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Seven Wherewithal Way
Ferdinand fell out of the sky on the hottest day of the year, while Celeste and Esmerelda Barden were on the front porch eating ice-cream.
Celeste is having the worst summer ever. Her parents are off on an adventure and she's stuck at Gran's house with her annoying little sister, Esme, and strict instructions to be responsible. Or, as Esme says, boring. So when their eccentric cousin Ferd crash-lands a flying bus in the yard, what choice does Celeste have but to follow Ferd back home to Seven Wherewithal Way?
Wherewithal - Ferd's house, and the gateway to the many Realms unreachable from Earth - is bursting with magic and mystery and otherworldly creatures. It's Celeste's favourite place in any world. But when something tries to break in through the portal in the pantry - the door to the mystical Realm of Forests - Celeste learns that both Wherewithal and her beloved cousin are under threat. If Celeste wants to save her cousin, their home, its inhabitants and possibly even all the Realms, she is going to have to find her adventurous side. Fast.
Full of heart-in-your-mouth action, unforgettable characters and folklore-inspired magic that feels both fresh and familiar, Seven Wherewithal Way is the unputdownable first book in an epic portal fantasy series.
Celeste is having the worst summer ever. Her parents are off on an adventure and she's stuck at Gran's house with her annoying little sister, Esme, and strict instructions to be responsible. Or, as Esme says, boring. So when their eccentric cousin Ferd crash-lands a flying bus in the yard, what choice does Celeste have but to follow Ferd back home to Seven Wherewithal Way?
Wherewithal - Ferd's house, and the gateway to the many Realms unreachable from Earth - is bursting with magic and mystery and otherworldly creatures. It's Celeste's favourite place in any world. But when something tries to break in through the portal in the pantry - the door to the mystical Realm of Forests - Celeste learns that both Wherewithal and her beloved cousin are under threat. If Celeste wants to save her cousin, their home, its inhabitants and possibly even all the Realms, she is going to have to find her adventurous side. Fast.
Full of heart-in-your-mouth action, unforgettable characters and folklore-inspired magic that feels both fresh and familiar, Seven Wherewithal Way is the unputdownable first book in an epic portal fantasy series.
400 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2021
About the author
Samantha-Ellen Bound
16 books22 followersSam-Ellen Bound is an author, writer and editor who mostly writes middle grade and junior fiction. She grew up in Tasmania and is currently based in Melbourne, Australia.
She has always worked with books, including in the publishing industry as a bookseller for academic and independent bookstores, and in a variety of production, marketing, reviewing and blogging roles.
Her short stories have won national awards and been published in literary journals.
Sam-Ellen is a graduate of RMIT's Professional Publishing & Editing program, and has a Masters in Editing and Communications from the University of Melbourne.
Sam-Ellen is proud to champion #LoveOzYa and #LoveOzMG.
In Sam-Ellen’s spare time you can find her ballroom dancing, racking up library fines from unreturned books, hiking, and cooing to her vegetables and herbs. She is the proud mother of one rabbit, small in stature but big in attitude.
Her favourite themes to explore are coming-of-age stories, mental health, folklore and mythology and magic realism.
Sam-Ellen is the author of Silver Shoes, a junior fiction dance series, and What the Raven Saw, a timeless tale for both children and adults. Her four-part middle grade fantasy adventure series, Seven Wherewithal Way, will be out in October 2021.
She has always worked with books, including in the publishing industry as a bookseller for academic and independent bookstores, and in a variety of production, marketing, reviewing and blogging roles.
Her short stories have won national awards and been published in literary journals.
Sam-Ellen is a graduate of RMIT's Professional Publishing & Editing program, and has a Masters in Editing and Communications from the University of Melbourne.
Sam-Ellen is proud to champion #LoveOzYa and #LoveOzMG.
In Sam-Ellen’s spare time you can find her ballroom dancing, racking up library fines from unreturned books, hiking, and cooing to her vegetables and herbs. She is the proud mother of one rabbit, small in stature but big in attitude.
Her favourite themes to explore are coming-of-age stories, mental health, folklore and mythology and magic realism.
Sam-Ellen is the author of Silver Shoes, a junior fiction dance series, and What the Raven Saw, a timeless tale for both children and adults. Her four-part middle grade fantasy adventure series, Seven Wherewithal Way, will be out in October 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 10, 2023
A completely magical and captivating read that is a promised fun-filled adventure!
