A Cozy Fantasy for Young Readers
An Adventure Through The Togetherwood by Sean Anderson is a cozy, low-stakes fantasy for young readers. Eleanor is an 11-year-old girl who gets transported—via a cardboard box—to the fantastical forest realm called Togetherwood. While on her journey trying to find her way home, she makes friends with an excitable dog, Dax, and a prickly cat, Claire. Together, they journey through multiple quests, make a variety of diverse woodland friends, and learn valuable life lessons along the way.
Anderson’s light fantasy has similarities to fable-like children’s stories such as Winnie the Pooh and Beatrix Potter but without illustrations. While these are older comparisons, children who enjoy these tales would find An Adventure Through The Togetherwood has the same charm and visible lessons on friendship, loneliness, and perseverance.
Anderson spends a good amount of time painting pictures of Togetherwood that build scenic visuals in the mind and entertain the nostalgia of walking through the woods as a child. His characters are each individually unique, and their dialogue is fun and engaging.
While Anderson’s story is long for ages 6-7, it can be read out loud in chapter segments at bedtime. Ages 8-10, who enjoy longer chapter books about animal adventures, would also benefit from this book. While the book is marketed as young adult, I would rate the content of the book more appropriate for 7-10 years of age.
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