Calling a book “fantasy” often evokes in the mind of the listener something like The Hobbit, Watership Down, The Dragons of Pern, or Star Wars—imaginary worlds populated with non-humans who have heroic adventures that may or may not be human-like. For some people, that’s a real turn-off. They prefer gritty reality.
The truth is, “fantasy” simply indicates that some element of the story is imaginary or make-believe. I love having at least a touch of fantasy brought into stories. I find it greatly expands the story’s range of plot possibilities. But I like realism in character growth and emotions. This is what pulls me in as a reader. When I can identify with the interior life of a character, I’m fully engaged.
So sometimes, I don’t call it fantasy. I call it realism with a twist.
**The Curse of the Neverland’s fantasy element is strong in that the Neverland is the creation of J.M. Barrie’s fertile imagination, as are the characters that dwell there, like Tinker Bell and the pirates. But at the opening of the story, we meet Piper Pizzinni and the other girls at Fitch’s Last Ditch Foster Home in Seattle, a very real place. Their lives are pretty harsh. Even as the girls travel to and adventure in the Neverland, they bring realism to the story. Their interpersonal and emotional struggles are those of any group of girls with challenging backgrounds like theirs.
Today’s book recommendation is heavy on realism, with just a touch of fantasy. It’s a touch like the sparkle of a fairy godmother’s magic wand—shimmering, fascinating, and ephemeral. The fantasy in this story is almost mystical—it’s an event for which there is no explanation, no reason.
Nightingale’s Nest, by Nikki Loftin, is told through the eyes of twelve-year-old John Fischer Jr., or “Little John.” Spending the summer helping his father with his tree removal business, Little John meets Gayle, a young girl singing high in the branches of a sycamore tree. Gayle’s voice is magical. Not only is it amazing to hear, it actually has the power to heal.
Both Gayle and Little John carry painful histories, like Piper and the girls in The Curse of the Neverland. When Little John’s younger sister died, (a death he blames himself for), his father began drinking heavily. His mother has gone slightly off her rocker. Gayle is in foster care, bruised from beatings. Gayle’s refuge is the sycamore tree—the one John and his father have to cut down.
The book’s jacket flap says it best: “Inspired by a Hans Christian Andersen story, Nightingale’s Nest is an unforgettable novel about a boy with the weight of the world on his shoulders and a girl with the gift of healing in her voice.”
Nightingale’s Nest is a bittersweet story, beautifully told, one that will stay with you not just for hours, but for weeks. It will remind you that, sadly, being young is no sanction from heartache.
If you prefer your stories firmly grounded in realism, this story’s for you. If you like realism with a twist, it qualifies as well!
** The hardback version of The Curse of the Neverland can only be ordered until the end of December, 2015. Click here to order.
**The paperback version is coming on line this week, just in time to be a perfect stocking stuffer for someone you love. It’s pictured in the sidebar on the right.