Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy

Written by Karen Foxlee

Narrated by Katy Sobey

This is the story of Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard who doesn't believe in anything. She is still grieving for her dead mother when her father takes a job in a museum, in a city where it always snows. On her first day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty the Snow Queen, and he has been waiting for Ophelia's help.

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. F. Howes Ltd
• Release date: Jun 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781471264252

Karen Foxlee

Karen Foxlee is an Australian author who writes for both children and young adults. She grew up in the Australian mining town Mount Isa and still frequently dreams she is walking barefoot along the dry Leichhardt River. She is the author of Dragon Skin and the Carnegie Medal-longlisted Lenny's Book of Everything, both published by Pushkin Children's Books. The first book of the Miss Mary-Kate Martin's Guide to Monsters, The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm, was a Foyles Children's Book of the Month

Reviews for Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy

[fortifiedbybooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a perfect example of how to write a modern Middle-Grade fairy tale. Ophelia isn't sure of herself and doesn't feel that she's anyone special, yet she finds herself with the task of saving a boy from the Snow Queen. Oh, and by the way, Ophelia, could you save the world in the process? I loved every moment! Every event made sense, whether it was fantastical or not, and no character, not even Ophelia, was suddenly capable of doing anything they weren't already equipped to accomplish. At the same time, the world of the story is full of magic, despite Ophelia's belief that there is no such thing.

The Snow Queen is truly scary and wholly evil. While she is not exactly the same as the White Witch in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, my thoughts turned to her the more I found out about the Snow Queen. What I liked even more than that childhood favorite was the lack of religious allegory. It also doesn't head in the opposite direction as did the "His Dark Materials" trilogy by Philip Pullman. The only point I found, besides being a beautiful story for its own sake, was that ordinary people can sometimes do seemingly extraordinary things, even if they have asthma and aren't good at running.

I can safely recommend Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, especially if you're a fan of Middle-Grade Fantasy, or you love the "Narnia" series.

[untitled841 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Adorable Ophelia, I can so relate to missing a family member so much. This touching tale of how to find yourself when you are so young and your world is completely changed from everything you ever knew.

[annannean-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For a children's book, this was cute with very neatly tied up loose ends. The fear and excitement is real but not on par with dark levels that encompass an older teen or adult novel. However, I did enjoy reading this and Ophelia was super fun and tomboy-ish, typical of the average heroine who is curious and always stalwart against the evils. The setting was fun and interesting but still lacking since it's a huge exotic museum. There's not much to say about the world-building except that everything is purposely made to feel timeless and the magical elements creates intrigue in order to tone down the Marvelous Boy's outrageous existence. There is fantasy and adventure but it is grounded in reality so that Ophelia comes across as a good character without seeming too Mary Sue or special snowflake-y. The plot was solid and gave the book much appeal as it was slightly original which kept the story line interesting enough. I wish many children's books are just as innovative and the authors to have greater creative license over their stories without feeling the need to dumb it down for the younger audience.

[pdbkwm-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There are times when you pick up a book and get completely sucked into the story, so much so, that when you finish the book you simply want to read it again and again. And then another time, just for good measure. And when it comes to ‘Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy’ by Karen Foxlee, I think some readers may feel this way once their done.

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a simple story that’s been told before. There’s a damsel in distress, a hero, and an evil witch who is bent on destroying the world. The hero must save the prisoner in order to defeat the witch and save the world. Save the prisoner. Save the world. You know that sort of thing. And with this sort of story, you know how it’s going to end. The hero is victorious and the world lives to see another day, at least until the next villain shows up. But the ending is never the important part. The important part is how the hero becomes stronger and grows as a character in order to succeed their mission.

With this novel, the same sort of premise is here as well. There’s Ophelia, the hero, who is currently staying at a hotel with her father and older sister, due to her father’s work at a museum. The museum is located in a strange place where there‘s always snow and the season never goes past winter. Everything is simply frozen in place, kind of like how Ophelia’s family is since the death of her mother.

While visiting the museum, which is where the majority of this novel takes place, Ophelia takes a wrong turn and ends up in a place that looks deserted. She’s drawn to the place, even though she knows she should be there. It’s there where she meets the Marvelous Boy, the damsel in distress of this story. He immediately asks for help, because he needs to find the Other One and the Sword in order to defeat the Queen. And, he only has three days.

Those time limits.

Ophelia is reluctant at first, because she doesn’t believe in things like ghosts, witches, and other supernatural hogwash, but she feels drawn to the Marvelous Boy and decides to do him a solid. I won’t mention what happens here, but watching Ophelia go through each trial to save the Marvelous Boy was fun to read and it added some nice depth to her character.