Magical creatures, portal adventures, and a flying bus…Bound has no shortage of imagination. I was utterly enthralled from the very first page. It’s like Nevermoor meets The Magic School Bus. (I seriously love Bonnie the bus!) Samantha-Ellen really know how to capture the reader, taking them on a fantastic, whirlwind adventure that bursts with magic across every page. This book is like a rainbow in every sense; its characters, shenanigans, creatures, the lot, and so beautifully rich in folklore. What’s even better is that this will be a series! (begins happy dance)
What I really liked, which was refreshing, was that the characters already know about this world, they’re not discovering it for the first time. It’s like we as the reader are being accepted to come on an adventure with these lovable characters. The characters are just as colourful, strong, and quirky as the book. Ferd gives me Doctor Who vibes and I am all here for them! The dialogue is phenomenal; witty and expressive, written very naturally.
Classed as an ‘epic portal series’, it certainly lives up to it. This was an instant hit! Excuse me while I go take up residence at Seven Wherewithal Way.
IG Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYARLX5vL1U/
Magical creatures, portal adventures, and a flying bus…Bound has no shortage of imagination. I was utterly enthralled from the very first page. It’s like Nevermoor meets The Magic School Bus. (I seriously love Bonnie the bus!) Samantha-Ellen really know how to capture the reader, taking them on a fantastic, whirlwind adventure that bursts with magic across every page. This book is like a rainbow in every sense; its characters, shenanigans, creatures, the lot, and so beautifully rich in folklore. What’s even better is that this will be a series! (begins happy dance)
What I really liked, which was refreshing, was that the characters already know about this world, they’re not discovering it for the first time. It’s like we as the reader are being accepted to come on an adventure with these lovable characters. The characters are just as colourful, strong, and quirky as the book. Ferd gives me Doctor Who vibes and I am all here for them! The dialogue is phenomenal; witty and expressive, written very naturally.
Classed as an ‘epic portal series’, it certainly lives up to it. This was an instant hit! Excuse me while I go take up residence at Seven Wherewithal Way.
IG Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYARLX5vL1U/
October 22, 2021
I may not have finished this book, but it was still good. I think I just wasn't the intended audience.
It had all the right elements for a kids book: magic, adventure, a cool inter-dimensional house, a quirky and mysterious leader figure, a young heroine finding her courage and bravery. It reminded me of a blend of Percy Jackson, Nevermoor, and Narnia. I liked the fact that there were so many different mythologies interwoven together.
The only things I would say kind of brought it down was the fact that the chapters were soooooo long, especially for a kids book. The pacing of the story was fine but there were not enough breaks, especially for a 10yo with a limited attention span.
Other than that, though, I think it was good. I just wasn't in the frame of mind or intended age group for it.
It had all the right elements for a kids book: magic, adventure, a cool inter-dimensional house, a quirky and mysterious leader figure, a young heroine finding her courage and bravery. It reminded me of a blend of Percy Jackson, Nevermoor, and Narnia. I liked the fact that there were so many different mythologies interwoven together.
The only things I would say kind of brought it down was the fact that the chapters were soooooo long, especially for a kids book. The pacing of the story was fine but there were not enough breaks, especially for a 10yo with a limited attention span.
Other than that, though, I think it was good. I just wasn't in the frame of mind or intended age group for it.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
April 9, 2022DNF - sadly only 40 pages in and I cannot stand these kids fighting and yelling all the time.
October 17, 2021
This story will appeal to anyone who enjoys reading about magical realms, getting to know interesting and sometimes scary creatures and adventure. The action begins at the first page and does not let up until the last. I enjoyed every single moment of this book.
The story flowed really well, making it extremely easy to read and become another member of this unusual crew as they tried to put a stop to the destruction of the realms. I do not know if it is the inner child in me but the thought of going on a flying bus to fight against magical creatures drew me in. I understood Celeste’s want for adventure and for life not to be so boring and dull.
The author has a natural ability to transport the reader into the magical world that is Seven Wherewith Way with absolute ease. Like the characters Celeste and Esme, once you cross the threshold you will not want to leave.
