Thank you to NetGalley for granting this ARC, super good and fast read. The story was intruiging and the characters had an interesting back story.

This is a magical story that I would say could be on the list of classic reads soon. You know there are some books you read when you were a kid or your friend did and said you need to read it. This might be one of those. It is a fun story from an award-winning author. It is about a girl that has moved to a new house with her family. She will find magic in this "ivy-covered house". Strange things are happening and things that can't be real are feeling real. This is a house full of secrets that are magical but is it dangerous? The characters we meet in this enchanting book must find out and we get to find out as well as we read along.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book, but the first several chapters were too slow-moving and I wasn't able to engage with the text. The story was well-written and may appeal to readers, but it is not one I'll be quick to recommend.

When a modern family has to make a move it changes their lives. Each member has new problems to deal with and new people to get used to. We meet a family who moves into a mysterious house that holds some interesting secrets. Objects are not as they seem and creatures not quite what they expect. This book holds many secrets and for the patient reader it will unravel.

I like to be very honest in my reviews. I tried multiple times to keep reading. It will get very interesting and I’d want to continue and then it would linger off in another direction. It may have just been me, but it didn’t feel like the book was getting anywhere. I would like to try to read this title again in the future. It was a well described and thought out book from what I had read.

This book had so much potential! I loved the story in this book and all the weird twists and turns in the story. I felt that the ending was a little too wrapped up and abrupt so perhaps there is a second book lingering that did not get approval so this one was edited? I am not sure but this was very enjoyable by my 9-year-old who is more the target audience than myself! Great job and the audio is also delightful

This was a beautiful escapist read for me. It reminded me a little of The Ocean at the End of the Lane, or The House in the Cerulean Sea. I found the writing so descriptive and enchanting. It was a magical, feel good read that’s perfect for the upcoming holiday season. Love love love!

Personally, I struggled to get into this book. It was slow at the start for me. I do think I would have some students that would enjoy this! But, it is not a book I would read aloud to my 5th grade group.

I was very intrigued where this book was going to go. I liked that this book intertwined Jamacian culture by way of Granny grace. She reminded me of Caribbean Grandmas I have encountered. It was hard to stay focused reading this book the character jumps were to frequent for me. It made it hard for me to follow the story and become completely invested. I think this book would have alot of potential if there was one main protagonist. This is a good story of a blended family though. There were alot of good parts but it was too scattered which made it difficult to read.

I didn’t quite know what to expect since McKay is a new-to-me author, but what a wonderful magical realism middle grade book! It was an especially nice escape from the current pandemic and polarized political climate we’re currently facing. In a nutshell, it’s the story of two broken families merging as one. Taking on step parents and step siblings already isn’t easy, but combine that with financial concerns and attempting to find a new home and it can be quit trying. But these step siblings slowly begin to work together, understand one another, and protect each other with fierce devotion. When they find their perfect home to be a large ivy-covered house, off the beaten path, unusual things begin to happen.

At times, this felt like an older book, with lyrical phrases that yearn to be spoken aloud. However, it was clearly set in modern day (with mentions of things like the iPhone 4, etc.). There are also fun nods to other important works of fantasy, such as Narnia and Harry Potter, which will especially be fun for children who are well-read.

The description of the relationships and concern for others is so very realistic, therefore it was easy to feel an attachment to each character. For example, I felt the young romantic urges of Max and the story made me believe there really are Granny Graces out there who aren’t biologically related to you, but who would sacrifice their livelihood to raise you in love (and who would, undoubtedly, give their life for yours). There was also depth in the discussion of mistakes and consequences when two boys damage their relationship and the pain lingers and continues to make life far more difficult than it should be. Overall, the story was ominous, magical, sometime dark, but very hopeful.

One thing to know about Hilary McKay is that she started out life as a voracious reader. After university training in Botany and Zoology, she became a biochemist in an Analysis Department. She only quit work when she decided to spend more time with her children and she had a burning desire to WRITE! I share this because it helps me better understand her beautifully crafted world in this story — she’s studied far outside the realm of children’s literature and it is quite evident in her writing.