In terms of writing, I thought this was written beautifully, almost to the point where I felt like the narrator could be a character of their own. This is written in third person, so it’s not really like they were their own character, but while I was reading this I felt like someone was reading the book to me. I know this doesn’t make sense and as I wrote typed those words out even I didn’t really get it, but that’s how I felt while reading this.

I did love Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, but my only complaint would be that I wish the Marvelous Boy had more scenes. His story on how he lost his name and his background in general were interesting to read about, but I wanted more and never really got it.

Overall: This is a fantastic book and even though it’s marketed towards children, I think adults would love this book too. There are dark themes in this novel, so if you’re a parent you may want to read this first to see if it’s appropriate for your child, but if they’re into fairy tales, then this shouldn’t be too bad. And if you’re worried that this follows the same hero saves damsel and defeat the witch, then don’t be. There is a bit of a twist, that I won’t mention, but it’s a good one. And, if you’re nervous about reading a children’s book, then don’t be as well!

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy was provided by netgalley.

Book can also be found at BookingRehab

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Children's fiction (4th-6th but could be enjoyed by all ages); fairy tale fantasy/spooky adventure. No, not miraculous, but "marvelous" certainly fits. I enjoyed this and definitely will recommend in the future.

[sandyamcpherson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Foxlee's retelling of The Snow Queen definitely had The Brothers Grimm vibe. In many places, the story was positively creepy, so I'm not sure whether the story would alarm or engross younger kids as a 'read-to-at-bedtime' narrative. Despite some niggles, the suspense had a fairly compelling effect and I did indeed gallop through the book. While the setting was really inventive (a mysteriously charmed museum), the action seemed rushed and then stalled out by turns. At these points, the story wasn't moving forward, which gave the novel a choppy rhythm. Just as we anticipate Ophelia finding out some interesting quirks and solving little mysteries, the reader is snatched away to the pedestrian life of small kid with a busy father.Later on, in the final chapters, there is the predictable sword-fight episode. Except that Ophelia's father seems to dominate this action and the magical sword that The Marvellous Boy supplied to our heroine hardly takes on the Queen. The novel evokes suspense and excitement in equal measure, but in wrapping up the plot, it appeared as if the author was struggling to bring the story to a conclusion.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, this book has good bones. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is filled with all the things I love in a good Middle Grade novel. A quirky, young heroine, a tale filled with magic, and a setting that is just too good to pass up. Who wouldn't want to wander a giant museum full of oddities? Still, this book just didn't have that magic I was looking for. I'll do my best to explain.

I do have to give credit where credit is due, and admit that Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard is a charming protagonist. I have an affinity for characters like her. Quirky, small, underdog type characters who fight against the odds to accomplish the impossible. What's not to love? I remember being a young reader and wanting, more than anything, to be just like the girls I read about in my fantasy books. Even now, reading this as an adult, I see what I'd love about Ophelia as well.

Sadly, I didn't feel like the story written around her was worthy of our little Ophelia. While everything I wanted to see was there, it just felt off. This story has talk of wizards, giant owls, and even ghosts, but none of it had that spark that made me want to read like mad. There were parts that felt like they should have been exciting. Pieces of this story that were written to show Ophelia standing tall against things she should be afraid of. None of it felt real though. It felt a bit flat I think. I missed the magic.

I do see a lot of good in this book. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy seems like an excellent read for a parent to share with a younger child. I kept picturing this being read to me as a bed time story, and it seemed to fit the bill. So three stars it is. While it wasn't my favorite read of the year so far, I'm much to smitten with Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard to give her anything less.

[wrightja2000 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3 1/2 stars. The writing was good and so was the story but I probably wouldn't read it again or choose to read it aloud.

[katya0133 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this retelling of "The Snow Queen," Foxlee focuses on the power of loss as much as on the power of love. The icy Snow Queen is appropriately villainous and the mysterious museum is almost a character in its own right.

[katsmiao · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great book for children.

it really is a modern-day fairy tale, reminiscent of Roald Dahl, with a touch of Grimm Brothers, engaging like the Narnia books.

The setting (a museum) is unique, there are ghosts and other mysterious creatures, there's a child tasked with saving the world (Ophelia) with the help of the marvelous boy.