In the edition I was given to read the author has included a short description of the main characters so the reader can get to know them before jumping into the ensuing adventure, I hope that this is included when the book is released. One thing that was not included which I think would make a useful inclusion was a map of the realms and the floor plan for Seven Wherewithal Way. I personally think including these would add greatly to the overall experience.
The story flowed really well, making it extremely easy to read and become another member of this unusual crew as they tried to put a stop to the destruction of the realms. I do not know if it is the inner child in me but the thought of going on a flying bus to fight against magical creatures drew me in. I understood Celeste’s want for adventure and for life not to be so boring and dull.
The author has a natural ability to transport the reader into the magical world that is Seven Wherewith Way with absolute ease. Like the characters Celeste and Esme, once you cross the threshold you will not want to leave.
In the edition I was given to read the author has included a short description of the main characters so the reader can get to know them before jumping into the ensuing adventure, I hope that this is included when the book is released. One thing that was not included which I think would make a useful inclusion was a map of the realms and the floor plan for Seven Wherewithal Way. I personally think including these would add greatly to the overall experience.
April 18, 2022
Can’t wait to get back to these characters and world of Wherewithal. Surprisingly scary but loved the adventures within the story.
August 19, 2022
There's a lot to enjoy in this book. It's fun and easy to follow. Various mythologies brought together was a nice change from the overdone Greek mythos so commonly drawn upon. I found myself googling the various creatures to see what culture they originated from.
The writing could've been better. There were portions that were far better written than others. This easily could've been 100 pages shorter.
Esme was a bit of a waste of a character. She was clearly added to move the plot along at certain points. She had no real personality or character development. But then, neither did Ferd or Logan, really.
I'll probably read the second book when it's released.
The writing could've been better. There were portions that were far better written than others. This easily could've been 100 pages shorter.
Esme was a bit of a waste of a character. She was clearly added to move the plot along at certain points. She had no real personality or character development. But then, neither did Ferd or Logan, really.
I'll probably read the second book when it's released.
October 30, 2021
Evocative language. Original plot. Stimulating characters and a fair dose of tongue in cheek make this a ripper of a MG fantasy read.
September 18, 2023
Thank you to The Children's Book Council for the opportunity to review this book. My original review was published on https://readingtime.com.au/seven-wher...
Trouble is just adventure disguised.
Eleven-year-old Celeste is having her worst summer ever! She’s been sent to stay with her Gran and keep an eye on her pesky and immature little sister Esme. Celeste resents her parents going off having adventures, leaving her behind, being boring. She’s thrilled when her eccentric cousin Ferd appears from the sky in their flying bus and invites them to come to their magic home at Seven Wherewithal Way. How can she resist?
This is the first book I have read where the pronouns they/them are used for a character. It does take some getting used to, but it’s encouraging to see this inclusivity in a book aimed at young and impressionable readers. I hope that soon it will be so normal it won’t even rate a mention!
Celeste is looking for adventure, and Ferd certainly throws her into the deep end, fighting all manner of mythical and magical monsters on their mission to rescue Ferd’s dear friend the Leshy. First there are the poleviks, followed closely by the striga, rusalka, vodyanoi and ultimately Baba Yaga. It’s a veritable who’s who of folklore bad-guys! In fact, a glossary would be a welcome addition to this book.
Bound has certainly done her research and this book positively overflows with characters many readers will recognise from fairy tales, folklore, and myth. And herein lies a problem with the book: too many incidents with too many conflicts with too many monsters before the resolution. I feel this book could easily lose the middle third and be a tighter and more cohesive story. As it is, the characters lurch from one conflict to the next with barely a chapter-break. However, it picks up dramatically in the final chapters where the author suddenly finds her voice allowing the story a much better flow.
Celeste is a girl on the cusp of adulthood, hoping to find her inner strength and demonstrate her bravery. Her little sister, Esme, however, is a totally unappealing child who behaves more like a five-year-old than an eight-year-old, pouting and whining her way through the story. The constant (and I mean constant) nasty fights and bickering between the sisters is grating – I’m not sure if it’s intended to be amusing, but it’s not!
Celeste discovers at the end of her adventure that ‘bravery is not always how fast you can swing your arms or think up clever escapes. It is the way your heart responds, and how you follow it’.
Seven Wherewithal Way is the first book in a ‘portal fantasy series’. It ends with an obvious segue way to further adventures. It’s recommended for middle grade readers.
