Interspersed with the fantasy are Sami's real world memories, both of her own life and her grandmother's stories of growing up in the desert, and her life in Lebannon. Which ultimately, of course, makes her very special indeed in the best possible way!
Yes, she's "special," but at the same time she's unsure-plunged into a world of magic she doesnt' understand, she has no clue what she can do to stop Nixie, but accepts the fact that it's up to her to try, because there is no one else. And so a dangerous journey to Nixie's castle begins, and in good portal fantasy fashion, there are dangers and strange new allies, a graceful inclusion of a message that different (in this case, Flickers and Shadows) doesn't equal enemy, and an ultimate victory that requires all the courage and strength that Sami can give. Sami, with her inborn power of Silverskin magic, might be able to thwart Nixie's plans. A powerful being, Nixie, is trying to seize control of the land, imprisoning all those who resist her, and threatening the balance between Flickers and Shadows. Now things are falling into chaos and danger. From Dorsom, she begins to learn how to communicate without words, and about this strange land where the Flickers, beings of color and light, once lived in balance with the Shadows, their opposite. There she meets Dorsom, a strange but friendly Flicker, who looks like a human boy except for his skin, which is green. When Sami reads the spell, she passes through the mirror, into Silverworld, a land full of marvels. On the same page is a picture of a mirror identical to the one in Sami's room, another treasure from Teta's old life. At first the pages and the words are slippery, but at last the book lets her read a spell- for the Opening of thee Silversinn'd.
Sami is distraught, and in a desperate effort to find a way to keep Teta home, she opens the old book with a cracked cover Teta had brought with her from Lebanon, a forbidden book she's been told has great and magical powers. But Sami is the only one in the family who can hear her grandmother talk to everyone else, Teta sounds like she's speaking gibberish, and so her mother thinks it would be best to find a nursing home for her. Silverwood, by Diana Abu-Jaber (Crown Books, March 17, 2020), is an engaging portal fantasy given extra richness by the Lebanese heritage of the main character.Īfter apruptly being moved to Florida, Sami is on edge spending time talking to her beloved grandmother, who lives with her family, has become her bedrock.
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