This book has everything a fairy tale should have and readers of any age will enjoy this book

[loveofreading · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a fantastical fairy tale retelling of the Snow Queen. Although I'm not a fan of the cover art, Karen Foxlee has crafted a beautifully written story of adventure, friendship, magic, and danger for middle grade readers. Ophelia is an asthmatic, underdog hero who must rescue a magical boy and help him find a sword to defeat the evil Snow Queen once and for all.Although the publisher has rightly targeted this chapter book at ages 8-12, the narrative style feels better suited for older, more confident readers. Foxlee's magical adventure requires a reader who can appreciate the imagery and what I can only describe as an original "Brothers Grimm"-type feel. This story might actually make a really good read-aloud or bedtime story, too. You can view a sneak peak on Penguin Random House's website.Personally, I would have liked to see this story written for an older audience, with thrills and chills to amp up the plot. The Snow Queen is a frightening villain (as scary as middle grade will allow without actually scaring anyone). The writing style certainly translates for a well-read audience who can appreciate the narrative. Content-wise, this is a clean read. There are no frightening scenes or objectionable language to upset the target audience. Frozen fans might appreciate hearing a story about the original fairy tale that inspired Disney's multi-million dollar success.All in all, this is a beautifully written book with lessons about being brave and not putting vanity above all else (Ophelia's sister, and countless other girls, were captured by the Snow Queen because of this weakness). With plenty of starred reviews to back it, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a great choice for confident readers who love fairy tales and magical adventures.

[acargile-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee is a fantasy novel about a girl meeting a boy and saving the world with a sword.Ophelia, her sister, and her father, arrive in London to prepare for a sword display. Her father is an expert; while he works, Ophelia explores. The museum makes absolutely no sense. The signs point the wrong way, the map is questionable, and the building is so large and maze-like that one can get lost for a very long time. Ophelia stumbles upon a door and hears a voice within. It's the boy. He asks her to do several tasks and tells about his life. He is to protect the sword he's been given until his champion comes along who will kill the Snow Queen.Ophelia completes several tasks that are quite dangerous. She must ascend to floors six and seven to get objects in order to help find the sword that has been missing for many, many years. She survives these adventures but is unable to find the sword. Meanwhile, her sister is bored and is recruited to be "beautiful" with help from the museum curator. Her father works tirelessly and fails to pay attention to his children. Eventually, when the clock winds down, the world will end with the Snow Queen taking over. Ophelia must find the sword, get it to the boy, and save the world. Unfortunately, time is running out and Ophelia worries the boy will die and the Snow Queen will win.I listened to this book and may have liked it better had I read it. Nevertheless, I was a bit bored. The story shifts from the boy's story and his past with the present time and Ophelia. I never cared about the characters or whether the Snow Queen was going to win. I do see how many would really enjoy this novel--those who read the historical books about famous girls in history and those who like somewhat "scary" books, but these do not appeal to me personally.

[mickyfine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When her father brings Ophelia and her sister to the city where it is always winter so that he can prepare an exhibition on swords at the museum, Ophelia only hopes to go ice-skating with her sister and perhaps observe some things that will appeal to her scientific mind. But then she meets a boy with no name who is locked in a room in the museum. Suddenly, Ophelia is pulled into helping the boy escape so that he can find the One Other and give him or her the sword that will help defeat the Snow Queen; not at all something a scientifically minded person would do.A charming retelling of the Snow Queen, the novel has all the delights and horrors of a traditional fairy tale. While none of the twists were a surprise for me, they may be more shocking for the younger audience for whom the book is intended. The book doesn't shy away from heavier issues as Ophelia is dealing with the recent passing of her mother and her father's distance as he buries himself in work. However, the fairy tale elements and the magic that comes with them adds a lovely twist to the narrative. If you're looking for a more faithful reinterpretation of the Snow Queen, this is a good place to start.

[foggidawn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ophelia would say she's not very brave. Mostly, she feels broken inside because her mother died three months ago. Ophelia's mother was the one who dreamed and wrote of adventure and heroines and danger. Now, Ophelia's father, an international sword expert, has taken Ophelia and her older sister Alice with him to a museum in a strange city, where he is arranging an exhibition of swords from around the world. While her father works, Ophelia wanders the mysterious halls and galleries of the museum. Tucked away in the far reaches of the building, she discovers a keyhole, and on the other side of the keyhole is a boy without a name, who says he's been locked away for hundreds of years. He asks Ophelia to rescue him, but it will be dangerous: a quest fraught with ghosts and monsters and magic, and Ophelia doesn't believe in any of those things. (Well, she's withholding judgment about the ghosts.) And she doesn't have much time, because the Wintertide Clock will chime in three days -- and when it does, the world will end. If you believe the Marvelous Boy, that is. Which Ophelia doesn't . . . at least, not yet.I found this story engrossing. It's the sort of book that draws you into its atmosphere, until you are almost surprised to find yourself not surrounded by snow or wandering through endless corridors of mysterious displays. It's a bit predictable, but the story is less about figuring out who the Snow Queen is, and more about watching Ophelia discover that she is stronger and braver than she knows. For that, I recommend it -- though if you can wait, read it in the winter, or at least at a time when you are longing for winter!