Trouble is just adventure disguised.
Eleven-year-old Celeste is having her worst summer ever! She’s been sent to stay with her Gran and keep an eye on her pesky and immature little sister Esme. Celeste resents her parents going off having adventures, leaving her behind, being boring. She’s thrilled when her eccentric cousin Ferd appears from the sky in their flying bus and invites them to come to their magic home at Seven Wherewithal Way. How can she resist?
This is the first book I have read where the pronouns they/them are used for a character. It does take some getting used to, but it’s encouraging to see this inclusivity in a book aimed at young and impressionable readers. I hope that soon it will be so normal it won’t even rate a mention!
Celeste is looking for adventure, and Ferd certainly throws her into the deep end, fighting all manner of mythical and magical monsters on their mission to rescue Ferd’s dear friend the Leshy. First there are the poleviks, followed closely by the striga, rusalka, vodyanoi and ultimately Baba Yaga. It’s a veritable who’s who of folklore bad-guys! In fact, a glossary would be a welcome addition to this book.
Bound has certainly done her research and this book positively overflows with characters many readers will recognise from fairy tales, folklore, and myth. And herein lies a problem with the book: too many incidents with too many conflicts with too many monsters before the resolution. I feel this book could easily lose the middle third and be a tighter and more cohesive story. As it is, the characters lurch from one conflict to the next with barely a chapter-break. However, it picks up dramatically in the final chapters where the author suddenly finds her voice allowing the story a much better flow.
Celeste is a girl on the cusp of adulthood, hoping to find her inner strength and demonstrate her bravery. Her little sister, Esme, however, is a totally unappealing child who behaves more like a five-year-old than an eight-year-old, pouting and whining her way through the story. The constant (and I mean constant) nasty fights and bickering between the sisters is grating – I’m not sure if it’s intended to be amusing, but it’s not!
Celeste discovers at the end of her adventure that ‘bravery is not always how fast you can swing your arms or think up clever escapes. It is the way your heart responds, and how you follow it’.
Seven Wherewithal Way is the first book in a ‘portal fantasy series’. It ends with an obvious segue way to further adventures. It’s recommended for middle grade readers.
February 25, 2022
I highly recommend this one as a bed-time story. It put me to sleep several times. I wish I was joking when I say that.
This has all the elements a middle grade book needs for an excellent adventure! There is a mysterious relative who has a magical house and a flying bus! There are magical creatures, and annoying younger sister, a threat to the world, and lots of action! But somehow the overall book is a drag. HOW!?? The overall feel put me in mind of the Wizard of Oz and classic British children's adventures like Enid Blyton or E. Nesbit. It had that safe, familiar, cosy sort of feel with a modern style to it.
Maybe a bit of tighter editing is needed? Or cutting a few pages (it comes in just under 400 which is fairly long for a kid's book - even for kids who have ploughed through Harry Potter or Keeper of the Lost Cities). I realise I am not the intended audience for this book ( expect this is aimed at 8-12 year olds) but I read heaps of junior / middle grade / YA and this fell flat for me.
It is clearly going to be a series and maybe this will resolve as the author gains experience? One can hope, because it has all the elements to be an excellent story.
I did have an issue with the character of Ferd (they/them) not due to being non-binary, but because I could not visualise them. At one point early on in the story (an I am reading a ARC so this may have been changed) it says something about Ferd's "other face". Is Ferd non-binary because that is how they choose to identify? Are they non-binary because they have two faces like a janus cat? Do they have two heads like Zaphod Beeblebrox?? Are they like a creepy clown face smiling one one side and angry on the other??? I need to know! This really bothers me. In the end I was picturing the Janus cat but I am pretty sure that's not right, but it was is just once I thought about it the image wouldn't go away.
This has all the elements a middle grade book needs for an excellent adventure! There is a mysterious relative who has a magical house and a flying bus! There are magical creatures, and annoying younger sister, a threat to the world, and lots of action! But somehow the overall book is a drag. HOW!?? The overall feel put me in mind of the Wizard of Oz and classic British children's adventures like Enid Blyton or E. Nesbit. It had that safe, familiar, cosy sort of feel with a modern style to it.
