Four children set off for school in their small rural village. Two of them have the surname O’Hero and two the surname Smith. Even so, they
are all part of one family. K2 and Izzabird’s mum has married Theo and Mabel’s dad, and none of them are happy about it.
Theo and Mabel’s mum died many years before and Izzabird and K2’s dad went off on another of his exploring trips and never came back.
They all live together with K2 and Izzabird’s mum and two aunties and a toddler called Annipeck who is the only thing they all agree on. She is adorable and they all love her to bits.
They are unaware as they argue on the way to school that someone or actually something is watching them. This something is not the only one. There are even worse creatures looking for them, as little do they know, one of them has an amazing gift. This child can draw incredible maps from straight out of their mind. Not just any map. Not the kind we use for travelling around our world. These maps are from an Alternate Atlas, which has multiple worlds in multiple universes in multiple possibilities of possibility.
Not only can this child draw these maps with intricate detail, but can mark where the worlds might intersect at any given time. They change you see, and if you miss the gateway or which way, you have to find another one.
K2 and Izzabird have always known their family is magic, and they have abided by their mother and aunt’s rules not to tell anyone – especially their step brother Theo and step sister Mabel. But soon all is out in the open as Annipeck is snatched and her half brothers and sisters vow to get her back!
Sibling squabbles is soon swept up and forgotten as they enter new worlds searching for Annipeck. There are carnivorous plants that can smell fear, robots that can grow and shrink as required, a flying lion with vengeance against all humans and a ruthless bounty hunter.
There are also toothbrushes that have come alive, a bloodhound hairdryer, flying belching vacuum cleaners and a magicked skateboard. Just when they believe all is well, a betrayal kicks off a lead into another possible adventure.
Magical worlds as only Cressida Cowell can build. Just like The Wizards of Once series, this first book in the Which Way to Anywhere series is incredibly imaginative while this time linking into normal daily life and family matters with a blended family struggling to get along.
There is also an environmental thread where humans have been the key in driving a beautiful species to near extinction. But they also may have the answer to bring it back to its full potential.
The characters are all quirky in their own way, my favourite being K2 who has always been overshadowed by his loud, feisty twin sister Izzabird. All he wants is to prove himself, and he finally gets an opportunity to do something none of his siblings can – help save their baby sister.
An out of this world, exciting, funny, gripping and magical adventure!
Author / Illustrator – Cressida Cowell
Age – 8+
(2022, Hachette, Magic, Adventure, Danger, Courage, Step siblings, Half sister, Family, Blended family, Secrets, Other worlds, Alternate Maps, Atlas, Draw, Create, Monsters, Prison, Bounty Hunter, Escape, Kidnap, Rescue, Walking Trees, Spell sticks, Universe tears, Portals, Action, Betrayal, Sibling Rivalry, Fantasy, Humour, Revenge, Series)