My thanks to Netgalley, Margaret K. McElderry Books, and Hilary McKay for providing me with an e-ARC so that I could review this book and write an honest review. I’m happy to recommend this book and it is currently available in bookstores and online.

Abi and her stepbrothers Max and Louis see strange things when they’re left alone in the house. Abi tumbles into books, Louis can summon a creature through his window, and Max sees shapes in the shadows. None of this is noticed by their busy parents, and Louis’ visitor is growing harder to keep a secret. He needs help from Max and Abi to learn about the visitor and send it away.


This is a middle grade book, but drew me into the story as if it was meant for adults as well. Who wouldn't want to be caught in the middle of a good book, after all? We begin with the difficulties inherent in blending families and making finances work, a very real problem all adults and even children would understand. The magic is most easily seen for Abi and Louis, the younger two of the three children in the house, and Max is occupied by his friendship gone awry and the crush he has. I feel for all of them, because they each have problems they try to work through on their own. It's only once they all start working together that they can figure out what happened and how to fix it.


As with many middle grade novels, it's up to the children to realize there's even a problem and then fix it. Their father Theo literally can't see the creature next to Louis even when it's right in front of him. He can see the claw marks and the damage done, but attributes a normal reason for it to exist. He's busy with his job and the mother is out of the house for hers in order to allow three children to fix the problem on their own. They're not painted as negligent or ignoring the children in any way; they're good parents, caring for them as an adult would, and do the best that they can with the strained financial situation. I like that Theo sings to Louis and gives him baths, makes him laugh and makes him feel safe. He reaches out to Max in a way that a teenager would accept, calming some of the roiling emotions that he has. And of course he loves Abi and encourages her to continue with the things that she enjoys, such as reading. He's a caring and loving man, and often in children's books such things are absent.


These are strong minded children, and I adored all of them. I really enjoyed this book, and happily handed it off to my middle grade daughter to read as well. It's a wonderful book to share and read together.

Delightful! Magical! Beautifully eerie! I normally don't read middle-grade novels, but there was something about this premise that wouldn't let me go: a magical house, books, and strong themes of family. It's like a dream in a forest that is full of wild danger and fantastic elements so much a part of the world, it's hard to separate the real from the otherworldly...or to see these two as clearly defined. Anyways...I loved it!

Hilary McKay's ability to build danger in magic is something that I was in awe of as I read her new story, The Time of Green Magic. As the newly merged family in this story tries to find their new spots, the magic of their house seems to become more real and even scary. Each child is affected in a different manner. As they move farther into the magic, things become even more real. It is going to take them working together to discover the power to overtake the magic hidden in their new home.

I really enjoyed this mystical and magical adventure. I loved the idea of being able to transport into books or pictures. I found the idea extremely fascinating and interesting. I know that I would love to be able to transport into the worlds of some of my favorite books. I thought the adventure was also really fun and really amazing as you can see the bonding that happens throughout this book.

The Time of Green Magic is a gorgeous, heartwarming book about a blended family trying to learn what exactly it means to be “family,” in a new house that has its own quiet magic.

I had so many warm, fuzzy feels during this book, guys. I’m not usually one for character-driven books, but this was a quick afternoon read, and it’s just positive, light, and full of good vibes. Not going to say it’s all bright and cheery, because it’s not. These kids have been through a lot, and adjusting to their new life is anything but easy, but they just won my heart over and over again until the ending, where, I’m not gonna lie, I definitely teared up, okay? It was just too freaking sweet and perfect.

My Thoughts:

- The story focuses on a blended family (Abi and her father, who marries Louis and Max’s mother) and this is a dynamic I want to see in more middle grade books. The family dynamic brings something unique to the narrative, because being in a blended family is hard. It follows a similar trajectory as the found family trope, because even though this family doesn’t necessarily choose each other to start with, they need to learn exactly what it means to live together and, in fact, be a family. Anyone who’s been part of a blended family will know the struggle of finding your situation turned on its head and then having these small, annoying beings invading your space. Or worse, you’re forced to go invade theirs. McKay doesn’t sugar coat this struggle, but faces it head on, with all the honest clumsiness of kids trying to adjust to a new situation. I appreciated the honesty and earnestness with which this concept is handled. I loved the way McKay allowed the children this time to grow, both independently and together. The result was just breathtaking and so well done.

