The Books of Elsewhere

The Books of Elsewhere The five-book fantasy series follows Olive, an eleven-year-old girl who moves into the mysterious McMartin house on Linden Street. The house contains enchanted paintings that serve as portals to another world called Elsewhere, and three talking cats act as the home's guardians. Olive discovers she can enter the paintings using special spectacles and encounters a boy named Morton trapped inside one of them. She becomes entangled in the house's secrets and magic while trying to help Morton and understand the true nature of the paintings. The story involves ancient spellbooks, family mysteries, and the complex relationship between Olive and the three guardian cats - Horatio, Harvey, and Leopold. The series builds tension through Olive's interactions with neighbors, magical objects, and forces that may not have the best intentions. This middle-grade series explores themes of friendship, courage, and the sometimes blurry line between right and wrong in a world where magic exists alongside everyday life. The narrative examines how power can both protect and corrupt, while remaining accessible to young readers.

Readers describe the series as an engaging middle-grade fantasy with unique artwork and dark undertones. Parents report their 8-12 year old children finishing each book quickly and asking for the next installment. Readers praise: - The detailed descriptions of the old house setting - Complex relationships between characters - Integration of paintings into the plot - Balance of spooky elements without being too frightening - Morton the cat's witty dialogue Common criticisms: - Slower pacing in middle sections - Some plot points feel predictable - Character development uneven across the series - Later books don't maintain the mystery of the first Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (12,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (500+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 (parents), 4/5 (kids) "Perfect for fans who found Coraline too scary but want something more substantial than Goosebumps," notes one parent reviewer on Common Sense Media. Multiple reviews compare the series favorably to Neil Gaiman's works while noting its more accessible tone.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman A girl discovers a parallel world behind a hidden door in her house where her "other mother" reveals sinister intentions.

The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs An orphaned boy moves into his uncle's house filled with magical objects and must locate a clock that holds the power to bring about doomsday.

The Thief of Always by Clive Barker A ten-year-old boy enters a magical place called Holiday House where children's wishes come true, but the price for this paradise proves dangerous.

Behind the Bookcase by Mark Steensland A girl moves into an old house and discovers a world of monsters and magic behind her bookcase while searching for her missing brother.

The Shadows by Jacqueline West A boy inherits an old mansion where he encounters living shadows and must protect his family from dark forces that dwell within the walls.

🎨 The talking cats in the series were inspired by the author's own cats, including one named Morton who became a character in the books. 🏰 The concept of entering paintings has notable historical roots in Chinese folklore, where stories tell of people stepping into landscapes depicted in scrolls. 📚 Jacqueline West wrote poetry and taught high school English before becoming a children's author, publishing her first poem at age 13. 🖼️ The first book in the series, "The Shadows," was originally titled "The Paintings" but was changed before publication in 2010. 🏆 The Books of Elsewhere series has won multiple awards, including the Chicago Public Library's "Best of the Best" and was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award.