The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser

Amy is willing to pull up stakes and move from Germany to Scotland and her grandmother's home.  She's been bullied and ridiculed at school, her mother has been abandoned by her married lover who went home to his family, and a new start would be good for both of them.  The only problem is that her mother hasn't told her about her heritage...

Feiwel & Friends and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published January 3rd.

This book caught my attention because the characters could go within stories and meet the characters and enjoy the story up close and personal.  I was imagining a nice visit with some classic stories and a happy ever after ending.  It wasn't like that...

When Amy finds out she's a book jumper, she's excited.  She's always been a reader and she thinks this will be real special.  Her mother tells her it's  dangerous and won't let her read just any book.  She's also mad at Grandma for telling her about it.  Amy takes her visit in the Jungle Book.  The first person she interacts with is Shere Kahn, and she's afraid he's going to eat her!  He recognizes her as a reader, so she's safe.  But when she wanders farther than she should and finds a margin, she also finds trouble.

There's more than one mystery in this story.  There are thefts in the book kingdoms and it's causing conflicts.  Someone is also stealing ideas, which makes the classic story fall apart.  How can you have the Wizard of Oz without the tornado?  What's Alice in Wonderland like without the White Rabbit?  She's working hard to find the thief before it's too late.  When she does, she's sorry.  

This is a good story with lots of action and either revisits or introductions to many classic stories.  I enjoyed everything but the ending.  I'm soft hearted and wanted happy ever after.  That's not quite how it turned out.  But everyone likes something different and since it's fantasy, I can make up my own ending.  After all, haven't you ever rewritten a story ending?  I have a good imagination, I just take the characters down a different path.  This ending is appropriate and matches the story line so most people will be just fine with it.

I wonder if there will be a sequel to Amy's story...