- These children will steal your heart, guaranteed! They’re just so stinking sweet and relatable that I can’t even with them. They all deserves hugs, every one of them.

- It isn’t just the children, though. These parents, Tom and Polly, are fabulous and doing their best, despite struggling, and attentive, loving parents in middle grade books is always magical. Tom and Polly are a united front from the very beginning, recognizing the struggles of merging their families but doing their best. McKay doesn’t shy away from the ugly realities of these struggles, either, like not being sure they can afford a new house for all of them and being forced to work late hours and run ragged to make it work. As far as I’m concerned, this is such an important aspect for middle grade books, because two working parents is such a common thing, and the way this is presented in the book is easy for children to grasp how much the parents sacrifice for their children, while simultaneously still being there. Despite working long hours, Tom and Polly still go out of their way to make time for the children, with Polly advocating for Abi and Tom reading Louis bedtime stories and taking care of Max. It was so refreshing seeing the parents fall into a normal parenting role for all the children and providing a united parental unit. This was really part of the magic of the blended family for me, that the parents try so hard to make it work, which is a fact that isn’t missed by the kids, either.

- Despite being character-driven, there’s a small air of mystery in this book as the house itself becomes almost a character, weaving small feats of magic around the family. It’s magical realism at its finest. McKay has a gorgeous writing style that sounds dreamy in its own right, which lent itself nicely to the subtle hints of magic. It comes up almost immediately at the start of the book, though it’s easily mistaken, and I enjoyed how it unfolded little by little but was never quite solid and defined. The real mystery is around Iffen, a cat-thing that Louis discovers one night that seems to appear out of nowhere. Which the adults can’t see because … of course they can’t. Adults are boring. Pfft. While Iffen is adorable, the mystery wasn’t a huge selling point for me, and it was resolved a little easily. The charm was really in watching the kids work together to solve the problem.

I enjoyed this quite a bit. It wasn't exactly what I expected, but the story of a mixed family coming together to love and support one another was really sweet. I was fascinated by Iffen as a creature and a metaphor and I appreciate that all of the children got their moments when I imagined this was going to mainly be a book about Abi only. A well-written and charming middle grade fantasy novel.

This was an advanced reader copy from NetGalley
I realy enjoyed this novel.
When Abi's (age 11) Dad (Theo) remarries and his new wife (Polly) has 2 sons of her own (Max and Louis), the family decides it's time to move to a house with more room.
Many blended families will tell you that at times making this new adjustement doesn't always go smoothly at first.
Polly leaves the newley blended family on an extended business trip and that's when things get interesting.
Abbi a self proclaimed book worm finds the book, Kon-Tiki, and while reading is suddenly drenched in salt water.
I dont' like to give away spoilers and I will end my review here.
I recommend this title. My library has already purchased a copy and I will be recommending it.

A stunning book weaving the threads of the magic of story and the warmth of home. Captured from the beginning this book drew me in with descriptions of an ivy covered home, images formed before my eyes and I longed to curl up in its rooms. To breathe in the smell of the ivy. To immerse myself in the green magic. To be a part of the family renting space and learning to live together and love each other. The emotions of the main characters were portrayed beautifully as they navigated their blended family and the growing pains of adolescence. Ultimately, the magic of story, of books brought them together. A stunning cover with a story to match, a must read! (The thoughts are my own, but I received an advance copy from Net Galley)

An uneasily blended family moves into an ivy-covered house and slowly uncovers unsettling secrets, as reality and books begin to intertwine.

Well-drawn characters and some delightfully spooky magic.

Abi and her new stepbrothers Max and Louis adjust to their new family after moving into an old ivy-covered house where strange and magical things begin to happen. It's a lovely family story with a light touch of magic that I would recommend to fans of classic magic-house fantasies like Tom's Midnight Garden or The Children of Green Knowe.