Review: Impossible Creatures

Author: Katherine Rundell

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade

Rating: 5 / 5

Features:

• A high-stakes adventure split between two worlds

• Messages about protecting the environment and valuing all living things

• Beautiful illustrations and a compendium of magical creatures that the characters come across in their journey

For centuries, The Archipelago has been a refuge for the magical creatures of myth whose real existence humankind has all but forgotten. But suddenly, they are all starting to die or disappear. Mal has noticed the change, but nobody really seems to listen to her concerns. When a murderer is sent to kill Mal, her desperate escape accidentally brings her and her baby griffin to the real world and into the path of Christopher. Hailing from a family tasked with protecting the gateway between their worlds, Christopher joins Mal on her quest to discover what is happening to the magical creatures and bring an end to the spreading darkness before it is too late.

Impossible Creatures is a fun, beautifully written magical adventure that takes a very different approach to valuing nature and seeking to protect all living things. Though it feels like your standard magical quest at the start, there is a lot of heart and some unexpected elements that really make this piece stand out. Mal and Christopher are a loveable duo with parallels that allow them to explore deeper themes in a way that feels authentic but appropriate for their age (and the age of the readers). Though a few of the descriptions were a bit odd for me, Rundell brings this world and its many creatures to life beautifully. There are even some fantastic illustrations that bring the story to life even more. Overall, I think this is a phenomenal middle grade read for anyone into fantasy, mythological creatures, or who are animal/nature lovers in general.

Harmonious duo

Aside from the beautiful illustrations, the thing I love most about this book is the chemistry between the characters Mal and Christopher. Though they are from different ‘worlds’ and none of their experiences are exactly the same, there are a lot of subtle parallels that make these characters naturally sync as a duo. Despite all of their differences, there is a core understanding  between these characters brought by similar experiences and values. Though they don’t always agree, any tension between them didn’t feel like it was brought on by a misunderstanding or inability to empathize which is refreshing in a book like this. In the end, I found myself wanting to explore the deeper themes with these two and see what fresh perspectives their dynamic would allow me to explore.

Let’s talk audience

There tends to be a lot of overlap in the labeling of Young Adult and Middle Grade books and this one is no exception. However, in all aspects, this book is a Middle Grade book. That is not to say there aren’t some YA and adult readers that would love it. However, I would not hesitate to hand this book to younger readers. There are some darker scenes, but I would not describe any of them as graphic or presented in a way that would cause concern. The language used is accessible and everything is explained in a way that is easy to understand even if some of the ideas being explored are complex. While all of this is absolutely appropriate for this book’s target audience, it is important for me to point out that this book edges closer to the elementary side of the scale and might feel ‘too young’ for readers more accustomed to YA and adult books. 

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Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!