Kate, Michael, and Emma have been shuttled from orphanage to orphanage–each one worse than the one before–ever since their parents left them on Christmas Eve ten years before.  Now they find themselves in a run-down castle on a remote island that time seems to have forgotten.  As they explore the deserted rooms, they discover that magic is real and that evil waits for them behind every shadow.

Enter the darkly textured world of The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens.  Our three heroes may be young, but they dare take on all that the evil witch, the Countess, can throw at them as the travel in and out of the past.  Isn’t there always an evil witch wanting to take over and destroy the world?  The countess was surely inspired by the White Witch of Narnia, but her desire for power is all her own.  Kate, the oldest, takers seriously her promise to protect her little brother and sister.  She does not understand all that it means, but she rises to the challenges placed before her–from ghoulish monsters to howling wolves.  Michael is bookish and knows everything there is to know about dwarves.  It’s a good thing since they are captured by a dwarf patrol who arrest them for trespassing.  Emma will take on anyone in a good fight and usually win over much bigger opponents, including bullies and grown men.  She can even say “please.”

Fortunately, the children do not have to fight alone.  They are helped by the mysterious wizard Mr. Pym, who keeps showing up in different times; the gruff butler/groundskeeper/photographer Abraham, who gives them just the right pictures when they need it; the strong and scarred fighter Gabriel, who finds a kindred spirit with Emma.

I didn’t intend to read all of this book today, but once I fell into this magical world, I didn’t want to leave.  The good news is that there are two more books to come.  The bad news is I have to wait for them.