[kraaivrouw · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hans Christian Andersen's story, The Snow Queen, is one of my favorites and has been the inspiration for many great retellings. The Snow Queen appears in Narnia and my favorite of all - The Snow Queen by Joan Vinge. When I spotted Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, I knew I had to read it.A charming tale about a girl who has lost her mother and a boy who has lost his time period and country, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a wonderful tale for young readers. The story is set in a museum where Ophelia and her sister, Alice have journeyed with their father. He is an expert on edged weapons and is there to curate and restore a famous collection of swords. The snow in the city is unending and its cold penetrates to the bones of the characters and the museum (which becomes stranger and stranger as the tale progresses). When Ophelia discovers a strange boy locked in a room and her sister, Alice, begins behaving strangely the adventure begins. Ophelia is a wonderful heroine, strong and self-reliant - the kind of girl I wish I could've read more about when I was younger. Ms. Foxlee writes beautifully and the tale is full of lovely imagery and surprises fitting its original inspiration.Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a book for young readers, but is written so well that readers of any age can enjoy it. I wish I had a little girl to read it to - it's just that good. Highly recommended.

[angieshere · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautifully written adaptation of the fairy tale The Snow Queen. Loved the front cover illustration and that is what made me pick up this book. I also wanted to know about this "Marvelous Boy". Ophelia is the girl inside of many of us; timid, frightened, and with weaknesses she thinks will keep her from being the "girl who will save the world". But like many of us, there is bravery and goodness in her that make her stronger than she knows.

[mad.river.librarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When Ophelia meets the Marvelous Boy, locked away in a museum her father is newly employed at, she must suspend her disbelief in magic, and try to save him before the Snow Queen sets upon him and destroys the world.

Whimsical, heartfelt, and droll. This magical novel is a keeper. Grades 4-6.

Advanced Reader's Copy reviewed. On sale: February 11, 2014

[pat2011-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ophelia is a very inquisitive young girl who's mother has recently died. Her father has accepted a position in an unnamed museum in an unnamed city. Ophelia decides to explore this strange museum and finds the Marvelous Boy with no name imprisoned in a locked room and becomes and unwilling partner in freeing the boy. This involves dragons, ghosts, wolves and all kinds of strange creatures. Through all the adversity, Ophelia plows ahead.

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an incredible book! I give it five stars without hesitation.Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard grieves the recent loss of her mother. Sad, with little courage, the magical trip she is about to take, will change and empower her with self confidence as she hears her mother's voice guiding her to bravery.When her father is given the task of pulling together a huge display of swords for a local museum, she and her sister Alice spend days inside touring the many floors and many exhibits.Wandering to the room containing a foreign city where it always snowed, on the third floor in room 303, Ophelia peeks inside a key hole to find a small boy dressed in costume of years gone by. Listening, she learns his tales regarding magical kingdoms, of trees that protect and wizards who guide. He and his lost magical sword are a dangerous threat. Held hostage for many years, locked away by the curator who in truth is the wicked snow queen, he convinces Ophelia that she is the one to save him and the world.As Ophelia rescues him by finding keys locked away in museum halls, she has many adventures, including watching in horror as stone lions softly jump from their pedestals to circle and terrorize. When she finds a room containing the evil misery bird who has a wing span as large as the room, she must hurry before he awakens and devours her. The statues of armored men come alive, and beneath a large plastic cover, there is a white horse carrying a soldier, with marble eyes that come to life as the plastic rustles and wind rushes and pushes so hard that Ophelia is knocked down. This book is magical, delightful and engaging. I think I especially liked it because I vividly remember that during my third-grade school trip to the Natural History Museum in New York City, I sat mesmerized and fearful believing that at night the elephants, lions and all taxidermical animals behind thick glass would come to life when the guests left.Highly recommended!

[dtchantel-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy" took me back on a wonderful, fantasy-filled trip to my childhood. In the tradition of all the best fairy tales, this book had chills, thrills, magical creatures, wicked queens and a reluctant heroine.

