The House At The Edge Of The World - Nadine Aisha Jassat

 

Amal and her family have just lost their home and the library they ran so it's with a huge amount of luck that they receive a letter saying that they have inherited a house from a long-lost relative.  However, when they get there, somebody else believes that the house it theirs and gives them 30 days to prove they have a claim on it.  With a race to find proof, Amal and her family begin to learn exactly what the house means to them.  As strange things begin happening, is it possible that the house is leading them to the truth?

Nadine's first book, The Stories Grandma Forgot was the first book written entirely in prose that I'd read (you can read my review here), and I really enjoyed it, so I was excited when The House At The Edge Of The World arrived.

Amal and her family are facing huge changes in their lives with the closure of Honeydew Library.  Together, they know they will get through this one way or another but the house is something they don't expect.  When they arrive, things are almost spooky and rumours in the village suggest that there is more to the house than they know.  As Amal begins to explore, she starts to wonder whether the house is listening to her and magic weaves its way into the book.  With Victoria and Hector breathing down their necks, there is intrigue and a race against time that creates a tension within the prose and will keep readers guessing.

I have to give a nod to Flavia's illustrations that wonderfully compliment the story.

With a host of characters to get to know (both wonderful and evil), including Hope House itself, The House At The Edge Of The World is a book that readers will delight in.  It is a wonderful story of magic, family, perseverance and hope that will enchant readers and open their lives to the world of books in prose.