Maybe a bit of tighter editing is needed? Or cutting a few pages (it comes in just under 400 which is fairly long for a kid's book - even for kids who have ploughed through Harry Potter or Keeper of the Lost Cities). I realise I am not the intended audience for this book ( expect this is aimed at 8-12 year olds) but I read heaps of junior / middle grade / YA and this fell flat for me.
It is clearly going to be a series and maybe this will resolve as the author gains experience? One can hope, because it has all the elements to be an excellent story.
I did have an issue with the character of Ferd (they/them) not due to being non-binary, but because I could not visualise them. At one point early on in the story (an I am reading a ARC so this may have been changed) it says something about Ferd's "other face". Is Ferd non-binary because that is how they choose to identify? Are they non-binary because they have two faces like a janus cat? Do they have two heads like Zaphod Beeblebrox?? Are they like a creepy clown face smiling one one side and angry on the other??? I need to know! This really bothers me. In the end I was picturing the Janus cat but I am pretty sure that's not right, but it was is just once I thought about it the image wouldn't go away.
January 24, 2022
A huge thank you to Affirm Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wow! What an incredible start to this middle grade fantasy portal series. I really loved the characters in this book. They felt very real and fleshed out without being scripted to a 't'. I particularly enjoyed experiencing the sisterly relationship and the fact that Ferd was non-binary without this being the main crux of the plot. It was simply a part of who they were!
The plot started off feeling very open and the possibilities were endless! Very quickly, I was on board the flying bus and keen for adventure. It did take a bit for my brain to catch up with this fantasy world, since it was not new to the characters but definitely new to me, so I had a bit of a lag (this is totally a 'my brain' thing and happens with a lot of fantasy, so I wouldn't let this impact you too heavily, just something to be aware of for my fellow NDs).
I enjoyed the inclusion of different folk tales in this fantasy world and the opportunity for so many wonderful adventures, presented by this world-building. I did notice that one particular beastie was *really* close to an iconic baddy in Doctor Who, but beyond this, Seven Wherewithal Way was very unique and fresh whilst still giving the warmth of familiarity.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys middle grade novels, and think it best suited to ages 10-13. Some scenes could be a bit scary for younger kids, so just be aware that some parental discussion may be suitable in this situation.
4.5/5
Wow! What an incredible start to this middle grade fantasy portal series. I really loved the characters in this book. They felt very real and fleshed out without being scripted to a 't'. I particularly enjoyed experiencing the sisterly relationship and the fact that Ferd was non-binary without this being the main crux of the plot. It was simply a part of who they were!
The plot started off feeling very open and the possibilities were endless! Very quickly, I was on board the flying bus and keen for adventure. It did take a bit for my brain to catch up with this fantasy world, since it was not new to the characters but definitely new to me, so I had a bit of a lag (this is totally a 'my brain' thing and happens with a lot of fantasy, so I wouldn't let this impact you too heavily, just something to be aware of for my fellow NDs).
I enjoyed the inclusion of different folk tales in this fantasy world and the opportunity for so many wonderful adventures, presented by this world-building. I did notice that one particular beastie was *really* close to an iconic baddy in Doctor Who, but beyond this, Seven Wherewithal Way was very unique and fresh whilst still giving the warmth of familiarity.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys middle grade novels, and think it best suited to ages 10-13. Some scenes could be a bit scary for younger kids, so just be aware that some parental discussion may be suitable in this situation.
4.5/5
January 26, 2023
I think the general idea of this book was pretty cool, but I just couldn't stand any of the main characters and the constant bickering. The parts I liked were the parts when they found the Leshy and he was talking to Celeste about spreading his stories. All four of the main characters got on my nerve at some time, and even though I normally love books with this type of plot, the characters did not make me want to keep reading. All Esme and Celeste did was fight (their bickering had me screaming), and Ferd wasn't the best leader for the rescue mission at all. Logan was alright but the way he treated Celeste sometimes wasn't the best for someone who saved his life. The plot itself is quite repetitive and in my opinion, there was too much time spent on rescuing Ferd from the poleviks rather than the main journey. However, the general idea is quite interesting, but I am not a fan of the way it was carried out, just my opinion though.
Not one of my favourites...