Throughout the book, Ophelia doesn't feel she has what it takes to be a hero. As you travel along with her on her quest and stand by her as she fulfills her destiny, you want to cheer her on, just as her recently deceased mother does, because you just know she has it in her to challenge the evil queen and help the marvelous boy.

The museum setting was a character in itself and as Ophelia darted and ran up and down its halls and zipped past various intriguing rooms and displays, I found myself wishing I could be there to explore them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope desperately that there will be sequels. I believe there's much more on the horizon for our timid heroine to conquer. And I also want to see the marvelous boy again.

[steadfastreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delightful! Charming! Fun! ... those are three adjectives that I would use to describe Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. Its magical children's lit at it's very best. It doesn't quite reach the brilliance of Roald Dahl as it lacks the sharp wit and humor that is found throughout his novels, (but let's face it, will anyone, ever?? What other authors seem to have influenced this book? I'd say it feels a little like Neil Gaiman and C.S. Lewis (without all the Christian overtones.) as well.

I loved that the strongest of the roles were played by women and girls. Ophelia is a mere girl of eleven with glasses that won't stay clean and pigtails that always come out uneven if she has to do it herself.

This is a story about love and grief, betrayal and redemption, and above all the power of goodness. It sounds a bit hokey, but it's important to remember that this title was written with a middle-grade demographic in mind, (let's say... seven to twelve) Ophelia (and even the Marvelous Boy) are exceptional role models.

As an adult this book appeals to me in part because I must admit that I'm a bit of an anglophile and this book is decidedly British.

I also love museums, so there is something to be said about the author being able to capture the spooky feeling that you get when you're in a room of a museum that is rarely visited (it's the same creepy feeling that you get being in a theme park alone, after all the guests have gone home.)

This book is excellent, it's especially excellent for middle grade girls.

[krau0098 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed Karen Foxlee’s young adult book, The Midnight Dress, so when I heard she was writing a middle grade novel that was a fairy tale retelling I was so excited to read it. I got a copy of this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. It ended up being a very good retelling of the Snow Queen, the writing is beautiful and very atmospheric. Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard and her sister, Alice, are still grieving the death of their mother when their father decides to take a job prepping a museum for a sword exhibition in a strange city where it always snows. The museum is dark and has some fabulous nooks and crannies to explore. While Alice is drawn in by the owner of the museum, a very elegant yet strange women….Ophelia is drawn to explore the dark corridors of the museum. One day while peeking in an eye hole, she finds an eye peeking back at her. This is how she meets The Marvelous Boy, who has been trapped by the Snow Queen in this room for 75 years. He convinces Ophelia to go on a number of adventures throughout the museum all in an effort to find a magical sword and to save the world from the clutches of the Snow Queen.I absolutely adored this book. The writing is beautiful and magical, and the story has such a great dark fairy tale type of atmosphere. It was a very well done retelling of the Snow Queen.The whole book takes place in an old museum. I love books like this. The old museum is so magical and the enchanting things Ophelia finds within the museum are bewitching and so creative. I love books where people explore something that at first seems mundan, but then ends up containing many marvelous wonders.The story is done in a wonderful way. Some parts of the book are told from Ophelia’s perspective during the current day. There are also other parts of the book where the Marvelous Boy tells Opehlia the magical stories that make up his past. Both perspectives are very engaging and I found myself looking forward to them equally.At first Ophelia is reluctant to help, she doesn't believe in magic. Ophelia is strictly a science type of girl, her mother was the fanciful one and the death of her mother has only solidified Ophelia’s commitment to facts and science. But as the Boy tells his tale, Ophelia is drawn in and can't help but be curious. She ends up doing small quests for the Marvelous Boy in order to hear the next portions of his story and it is in this way Ophelia confronts her fears and accomplishes some truly marvelous things on her own.The book wraps up nicely and has some nice discussion around the importance of friends and family. The writing is beautiful and was wonderful to read. My only complaint is that the story is fairly predictable. I knew right away who the Snow Queen was and how she was tied in with the sword exhibition at the museum. Overall I loved this book, the story is engaging and beautifully written. The pictures throughout are magical. It was just an absolutely wonderful fairy tale retelling. Recommended for readers of all ages, especially for those who love wonderful fairy tale retellings. I look forward to what Foxlee writes next.

[cyderry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ophelia is in the museum while her father works on a special exhibit. Bored, she starts to explore and discovers a boy who is locked in a room. He tells her his story and she works to free him and find the sword he needs.The adventures that Ophelia encounters are entertaining and seem to be exactly what an 11 yr old would want to do.

