a tree village populated by a tribe known for eating travelers, running into a witch under a spell of her own making, hiding in a cave with a dragon encased in a wall of ice (prone to melting by campfire), all the while being pursued by a mysterious entity call the Creach which promises to devour Caroline and trap her in an eternity of despair.
As they navigate these adventures and this new world, Caroline slowly discovers that she is meant to help each of the characters she meets. As she battles internally whether to stay or return home to the sadness and grief waiting for her there, she must regain perspective and open her heart to the act of caring and to the joy of love itself. In the end, she must demonstrate great courage, loyalty, and caring as the plot unfolds, becoming the active hero of her own story.
Amazon
My Thoughts
This story totally blew me away. Why? Well, number one, I don’t think of myself as much of a fantasy reader. Have I fallen in love with a few? Sure. But a fantasy isn’t really a go-to book for me. Yet I liked this! Number two, this is both a light story and deep story. It probably depends on the age of the reader as to what the takeaway will be. But it captured my interest quickly.
Gunhus starts by stating that the story was written for his children as a way for them to manage grief should he die. As the father of five, he had received devastating news that he had stage 3 cancer. Now, as he reaches his five year-anniversary of being disease-free, he has decided to share his story with the public in hopes it will help others.
In this story, the author has Caroline leaving her account of an experience for her son, Tommy. She is writing about the things that happened to her when she lost her father as a girl of just 13. She was so sad and lost. But she had a magical experience where she traveled through a window and met some unusual people. She even met Mordecai the Gand.
What Concerned Me
It’s not often that I don’t have something that was a bit concerning about a book. But this time I’m empty handed. No complaints.
My Conclusion
Remember that this Conclusion is coming from a person who won’t promote a fantasy to the top of her to-be-read books. In fact, it’s not often that I even find a fantasy in my bookstack. But my final thoughts are that you should Get this book for anyone mourning the loss of a friend or family member. It’s full of simple thoughts, yet touches on truths that are very meaningful.
Though I received a copy of this book and participated in iRead Book Tours, it in no way influenced my rating.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
About the Author and Interview
Jeff Gunhus is the USA TODAY bestselling author of thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle grade fantasy series, The Jack Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year-old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His books for adults have reached the Top 30 on Amazon, have been recognized as Foreword Reviews
Book of the Year Finalists and reached the USA TODAY bestseller list.
Jeff wrote Caroline & Mordecai the Gand after receiving a devastating diagnosis of stage 3 cancer. The novella was meant as a private story for his five children on how to face grief by holding onto joy and love. He leads an active life in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to constantly keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of Old Fox Books in Annapolis working on his next novel or on JeffGunhus.com.
Interview
Why did you decide to write this book?
After I received a discouraging cancer diagnosis, I decided I wanted to tackle the theme of loss and grief. It was meant as a private story, written only for my own family if the worst came to pass. Five years later, it feels like a good time to share the novella with others.
You say the novella is written for all ages. What has been the response from readers of different ages?
The early readers of the novella were all adults. I was surprised by the positive and emotional response to the story. While the story speaks to the journey of a child losing a parent, it’s really about dealing with grief and loss for anyone. Once I had a few children read the novella, I was happy that it also impacted them as well.
What’s your next project?
I have several projects I’m juggling. I have two novels that are a few drafts in that are nearly complete. I also have a project called Kingdom of the Young that I’m very excited about.
What’s something many people don’t know about you?
I was raised overseas from the ages of five to twelve in Greece, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. Some of my earliest memories are snorkeling in the Mediterranean, climbing on Greek ruins and exploring exotic Arabian markets.
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