Not one of my favourites...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2022
The first use of “their” in reference to Ferd confused me - seriously I thought she was being creative until i realised that she was being “inclusive”! Then i wanted to throw the book across the room!! Seriously!! At no point is Ferd’s gender called into question - dresses like a dude but in a flamboyant style! The constant bickering of the sisters was the second thing that made me want to throw the book across the room! There are copycat moments from other books/shows in here (Dr Who’s The Weeping Angels - think of the scarecrow people here - for example), the “inclusivity for inclusivities sake”. Definitely will not be reading anymore!!😡
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2022
Having read other books by Samantha-Ellen Bound, I was very interested in reading
Seven Wherewithal Way
after I came across it in a store. Reading the blurb, it seemed to be right up my alley, being a magical adventure had by two children, Celeste and Esme, with a bit of mythology thrown in - not unlike Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree adventures.
For the most part, I did enjoy the story, although there were several things that did bother me with some of the characters. Firstly, Esme, who is supposedly eight or nine-years old, but comes across as a child of four or five. I did not like her one bit - so if she was meant to be a cute form of entertainment, she definitely did not demonstrate that; instead, all of her attacks on her older sister, Celeste were just plain mean and annoying. If the book had not stipulated her age, I would have thought that she was much younger with her tantrums and silly ways.
The biggest obstacle that I found was in the reading of the character of Ferd or Ferdinand. I understand in this politically correct world where people can decide which pronoun they wish to be referred to and which gender they wish to be acknowledged as, writers try their best to follow social norms - most TV shows do this nowadays. However, the character of Ferd had me reading the page several times on various occasions, as - being born with the name Ferdinand, I assumed they were a make and therefore was awaiting the "he" pronoun - which then confused me, because the story had many instances where the pronoun "they" was being used and it seemed that the story was referring to Celeste and Esme or Celeste and Ferd; so I had to read it again when I figured that I was actually reading about Ferd.
But this wasn't all. Being a teacher, I have encountered students who wish to be referred to by the "they" pronoun, and unless you have been told otherwise, you usually assume they are the pronoun by which they were born. So when reading Seven Wherewithal Way I was baffled by the fact that everyone knew Ferd as "they" and would use the pronoun when they spoke - even the evilest of villains! Baba Yaga was meant to personify evil in the story, yet she took the time to make sure that she used the correct pronoun when she referred to Ferd... how she knew that Ferd went by the "they" pronoun, I do not know.
That said, once I got my head around all of this, Seven Wherewithal Way turned out to be an enjoyable adventure with some very colourful characters. It was a brilliant mesh of old time story telling within a new and imaginative world.
For the most part, I did enjoy the story, although there were several things that did bother me with some of the characters. Firstly, Esme, who is supposedly eight or nine-years old, but comes across as a child of four or five. I did not like her one bit - so if she was meant to be a cute form of entertainment, she definitely did not demonstrate that; instead, all of her attacks on her older sister, Celeste were just plain mean and annoying. If the book had not stipulated her age, I would have thought that she was much younger with her tantrums and silly ways.
The biggest obstacle that I found was in the reading of the character of Ferd or Ferdinand. I understand in this politically correct world where people can decide which pronoun they wish to be referred to and which gender they wish to be acknowledged as, writers try their best to follow social norms - most TV shows do this nowadays. However, the character of Ferd had me reading the page several times on various occasions, as - being born with the name Ferdinand, I assumed they were a make and therefore was awaiting the "he" pronoun - which then confused me, because the story had many instances where the pronoun "they" was being used and it seemed that the story was referring to Celeste and Esme or Celeste and Ferd; so I had to read it again when I figured that I was actually reading about Ferd.
But this wasn't all. Being a teacher, I have encountered students who wish to be referred to by the "they" pronoun, and unless you have been told otherwise, you usually assume they are the pronoun by which they were born. So when reading Seven Wherewithal Way I was baffled by the fact that everyone knew Ferd as "they" and would use the pronoun when they spoke - even the evilest of villains! Baba Yaga was meant to personify evil in the story, yet she took the time to make sure that she used the correct pronoun when she referred to Ferd... how she knew that Ferd went by the "they" pronoun, I do not know.
That said, once I got my head around all of this, Seven Wherewithal Way turned out to be an enjoyable adventure with some very colourful characters. It was a brilliant mesh of old time story telling within a new and imaginative world.
