Twins, Rose and Arthur can’t wait to get back to The Land of Roar, and the perfect opportunity arises a few months after their last adventure. (The Land of Roar – Book 1). Rose wants to see her Merwitch friend Mitch (part witch-part mermaid), and Arthur is looking forward to exploring and hanging out with his Wizard-Ninja friend Win. Any thoughts of their evil nemesis Crowky (part crow-part scarecrow) are soon pushed from their minds.

Crowky however has never forgotten what the twins did the last time they met, and wants revenge. At first, The Land of Roar seems calm and fun, but creepy Crowky leaves a message for them they can’t ignore…

What’s in the Box?

Rose and Arthur are chilled to the bone. They know what box Crowky means. Just like everything in The Land of Roar, the box has come from their imaginations from when they were younger. This box began as a discarded cardboard box to play in, but soon became a way to frighten each other. Now much older and in ROAR, the twins know that the fears they had when they were little are nothing to what they fear now. They won’t even share their fears with one another, and know they MUST find the box. Or does Crowky already have it?

Following clues left by a missing Mitch and Crowky’s black ship The Raven, they sail to The End. This is the place in ROAR they sent all the stuff they dreamed up when they were little, and didn’t want anymore. Worries about what they might find are nothing compared to what Crowky might make come out of the box.

Magic, Pirate ships, Baboons and Orangutans, not to mention two tall honey badgers called Danny and Eric, are just the beginning of their new adventure. Rose is relieved to find Mitch on their travels, but she hasn’t admitted that her personal fear comes from something she is dealing with at home. Arthur has to help her realise it before it is too late!

The 2nd in this series, Return to Roar delves into fears and worries the twins have kept to themselves. A cardboard box is simply that in the real world, but in ROAR it has become a portal for these fears to emerge from. An angry Crowky wants revenge for the loss of his castle (in the 1st book), and also a way to escape ROAR itself. Arthur will do anything to stop him. Told from Arthur’s point of view, we are right there with his wonder, excitement, courage and fear.

As a Narnia fan, The Land of Roar is the next best thing! Short chapters and tons of illustrations depicting the action, this episode of the series is just as gripping as the first. No. 3 in the series will be the exciting Finale to The Land of Roar. Is Crowky still alive? Will the twins be brave enough to go back? Is Grandad in danger again?

Author – Jenny McLachlan

Illustrator – Ben Mantle

Age – 8+

Quick Review

Twins Rose and Arthur travel back to The Land of Roar – a land they made up when they were little that has come alive. This time they not only have to face Crowky, his scarecrow army and a pack of wolves, they have to face their own fears at home.

Read the first in the series

(Magic, Imagination, Twins, Growing up, Grandparent, Dragon, Lost Girls, Pirate ships, Wolves, Adventure, Danger, Action, Courage, Fantasy, Friendship, Mermaids, Spells, Animals, Bullies, School, Siblings, Family, Secret)