Summer 2004 Review:

 Twelve-year-old Margaret, known as Midge, is being sent to her Uncle Brian's home on Mill Farm because her mother has to go on tour with the Philharmonic Orchestra for a while. When she steps off of the train from London onto the platform, she recognizes Uncle Brian immediately, even though the last time she saw him was when she was still too young to remember all that much. When the strange pair arrive at the farm, Midge automatically feels at home. She's not sure why, but she feels as if she belongs here. It's not until later that day when she's in her room that Uncle Brian gives her a brief explanation to why he gave her that room: she was born there. 
After her uncle left to take his dog, Phoebe, for a walk, Midge decided to take a tour around the farm, since it would only be her and Uncle Brian until his children George and Katie arrived from being with their mother. During her tour, she came across the old, empty pig barn. There she sat down outside to eat the lunch she had packed. She had no sooner sat down when she heard someone ask her for help, but in the strangest way. The voice seemed to be appearing inside of her head in brilliant colors. She thought the sound was coming from inside the barn, but she wasn't sure. So after much discrimination, she finally got the door open. When Midge had stepped across the threshold and her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw the most beautiful creature. It was a snow white, winged horse named Pegs who was trapped under some sort of gardening mechanism. After a few days time, she had rescued, cleaned, and bandaged the horse. She told him that her uncle was planning to sell the forest not far from the barn because he needed money. 
Before she knew it, she had the horse draped around her shoulders and was carrying it in the direction of the wood. Pegs told her to wait for him outside for he would be back. When Pegs did come back, he asked Midge to follow him into the wood. After the two had entered, Pegs lead the way to the meeting area. There the three Elders of the upper tribes (Ickri, Naiad, and Wisp) and the Queen would be assembled to hear what Midge had to say. The Tinklers and Trogglers who were underground dwellers did not have Elders because they kept to themselves inside their caves. All five tribes are known as the Various. Midge wondered if they would listen to her because she is a Gorji and Gorjis are not allowed to enter the forest. She was a guest, but she soon realized that she was not safe inside the forest after she was almost killed by an Ickri hunter and his team. She was told she would have to return, but there was no way she was going to reenter the forest without some kind of protection from the hunters. 
I think that this is one of the best novels I've ever read! Midge is an ordinary girl who gets caught up in something she wasn't meant to get stuck in, but she may not survive through the problems the Various are going through. I think that she had quite an adventure at her uncle's and would never leave if she could stay. I'd recommend this book for ages 12 and up because some people may not understand the language used in England, but anyone who wants to read it are welcome. This is a book I'll read over and over. 

~Kayla Aldan, 8th grade, Boardman Center Middle School