[shevener-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From the Publisher:“Unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard doesn't believe in anything that can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. On her very first day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help.As Ophelia embarks on an incredible journey to rescue the boy everything that she believes will be tested. Along the way she learns more and more about the boy's own remarkable journey to reach her and save the world.A story within a story, this a modern day fairytale is about the power of friendship, courage and love, and never ever giving up.” A lover of children’ stories, I was excited to receive an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, and on reading Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy I discovered my excitement was warranted. Described as a tweaked and updated re telling of Anderson’s The Snow Queen, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy incorporates all of the elements of a good children’ story and utilizes both action and metaphor to convey it’s message of hope, friendship, strength and love.Written for the Middle school reader, author Karen Foxlee has created a rich, tightly woven fantasy that captures the imagination, is easy to read and operates on several levels. As an adult reader of the book I recognized the “unlikely’ heroine as exactly the type of child called for and often utilized to illustrate that real heroes are ordinary people- just like the reader- who behave heroically in extra ordinary circumstances.As required in a story of this genre the plot centers on a quest. In this case the quest is twofold; Ophelia must find the sword of the Marvelous Boy before his time runs out and the villainous Snow Queen plunges the world into a permanent winter of misery while saving her father and sister who, after the death of her mother, have retreated into their grief and run the risk of permanent isolation and despair.Ophelia’s father, who has dealt with the loss of his wife by burying himself in his work as “the leading international expert on swords”, takes his daughters Alice and Ophelia with him to a museum in an unnamed city of perpetual snow where he has been charged by its curator, Miss Kaminski, (who is quite obviously, evil the Snow Queen- no spoiler here) to create a grand exhibition of rare antique swords. Ophelia finds herself in a huge labyrinth of a building where, given her inquisitive and scientific nature, she explores areas of the museum off limits to the public. It is in one of these restricted hallways, tucked away in a secret room, that she finds the Marvelous Boy.The Marvelous Boy, who has been a prisoner of the Snow Queen for three hundred years tells Ophelia of the dangers ahead though a series of flashbacks in which he relates his original quest to deliver a magical sword to the one person who can defeat the Snow Queen. The Marvelous Boy, whose name was taken from him by “wizards of east, west and middle” to keep him safe because “you might think a name is just a name, nothing but a word, but that is not the case. Your name is tacked to you … and it wasn't just the memory of my name, but me myself. A tiny part of me that they took and stored away.” serves as both the impetus of Ophelia’s Quest and proof that giving of one’s self can often help us find qualities we did not know we possess to help us help others.Complete with hidden rooms, secret doorways, treasures, trials and monsters, Ophelia must navigate through several challenges to stop the Snow Queen/Miss Kaminski’s plot to destroy the world and Ophelia’s family along with it. Filled with self-doubt, fear and grief Ophelia relies on her innate curiosity, natural pluckiness and the love of her mother filling her heart and strengthening her resolve, Ophelia shows us that true heroism lies in a person’s heart and that we all of the potential to perform heroic deeds every day. Through its likeable and identifiable characters this story demonstrates that if we hold true to the message of the book; that kindness, faith, love, loyalty and friendship are the qualities that will see us through the most trying of times, we can all do our part to ‘save the world’. While the overall plot of the story is not anything new, the pacing is even and propels the action at a fluid pace. With the exception of the Snow Queen, who serves as the arch typical villain and the Marvelous Boy who, while likeable and endearing, serves to illustrate how many of us set off blindly in search of some goal in life; neither of whom need further embellishment, the characters are realistic, well fleshed out, identifiable, sympathetic and engaging. Foxlee’s writing is tight and laden with imagery, giving us a multi- level adventure rich in symbolism and subtle moral messages of honesty kindness and faith. Yoko Tanaka’ illustrations are simply beautiful and serve to enhance imagery evoked by the writer’s words.I am grateful to the publisher for sending this book and allowing me to go on this wonderful adventure.

