The Lost Children by Carolyn Cohagan

Title: The Lost Children
Author: Carolyn Cohagan
Pages: 320
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication Date: February 9, 2010

Josephine Russing owns 387 pairs of gloves. She's given a new pair every week by her father, a sullen man known best for his insistence that the citizens in town wear gloves at all times.

A world away, the children of Gulm have been taken. No one knows where they might be, except the mysterious and terrifying leader of the land: The Master. He rules with an iron fist, using two grotesque creatures to enforce his terrible reign.

When a peculiar boy named Fargus shows up on Josephine's property and then disappears soon afterward, she follows him without a second thought and finds herself magically transported to Gulm.

After Fargus introduces her to his tough-as-nails friend Ida, the three of them set off on an adventure that will test everything Josephine has ever thought about the rules of the universe, leading to a revelation about the truth of the land of Gulm, and of Josephine's own life back home.

Carolyn Cohagan's debut novel is filled with magic, wonder, and curiosity. It takes readers into a whole new world of fantasy and mystery. As words flow from page to page, Cohagan creates a supernatural atmosphere and at the same time brings magic to life. The vivid descriptions of both worlds are truly beautiful and the 'crack' in between physically as well as metaphorically separates the differences of these two completely different places.

Josephine, from the start, is a quirky, curious and determined protagonist and as she goes on an adventure with Fargus and Ida, her understanding and perception of both worlds begin to shape. When Fargus is first introduced, readers will immediately become fascinated and interested in him. And when Josephine follows him into Gulm, readers will never expect a roller-coaster filled with adventure, action, and mystery!

Carolyn Cohagan crafts a beautiful and magical story in The Lost Children! Even as a debut novelist, Cohagan proves in The Lost Children that even adults can enjoy this fun-filled novel. Readers of all ages will be enthralled and absorbed into this wonderful story! A+ =)

The Bottom Line: Debut + Amazing = Carolyn Cohagan!

---Report Card---

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 9/10
Imagery: 9/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 4/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 9/10
Total Score: 96/100 (A+)

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