The Magic Carousel (The Brass Ring Series Book 1) by K.L. Small – Review by Jaimie Salmon-Colburn
The Magic Carousel by K.L. Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a cute book!! I got this for my 10 almost 11 year old, but as I read it I really enjoyed it myself! I was captivated by each horse/pony! What little/big girl doesn’t love horses?! Poor Russell’s’ life is been all downs lately in life’s’ crazy ups and downs. He’s not been doing well at school (about failing!), his over the top storytelling grandfather moved in and took his room (plus he has to care for him after school!), he was basically banished to the basement (yelling up and down stairs all the time. ugh!), and he can’t seem to do anything right (dad’s drinking isn’t helping!). Pre-teen life at it’s finest! He has big dreams of being a firefighter like his uncle, but he really isn’t courageous/brave enough. He can’t stand up to school bullies, his grandpa keeps making him go to the park for a baby ride (the carousel), and everyone seems to yell at him for everything. Life sucks. One day after fighting with his grandfather (about that stupid baby carousel), he rides the carousel with him and they’re magically sent for a ride!! Shot back into the past where they face a life and death experience, has Russell looking at his grandfather’s “crazy” stories closer. Has he really lived all these stories? Different lives almost? Each time he rides a horse, he is brought into that horses’ world and he gets to experience their life for a short song. Each ride has it’s own obstacles and adventures though, and when Russell looses the magic brass ring (his grandfather gave him) he could be stuck forever!! Can he make it back? Will he learn all the secrets to the ring and the horses? What about the lead horse? Will he find it?? There are so many questions you will find yourself asking throughout this book (I suggest you ask your kids what they think while you read together for more interaction!), but it is so wonderful! I really enjoyed “getting to know” each of the different horses on the carousel and so did my daughter. I can’t wait to read more from this author!!
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