October 14, 2021
✍️ This middle-grade fantasy portal series follows Celeste and her younger sister Esme who are unwillingly sent to their Gran's house for the summer while their Parents are away on a venture. Celeste is having a dull and tedious time until one day their oddball Cousin Ferd who has magical powers falls out of the sky in his flying bus Bonnie and takes them away to his house on Wherewithal Way which is teeming with hocus-pocus, mythical creatures and a large number of Realms away from earth. As soon as they arrive they find that something is trying to break in and Celeste grasps that her cousin and the people occupying Wherewithal Way are in danger so she must do everything she can to save them.
This was such a wondrous and cleverly constructed story filled with symbolism and expressive language. I felt that there was a lot going on initially as I commenced however it finished off incorporating well all over. I appreciated all the hard work and attention that went into it. The characters were entrancing and abundance. There was so much adventure, enchantment and pandemonium taking place. The writing style was articulate and chatty. I really enjoyed it. So much zest and adventure.
This was such a wondrous and cleverly constructed story filled with symbolism and expressive language. I felt that there was a lot going on initially as I commenced however it finished off incorporating well all over. I appreciated all the hard work and attention that went into it. The characters were entrancing and abundance. There was so much adventure, enchantment and pandemonium taking place. The writing style was articulate and chatty. I really enjoyed it. So much zest and adventure.
May 15, 2022
This is a great read. Initially I purchased it for my very confident reader granddaughter of almost 9 years of age.
I think perhaps the reading age might be slightly older, with our main character Celeste being eleven going on perhaps fourteen. Whilst I love the story, the plot and the settings, the often fast pace is very full in dialogue, witty remarks as well as movement. I think the full richness of the story may prevent some younger readers (like my granddaughter from appreciating it their first read around - she has set it aside while reading some other books).
If you find you get bogged down let it go as you will soon settle into the world of wherewithal and the realms after a couple of chapters and will be wanting more by the time you close the book at its end.
Some great charaters, some not so and an interesting blend of old favourites thrown into the mix, Harry Potter fans this one is for you!
I think perhaps the reading age might be slightly older, with our main character Celeste being eleven going on perhaps fourteen. Whilst I love the story, the plot and the settings, the often fast pace is very full in dialogue, witty remarks as well as movement. I think the full richness of the story may prevent some younger readers (like my granddaughter from appreciating it their first read around - she has set it aside while reading some other books).
If you find you get bogged down let it go as you will soon settle into the world of wherewithal and the realms after a couple of chapters and will be wanting more by the time you close the book at its end.
Some great charaters, some not so and an interesting blend of old favourites thrown into the mix, Harry Potter fans this one is for you!
December 28, 2022
An imaginative love child of Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Sister’s Grimm, imbued with Slavic mythology to boot, Seven Wherewithal Way is the nostalgic middle-grade you need to heal your inner child! Plus, the writing is my ideal for MG: clear, proper English without any condescending ‘Cat sat on a mat’ rudimentary sentences (I’m looking at you, Mr. Name starts with A and ends with Nh Do 😂).
November 27, 2021
Fabulous action-packed fantasy adventure. Fun characters and weird and wonderful beasties. First in a series... sure to become a favourite of many.
January 20, 2022
A very fantastical adventure full of ancient folklore creatures and a whole lot of imagination! Great for fans of Nevermoor and The Land of Stories.
- Read by Celeste
- Read by Celeste
January 26, 2022
I wanted to love this so badly that I think my expectations were too high and that made it flop for me.
February 12, 2022
sold a whole bunch of this at christmas. was hoping to love it but, alas, simply not my tempo
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February 12, 2022DNF - tried but just couldn't get passed the sister
April 24, 2022
I loved this book. It had awesome adventures. And it captured my attention very easily. I didn’t want to stop reading. I can’t wait for the second Seven Wherewithal Way.
March 23, 2023
Magical and full of different Slavic folk tale creatures. It is dark and creepy in parts and full of action and adventure. I loved Kikimora and the Domovoi the most and wished there were more like them in the book and less stuff that was trying to kill them but that’s just me. I loved the magical flying (and temperamental) bus and cousin Ferd and their house of misfits. Curious to see where the series goes next!
August 24, 2023
This book took me took me 5 months to finish. I read multiple books while reading this one because I could not for the life of me get into this book or plot at all. I gave it 3 stars because the writing was amazing it was the plot I was just not interested in at all, but still think plenty of people would love this book!
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