The Lost Children by Carolyn Cohagan Book Review & {Giveaway}!

The Lost Children
by Carolyn Cohagan
 

"With a quirky and charming style that should draw in readers from the outset, Cohagan's debut
is a gently creepy, captivating fantasy about loss, determination, and hope."
-Publishers Weekly

It is my pleasure to introduce you to author Carolyn Cohagan and her new middle grade novel, The Lost Children. With colorful, vivid prose, Cohagan's debut novel takes readers on the epic adventure of twelve year-old protagonist Josephine and her friends Fargus and Ida. On their mission to uncover the mystery of the lost children of Gulm, the unlikely trio must travel through cracks between worlds, battle mouthless monsters, and a daunting villain named The Master, who rules over the land of Gulm. In a world where nothing is like it seems, the friends learn the value of self-trust, true friendship and family. In the tradition of classics like Alice in Wonderland, The Lost Children is a rollercoaster of adventure and mystery, with spunky, courageous characters that make this book a must-read for children and parents alike. This epic fantasy opens a magic portal of communication between young and old, encouraging children and parents to put themselves in each other’s shoes and grow beyond the roles of parent and child to develop a more understanding and loving relationship. A passionate advocate for the connection between kids and adults through the shared joy of reading and writing, Carolyn Cohagan has been a long time mentor for the Los Angeles based non-profits Reading to Kids and Young Storytellers.

The book trailer can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Iu9d2wyQqg. Please find more information about the book and author Carolyn Cohagan in the paragraphs below.

The Lost Children

By Carolyn Cohagan
Alladin, February 9, 2010

Book Synopsis:

Josephine Russing owns 387 pairs of gloves. She's given a new pair every week by her father, a sullen man known best for his insistence that the citizens in town wear gloves at all times. A world away, the children of Gulm have been taken. No one knows where they might be, except the mysterious and terrifying leader of the land: The Master. When a peculiar boy named Fargus shows up on Josephine's property and then disappears soon afterward, she follows him without a second thought and finds herself magically transported to Gulm. After Fargus introduces her to his tough-as-nails friend Ida, the three of them set off on an adventure that will test everything Josephine has ever thought about the rules of the universe, leading to a revelation about the truth of the land of Gulm, and of Josephine's own life back home.

Book Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Iu9d2wyQqg

Author Bio:

Carolyn Cohagan began her writing career as a stand-up comic, performing in comedy clubs all over the world. After studying physical theater at the Ecole International de Theatre Jacques LeCoq in Paris she began to write and perform award-winning one-woman shows and theater plays throughout North America and Canada. Since moving to Los Angeles she has worked as a freelance journalist, blogger, and red carpet host for Film Independent, a non-profit organization that produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards. A passionate advocate for literacy among young readers, Carolyn mentors with the non-profit organizations Reading to Kids and Young Storytellers. The Lost Children is Carolyn’s first novel. She is currently working on a sequel entitled "Ida and the Unfinished City." She's also creating a performance piece based on "The Lost Children" that allows children to participate in the telling of the story by transforming them into physical elements of the scenes. In becoming the life on the story, children orchestrate and experience each moment of the story as their own and learn to develop confidence in their own unique ways of creative expression.

Author Website:

http://www.thelostchildrenbook.com


Praise for the book:

"With a quirky and charming style that should draw in readers from the outset, Cohagan's debut is a gently creepy, captivating fantasy about loss, determination, and hope."
-Publishers Weekly

"This nifty fantasy from a new author has everything: Great characters, creepy villains, laughs, frights and a great surprise twist at the end."
-Buffalo News

"A worthy first children's novel that pulses with life and promise."
-Austin Statesman

"Carolyn Cohagan's debut novel is filled with magic, wonder, and curiosity. It takes readers into a whole new world of fantasy and mystery."
-The Undercover Book Lover

“The main characters are well developed, particularly the spunky and plain-spoken Ida, the laconic but loyal Fargus, and Josephine, whose journey uncovers hidden strengths and helps her to understand her enigmatic father…
-Booklist 

-Courtesy of Aladdin Books/Carolyn Cohagan

I was curious to review The Lost Children by Carolyn Cohagan. The synopsis sounded very Harry Potter-esque! The Lost Children is Cohagan's debut novel. She grew up here in my home base, Austin, Texas and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Cohagan has a comedy background and studied theatre in Paris. She credits her parents for "...never making her get a real job...". Love it! She is also a fellow blogger.

The Lost Children is for fantasy readers of all ages. I have been reading a few pages to my daughter at bedtime. I love the beautifully bound book and interesting names in the book. i.e. Fargus, Gulm...

The Lost Children is a fantasy. The three main characters are Josephine, Fargus, and Ida. Worlds away, the children of Gulm have disappeared and only the terrifying leader of the land knows where they may be. Josephine follows Fargus and finds herself transported to the land of Gulm. Fargus introduces Josephine to his friend Ida and they set off on an adventure that will reveal the truth about the land of Gulm. 

I love this book and am excited for the sequel Ida and the Unfinished City. Cohagan is even creating a performance piece based on The Lost Children that will allow kids to participate in the story!

Thanks to Aladdin books for the book sample!

*I received a sample of The Lost Children to facilitate my candid and honest review. No other form of compensation was or will be given. All personal views are my own!

***

Win It!

 

I'm happy to announce that Aladdin Books is giving away a copy of The Lost Children to one 512 Kidz blog reader!

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Giveaway ends May 15, 2010 at 11:59 pm CST. Winner chosen using Random.org. Winner will be posted on this blog and will be emailed. Winner has 72 hours from Winner announcement to reply to claim prize. Open to USA.

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