[kmt01_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a story loosely based on Hans Christian Anderson’s Snow Queen, geared for the middle school reader. Although the story is easy to read and understand, I worry that this reader might be overcome by all the scary episodes and happenings of the book. Plus, the book definitely shows a father, lost in his remorse for his recently deceased wife, who has absorbed himself totally in his work in an effort to forget events who really is taking little or no interest in his young daughter Ophelia. Ophelia has an older sister Alice, who is also consumed with grief, but she is obsessed with material things and is taken in by the modern-day version of the Snow Queen, and has little time for Ophelia. They all live and work at a museum, where their father is preparing for a huge sword exhibit (swords are his specialty). With a lot of time on her hands, Ophelia begins roaming the museum and comes upon a room where a young boy has been imprisoned for years and is trying to find a way out. Ophelia, being the sensitive girl that she is, at first does not want to help him find his way, but eventually she relents and begins a journey for and with him that will stretch her scientific mind and courage as well as teach her many new things and more about who this boy really is and what his purpose is. This story was fairly well written, though it did drag a lot. I am not sure a middle school reader would want to keep up with all the endless descriptions and discussions and thoughts of Ophelia and the little boy. I found myself bored throughout, waiting for some, any, action to break up the monotony. The story is ageless. The plot is well known. Both might find resurgence because of the recent Disney movie, also loosely based on the Snow Queen. I am not sure I would recommend this to middle school readers, however, for, though the story is pretty good, there are just an awful lot of scary, unbelievable things and events that might come back to haunt the reader. In addition, I am not sure the pace of the story could keep the reader’s interest. Still, it is well written and might hold the interest of some readers. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

[wanda_barefoot-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story is about Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard an eleven year-old girl whose father is an expert in swords and is working for the museum. While exploring the museum, Ophelia finds a small boy locked in a room. She soon discovers he is the Marvelous Boy and a miraculous adventure awaits her. The Marvelous Boy sends Ophelia on several errands to find the things she needs to rescue him and find the Other One to defeat the Snow Queen. With the clock ticking, signifying the end of the world, Ophelia braves her fears and forges onward to complete her mission.Ophelia was such an adorable little girl. She had asthma and each time she was frightened she would take a puff from her inhaler which was quite frequently. She was a very smart child that thought scientifically. She believed in finding evidence, compiling lists, shading maps or asking questions to get things accomplished. One of her most endearing traits was tugging on her braided pigtails to make her feel better. This book was also full of lessons for children and adults alike.___________________Quote___________________"The strangest thing I have learned is that it's impossible to know what's inside someone. The wizards didn't teach me this, but I have learned it myself. Those who appear tall and straight and very good are sometimes rotten on the inside, and others, huge and clawed and apparently very bad, sometimes contain a pure and sweet form of goodness. The biggest trap is to judge a person by their outer casing. Their skin. Their hair. Their snow-white feather."___________________End Quote___________________Ophelia was often encouraged to use her imagination. I think that is the main aspect of this book, the beauty of a child's imagination. This is an excellent children's book that I would love reading to children. It was a fantasy story about Snow Queens, magic swords, wizards and a mysterious machine. But it was also full little bits of wisdom, such as the list of instruction the wizards gave to the Marvelous Boy.___________________Quote___________________"Instead she took out the fragile paper containing the words from the Great Wizard. She unfolded the thing piece of paper.The letter was written in a very old-fashioned writing, a little shaky. It was a list.First, always be kind, it read.Be kind to everyone whom you meet along the way, and things will be well.Kindness is far stronger than any cruelty.Always extend your hand in friendship.Be patient.You may feel alone, but there will always be people who will help you along the way.Never, ever give up.Ophelia leaned her cheek against the cold window. She closed her eyes.Your heart, said her mother, very softly in her ear. Use your heart, my dear daughter."___________________End Quote___________________I can honestly say that, even at my age, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next on Ophelia's journey through the museum. It was such a delight to read and I, personally, would like to read more stories from Karen Foxlee. She knows how to satisfy a reader's mind and feed the imagination. The book is recommended for children ages 7-12 but I think people of all ages would enjoy it. If you or your child loves imaginative stories that are full of adventure, you'll want to read this book. Highly recommended!Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Netgalley for my honest review. The opinions stated are mine alone and are honest and forthright. If I recommend a book you can believe its a book I enjoyed. I received no monetary compensation for this review.

[slavenrm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"As usual I received this book for free just so I'd review it. Also as usual I'll give my candid opinions below.Since this is a child's book I don't judge by my usual criteria but explore two basic questions. The first is whether I would want my child to read it. To this I say most assuredly yes. It has a strong lesson to teach about following your own path, bravery and never giving up and being systematic in everything you do. As a fairly logical person I would like every chance to influence my children in that particular regard especially! More importantly, the book contains nothing one could consider even remotely of concern for young audiences. No sex, no drugs, just a bit of adventure, petty theft and lying to one's parents. OK, maybe not the best example but not like some of the terrible YA stuff I've come across.The second question is whether I think my kids would want to read it at all. This is always difficult to judge but it does have characters that kids can relate to and a pretty entertaining story line. The vocabulary is not especially daunting and the action picks up from the every first paragraph so I think this one has a chance at setting the hook.So in summary, I was entertained enough reading it and I think kids will be too. I have no concerns about the lesson they'll get out of it and they might learn something positive too if they're not careful. Exactly the sort of book I wold have liked as a youngster.PS: It is always my endeavor to provide helpful reviews. If you find my review helpful please vote appropriately. If you do not, then please leave me a comment indicating what you want to know and I'll be sure to do better next time."

