Review: The Silver Arrow

The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lev Grossman's first foray into children's literature, The Silver Arrow, has all the warmth and joy of classic children's books like those of L'Engle and Lewis, along with a modern take on awareness about climate and our responsibility to our planet. Siblings Kate and Tom are leading boring lives with their boring (read: consumed with work) parents. Kate finally decides that she needs something to look forward to for her eleventh birthday and boldly asks her Uncle Herbert to give her a gift. When he shows up with a steam engine named The Silver Arrow Kate and Tom are shocked but also intrigued. (Their parents are outraged.) But Kate and Tom are even more surprised when the engine comes alive and starts instructing them how to operate the engine. The next thing they know they have a fifteen car train with a collection of exotic talking animals from all over the world. How!? Why!? It's the adventure of a lifetime (well, honestly, maybe more accurately the first adventure) and Kate and Tom have their work cut out for them.

This is just a delightful children's book with a positive message about our responsibility as humans to maintain this beautiful planet.

The audiobook, voiced by the incomparable Simon Vance, is truly fabulous. A great listen to enjoy with your child.


I received a digital audiobook edition of this novel from Hachette Audio in exchange for an honest review.

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The Silver Arrow releases on September 1st, 2020 but you can already preorder it from your favorite bookseller.

Want to buy the audiobook copy of The Silver Arrow and have a portion of the sale benefit your local independent bookstore? Click HERE.

Want your eBook purchase of The Silver Arrow to benefit independent bookstores? Click HERE.

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