I felt some empathy for May Bird, and her life, but what really drew me into this book was curiosity about the Ever After and ghosts and everything that goes along with it, which was fascinating.

I also have to admit, I dearly loved Somber Kitty (even if not especially in those moments early in the book when he seems to merely frustrate and exasperate May herself with his loyalty and affection) and I loved that we got to follow pieces of his adventure along with May's. The narrow escape and high drama at the end of the book captured my attention and emotion more when it focused on poor, alone Somber Kitty than on the other group, to be honest.

I was only mildly frustrated when I reached the end of the book and found that I evidently should have made sure to have book two on hand to begin immediately. I knew it was part of a series, but I didn't know it was going to be one of those that ends on not-quite-a-cliffhanger! ( )

Fantasy

May Bird and the Ever After is a trilogy about a ten year old girl who one night gets dragged into an enchanted lake and wakes up in Ever After, a place of the dead and a place of danger. A place she ought not to be with the ever present bogeyman hunting for 'Live Ones.'
Befriending a spirit named Pumpkin who had saved her from becoming really dead, she sets off to find the book of the dead, a book that can give her the answer to getting home.

May stats out as a low self esteemed child who has only one friend, her melancholy Sphinx and with her mother pressuring her to go boarding school to help her change she really doesn't see anything good in who she is until she makes friends in Ever After and confronts all fearful things before her.


This story has a great character development and a fantastic unique story, admittedly I found characters such as Pumpkin to be described to match spot on that of the Nightmare Before Christmas character Jack, and May to be like Coraline (which after checking the publishing date found was coincidence as this book was made first.) However with characters like Somber Kitty the Sphinx and Bogey, the author really does show this was a book of its own creation.
While May does seemingly glide through Ever After without much distress some of the characters are quite grotesque and the few parts she has problems are great nail biting moments.



I really enjoyed this book, its a refreshing read to say the least. However my main annoyance was Pumpkin with his lack of fighting spirit, I found his whining and fear to be a downfall to the story and the few parts he does show courage doesn't really make me think better of him.

Also before reading this book, I have been pestering my partner for a Sphinx as i find them rather adorable, reading this book just makes me want one so much more and when I discovered Somber Kitty was a Sphinx I couldn't help but use it as an excuse to say its a sign that I should get one ;]

Already ordered book 2! ( )

Oh, May Bird, what a mess you've gotten yourself into! An original plot. Unusual characters and setting. This is a worthy read. Can't wait to find out what happens in book two. I'm rooting for May. her friend Pumpkin, and her funny little cat Somber Kitty! Will they make it back to Briery Swamp? ( )

May Bird feels uncomfortable at school due to the taunts and teasing from the kids who don't understand her. For her, the woods are a comfortable place, where she can be a brave warrior princess and Somber Kitty, her cat, her guardian.

When May accidentally falls into the lake, she finds herself in another world when she climbs out. Not comfortable, like the woods, but dangerous and filled with very strange people. There is a blue glow to the place and the people don't seem to be real. In fact, they seem to glide a few inches above the ground when they move, and can appear, disappear and walk through walls.

She is befriended by Pumpkin, a house ghost who is even more timid than May feels. He is to accompany her on a quest to get to the Far North to help the Lady of the North, per her letter of request. A letter that May found in a dusty old book.

May must not be discovered by any of the ghouls, ghosts, goblins and other strange creatures that inhabit this strange world. Especially the Bogey and his Shuck dogs as he will make May disappear.

During this journey, May finds that she does have courage and can do things. She also finds friends who care about her.

I am not a big fantasy reader, but I will definitely look for the other books in the series so I can read them to find out what else happens to May. ( )