Review of The Chronicles of Trellah

The Chronicles of Trellah, Book One: The Perpetual Rain

Fourteen-year-old Sophina Murray will be the first to tell you: Bad luck comes in threes. First, her father is lost at sea. Then, the rains start . And don't stop. And finally, her little brother is taken from his bed by a monster straight from her worst nightmare. A glimpse into the parallel universe of Trellah - a land of giant trees, bizarre creatures, and a glowing red mineral with mystical properties - convinces Sophina that all may not be lost. But first, she'll have to survive in a hostile world where her darkest fears live and breathe.

Author: T.S. Graham
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This book has engaging characters and a plot that has not already been written a million times.  Sophina is a realistically-written fourteen year old girl.  She does not have super powers, she is not the prettiest girl in school (or the ugly duckling), and she doesn't have all the answers. What she does have is a good heart, the willingness to do the right thing, and the integrity to stand up for what she believes.  The writer does a magnificent job of capturing the characters' feelings and showing the reader the worlds in which the story takes place. This is a well-written and surprisingly deep story that is absolutely worth reading.

Spoliers - You read that right.  Worlds.  Plural.  Sophina winds up getting more than a glimpse of Trellah!  This book is appropriate for 12+.  There is some limited violence, some interaction with the dead and undead, but nothing over the top, and nothing nightmare-inducing.  Highly recommended.