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Shop nowThe Other Side of the Wall
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Learn moreIn this new adventure with Tess and Max, internationally bestselling author Amy Ephron takes readers to London at Christmastime, where a new fantastical journey awaits.
It's Christmas break and Tess and Max are in London, staying at the posh Sanborn House with their Aunt Evie. As they wait for their parents to arrive, there is an unusual snowstorm that makes the city seem as if it's caught in a snow globe. Perfect weather for an adventure in Hyde Park. But when Max, Tess, and Aunt Evie leave to search for a cab, they find a horse and carriage and driver curiously waiting for them at the curb. And that's just the beginning...
Soon Tess is charmed by a mysterious boy named Colin who lives at the hotel all year round--on the 8th floor. But Max is sure the elevator only had 7 floors the day before. And how come everyone at the hotel seems to ignore Colin? Things seem to get stranger and stranger. There's a 1920s costume party in Colin's parents' apartment. A marble that seems to be more than it appears. And a shadow that passes mysteriously by Tess and Max's hotel window.
Tess wants to figure out what's going on, but finds only more questions: Is it just a coincidence that Colin's last name is Sanborn, the same as the hotel? Why does the cat's-eye marble look eerily similar to the crystal at the top of their hotel room key? And, most importantly, what happened in that hotel one Christmas long, long ago?
In this mysterious story sprinkled with holiday enchantment, Amy Ephron transports readers into the magic of London at wintertime, where it's just possible that what seems imaginary is real, and your wishes might come true.
Praise for The Other Side of the Wall:
"Tess especially follows in that lineage of strong, intelligent female characters – a sort of Lucy Pevensie/Hermione Granger hybrid who is a leader, who believes in magic." —Teen Vogue
"Another time-bending mystery . . . nicely paced, starting slow and accelerating to breakneck speed by the end. This story is both charming and vaguely creepy." —School Library Journal
“Ephron renders this magical world with such assertive beauty that readers of all ages, who are fortunate enough to believe in the power of magic, will enjoy immersing themselves in the roller-coaster fun of these stories, and come to trust, even if for a short time, that in this ‘alternate universe’ it is possible for us to come together and ‘touch the sky.’” —Jewish Journal
"A very entertaining middle-grade read [that] will captivate and entice you to read more....This is a good old classic family adventure that you will want to both read and own." —Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books
Amy Ephron (www.amyephron.com) is a bestselling author of books for children and adults. The Castle in the Mist, her first book for young readers, was nominated for a SCIBA Award, and was followed by Carnival Magic and The Other Side of the Wall, all part of the Other Side series. Ephron is also the author of several adult books, including A Cup of Tea, which is an international bestseller. Her novel One Sunday Morning received the Booklist Best Fiction and Best Historical Fiction of the Year awards and was a Barnes & Noble Book Club selection. She also writes for TIME magazine and Air Mail Weekly and was a contributor at Vogue, Vogue.com and The New York Times T Magazine. Her work has appeared in numerous other publications as well. She was Executive Producer of Warner Bros.’ A Little Princess. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband. Between them they have five children. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @AmyEphron.
Reviews
Praise for The Other Side of the Wall:"Tess especially follows in that lineage of strong, intelligent female characters – a sort of Lucy Pevensie/Hermione Granger hybrid who is a leader, who believes in magic." —Teen Vogue
"Another time-bending mystery . . . nicely paced, starting slow and accelerating to breakneck speed by the end. This story is both charming and vaguely creepy." —School Library Journal
"A very entertaining middle-grade read [that] will captivate and entice you to read more....This is a good old classic family adventure that you will want to both read and own." —Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books
Praise for Carnival Magic:
"Full of wonder and real-life enchantment, Amy Ephron's Carnival Magic is a charming adventure that will make a believer out of anyone!" —Rachel Vail, author of Well, That Was Awkward and the Friendship Ring series
"Tess is a thoroughly modern heroine: She's athletic, impulsive, and fearless . . . The siblings are authentic children [and] the fantastic elements are the stuff of daydreams. Perfect for classroom read-alouds." —Kirkus Reviews
"The short chapters filled with mystery and action will have readers eagerly continuing to discover the secrets that await them. . . . Fans of the first book will be eager for this fun middle-grade fantasy with a classic sensibility." —Booklist
"The setting is contemporary—yet the language and tone feel distinctly nostalgic. This novel, which works as a stand alone, will captivate readers who enjoy their whimsy with a dash of risk." —School Library Journal
"[Carnival Magic is] a softer otherworldly take on childhood mystery, reminiscent of classics like A Secret Garden . . . [it] is in itself an escape. Tess especially follows in that lineage of strong, intelligent female characters – a sort of Lucy Pevensie/Hermione Granger hybrid who is a leader, who believes in magic." —Teen Vogue
"Amy Ephron has always been a magical storyteller. . . . In Carnival Magic, the companion book to Ephron’s successful The Castle in the Mist . . . Tess and Max are teaching children and their parents about the power of thoughtful decision-making, loyalty, and self-confidence. Life lessons and carnival rides . . . the perfect beach read for all ages." —Parade
Praise for The Castle in the Mist:
“Bursting with imagination and warmth, Amy Ephron’s first novel for young people is a magical book in all ways.” —Holly Goldberg Sloan, New York Times bestselling author of Counting by 7s
"This beautiful story’s quiet, peaceful tone nicely evokes both the serenity of country life and the haunting magic of the castle, and the emotional heft of Tess and Max’s separation from their parents, as well as their strong bond, keeps the tale firmly grounded in reality. Perfect for middle-graders who love classic fantasy." —Booklist
"Rich description of the castle along with an elaborate map at the book's beginning and an illustration at the end enhance the fantasy world....A sequel is suggested; beguiled readers will hope it happens." —Kirkus Reviews
"There are scenes...that are transcendent in their beautiful, ethereal descriptions [in this] uplifting novel about family and connection." —BCCB
"A slightly darker, updated take on magical realism classics such as Edward Eager’s Half Magic and E. Nesbit’s The Enchanted Castle." —School Library Journal
"A near-perfect 9....This book defies gravity because it’s hard to put down!" —Time for Kids, kid reporter
"Ephron renders this magical world with such assertive beauty that readers of all ages, who are fortunate enough to believe in the power of magic, will enjoy immersing themselves in the roller-coaster fun of these stories, and come to trust, even if for a short time, that in this 'alternate universe' it is possible for us to come together and 'touch the sky.'" —Jewish Journal Expand reviews