[perednia_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ophelia is an intrepid tween who prefers science to magic, fact to fantasy and, right now, the past to the present. The last is because her mother died a few months ago of cancer.Her father has buried himself in his work as a sword expert, taking Ophelia and her older sister, Alice, away from their London home to a European city filled with snow. They're to spend their time ice skating while their father puts together an exhibition of the greatest swords ever gathered together.The girls are bored as well as in mourning. Ophelia explores the vast corriors and twisty exhibit halls of the museum where the exhibition will be held. The nooks and crannies of the museum are far preferable to the company of the museum curator, a vaguely menacing young woman named Miss Kaminski. She may be beautiful, and her father and Alice may think she's spiffy, but Ophelia wants nothing to do with her.Ophelia soon has her hands full with a quest. In one of the locked museum rooms, she discovers, is a boy. He has been there for a long, long time. Ages ago, the king who he was met when he was sent across the water to defeat the Snow Queen had him locked up at the behest of his new wife. As Ophelia battles fantastical things she knows cannot exist, but which do, the boy fills her in on his story.As Karen Foxlee's new novel, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, picks up speed in an action-filled adventure, her heroine finds she has also embarked on a personal journey that involves honoring the spirit of her mother, a fantasy writer who loved to spin tales about frightening things. Foxlee knows just when to switch scenes to what Ophelia's father and sister are up to, when to tell the reader more about the marvelous boy and when to move Ophelia's quest forward.One of the great aspects to this story is that it is not sad. It is filled with life and making time count. Foxlee knows how to spin wisdom into her tale with light and laughter. She also has a masterful touch at description. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a fabulous fantasy for middle grade readers who love fairy tales, adventure and stories of courage and love.

[tapestry100 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee from Random House Kids early last week and while I was in the middle of some other books at the time, I thought I'd at least sit down and read a couple of chapters to get a feel for the book. Half the book later I realized I needed to set it aside or I wasn't going to be getting to bed at any sort of a reasonable hour that night.Foxlee takes the fairy tale The Snow Queen and gives it a lightly modern spin. In an unnamed town, Ophelia's father has taken a job organizing an exhibit of swords at an unnamed museum, being the international expert on swords that he is. Ophelia and her sister, Alice, try to find ways to amuse themselves while their father is hard at work on the exhibit. Exploring on her own one day, Ophelia discovers a young boy locked away in a room deep in the sprawling museum. She befriends the boy, and the story he tells her of how he came to be locked away in the room in the museum with the name the Marvelous Boy is its own story within the story.As Ophelia journeys through the museum on various quests to help the Marvelous Boy escape so that he can finally defeat the Snow Queen, she creates her own fairy tale. There are elements here that will be familiar with all readers of fairy tales, but Foxlee handles them all beautifully, so that you don't really feel like you are treading too familiar water. I found myself re-reading entire chapters because I simply loved the way that Foxlee was telling Ophelia's story. It's a middle grade book, so there are elements that are fairly predictable and foreshadowed rather heavily, but even knowing how the story was going to end, I still enjoyed every bit of it. There is an ethereal quality to the story that is both charming and magical. I don't want to give too much away about the ending, but I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that Ophelia doesn't try to handle everything on her own, as in other young reader books. I find that annoying. I suppose it's to instill a sense of independence in young readers, but sometimes there are things in life that are just too much for a young person to handle, and it's perfectly normal to go to your parents for help, which Ophelia does. This was refreshing for me. I think anyone who enjoys a good fairy tale and a beautifully written story will absolutely enjoy this book. Highly recommended!

[librarian1204 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Snow Queen returns once again to a fairy tale that combines the present day with the past. Perfect timing for the kids who will have seen the recent movie, Frozen. Ophelia and her sister,Alicia and their dad are mourning the loss of the girls mother. A chance for dad to catalog and set up a display of swords sends the family on a pre Christmas trip to a museum that houses (among many other things) the wintertide clock that is set to end the world. It becomes Ophelia's task to stop this. Along the way she has many adventures, meeting and aiding the marvelous boy. His story is entwined with Ophelia's, as he helps her realize what she is destined to accomplish. Sure to be a favorite of upper elementary girls. Could also be used as a read aloud.I was approved to read this from NetGalley.