MS Review – Beneath the Swirling Sky – middle school realistic fantasy
Leiloglou, Carolyn. Beneath the Swirling Sky. Illustrated by Vivienne To. New York: Waterbrook Press, 2023.
The Restorationists
Guide to categories: MS Review – review of books for older elementary-aged and middle school-aged children
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Summary
A house full of paintings, a missing sister, and a family secret send a boy and his cousin into a world where art is the key in this fantasy adventure perfect for fans of The Wingfeather Saga and Pages & Co.
“A delightful adventure, excellent for reading aloud. This book will make you want to study Van Gogh and get out the paintbrushes!”—Sarah Mackenzie, founder and host of Read-Aloud Revival® and author of The Read-Aloud Family
After an experience he’d rather forget, Vincent is determined to be done with art. So when he and his little sister, Lili, spend spring break with their art conservator great-uncle, Vincent’s plan is to stay glued to his phone.
That is, until Lili disappears into one of the world’s most famous paintings and Vincent learns his parents have been hiding something from him: Their family is the last of The Restorationists, a secret society with the power to travel through paintings—and a duty to protect them from evil forces.
With Lili’s safety on the line, leaving art behind is no longer an option. Vincent must team up with his know-it-all second-cousin Georgia, wrestle with why his parents lied to him, and confront both his past and a future he never wanted. Young readers are invited into a captivating universe where paintings become a portal—and adventure and danger lurk beyond every canvas.
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My MS Review
Vincent used to love art but something happened in grade school that made him give up on his love of art. Mom, an art teacher, arranges for Vincent and his sister Lili to spend spring break with a great uncle who restores art. Mom’s hope is that Vincent will rediscover his love of art. What she doesn’t count on is Vincent discovering the family secret that she has been hiding from him.
Vincent goes through all the emotions when he discovers he has been “lied to” by his parents. Disbelief, anger, and finally acceptance. The author has captured the emotions of a pre-teen/young teen quite well.
Leiloglou sets the book in contemporary times but there is a fantasy element to it Vincent’s family has the ability to travel in art. I found it to be an exciting concept and appreciated the journey to different locations through the art.
There are not many illustrations in the book but Vivienne To’s black line art does add to the book.
It appears that Beneath the Swirling Sky may be the first book in a series called The Restorationists. I look forward to reading other titles in this series.
Beneath the Swirling Sky would make a great read aloud either for a family or a classroom. It would make a great addition to a K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students.
I received a complimentary copy of Beneath the Swirling Sky. This is my honest review.
