Between Two Ends by David Ward

About the book:
When Yeats and his parents visit his grandmother’s creepy old house, Yeats reunites a pair of pirate bookends and uncovers the amazing truth: Years ago, Yeats’s father traveled into The Arabian Nights with a friend, and the friend, Shari, is still stuck in the tales. Assisted by the not-always-trustworthy pirates, Yeats must navigate the unfamiliar world of the story of Shaharazad – dodging guards and tigers and the dangerous things that lurk in the margins of the stories – in order to save Shari and bring peace to his family.

Praise for Between Two Ends:

A satisfying chapterbook fantasy. — Booklist

Both the fantastical and the real settings are well developed. the gruff and amusing bookend pirates are the perfect mix of heroism and pragmatism to complement Yeats. — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

A book about a book within a book. It involves wishes, magic bookends, pirates, danger, intrigue and imagination. – Kirkus Reviews

My review:
This book isn’t just about a sort of magic, it’s magical.
I love stories within stories and this one holds pure charm. I really enjoyed reading it.

The pirate bookends are ‘unpolished’ but sweet, a wishing well in the front yard, and talking animals all lend themselves to the fantasy that comes alive for Yeats and the reader.

Recommended for ages 8-12, this book should appeal to fans of the Inkheart books.

* review copy courtesy of author and netgalley