The Land of Neverendings

Imagine someone very dear to you has passed away. How would you deal with it?

This is the setting of the wonderful fantasy story in The Land of Neverendings by award-winning author Kate Saunders. Emily’s older sister, Holly, has recently passed away. Her family is grieving, and Emily misses her sister terribly. Emily goes to bed every night wishing she could dream of Holly, but she never remembers anything in the morning.

The only other person Emily can confide in is Ruth, a kind old woman who is also Emily’s neighbour. Ruth herself had lost her son, Danny, when he was a teenager. Emily finds that she is able to connect and share with Ruth her feelings and thoughts.

One day, Emily sees her stuffed toys come to life, and she thinks she may have gone mad. But when Ruth starts seeing Danny’s toys come to life as well, Emily suspects something greater is at hand. Emily soon realises that the toys are from ‘Smockeroon’, an imaginary and magical place that Holly made up and shared with Emily.

This book is heart-warming, funny and gives an interesting perspective of grief, love and memory. The main character, Emily, is easy to relate to and likeable. In every situation, the reader is able to feel for Emily and the story follows a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

This story has received positive reviews for its honest description of what grief is like for young readers. More importantly, this story shows that while sadness is part and parcel of life, it is not the end, and does not mean there is no happiness to be found. It is a story that speaks of love and courage overcoming fear and sorrow.