What do you think?
Rate this book
Enter a Glossy Web #1
Enter a Glossy Web
Twelve-year-old George has no idea what to expect when she’s sent to stay with eccentric relatives following the disappearance of her brother. Soon after her arrival, she learns that Uncle Constantine has been kidnapped. George sets off to recover him and is joined by two orphaned boys along the way and Cavendish, a talking map. Together they visit magical worlds full of monsters, witches, and dragons as they attempt to find Constantine--the Timekeeper--a man of great significance. If he’s not rescued, events will cease to happen at their designated times, disrupting the unfolding of the universe. Can this ragtag crew save the future before being outwitted by evil captors?
A Christy Ottaviano Book
A Christy Ottaviano Book
400 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2016
11 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 23, 2021
I loved this so much! I can’t believe this was a debut novel! The whole story was so creative & fascinating! George is sent to stay w/her eccentric Aunt & Uncle after her younger brother went missing. Her parents are leaving her w/them while they go back to Instanbil where they were, & searching for him. Shortly after arriving her uncle leaves on a business trip. Almost immediately after that, he sends an urgent message home needing George’s help ASAP. The note tells her to find something/someone-it’s unclear to her. Right after getting the note, some strange scary men come in & kidnap her aunt. So she sets off on an adventure. She meets 2 orphan boys(Mikal & Caleb), & they agree to help her. They also gain another friend along the way to help them on their journey-Cavendish, a talking map! They travel to magical worlds full of monsters, nightmares, & dragons. Not only are they trying to find her uncle, & save her aunt..but the other parts of their mission are crucial to saving the whole world as we know it-no pressure! Lol George has a counting thing she does. Things that mean a lot to her she always counts them in a special way, to make sure they’re not lost. This made me so sad, b/c it was almost like a form of anxiety, & definitely OCD(1 that I can personally relate to). I loved the boys, & their back story. I loved the friendship dynamic b/n the 3 of them(4 counting Cavendish!), & how close they became. I absolutely adored her aunt & uncle, as well as all the amazing characters we meet along the way! I want to travel by floating door so badly now! Lol Such a ragtag group trying to save the world, & leave where they’ve been better than the way they found it. This is full of adventure, magic, hope, & learning to trust, & so much bravery. When I posted this a while back, the illustrator said she didn’t think there will be more. It was written like there would be though, & it even says in the back to stay tuned for book 2. I really hope there could be eventually somehow. But if not, McKenna Ruebush please answer my questions! Lol The ending was so amazing, but it left it open for the next book-to where all the unanswered questions would be answered. I have to know! Lol highly recommend this. Absolutely stunning cover, beautiful chapter head illustrations, & full page ones sprinkled throughout by Jaime Zollars.💜
April 20, 2016
Full disclosure, there is nothing unbiased about this review. I did my small part in helping get this published, and every time someone reads this, I will owe them a debt of gratitude. Years ago, I read one of the first drafts, and at the time, I knew this novel would be special. And for all the bias that I may have, I just want to proclaim that the finished product is every bit as wonderful as I thought it would be. Enter a Glossy Web isn’t just about adventure and impossible quests and crazy characters. It’s about hope and trust and innocence, and all the things that I wish we didn’t grow out of as we get older. This is a story about making the world right again, thanks to the efforts of some very remarkable children.
August 24, 2021
While it wasn't the most fantastic piece of children's urbanish fantasy, it is way better than the average children's book these days and is definitely underrated. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. It had an N.D. Wilson sorta vibe going with The Door Way.
I became very invested with the various characters and I really want to know Celeb's origin (although I wholeheartedly know that he belongs with Mikal and George).
I liked it so much that I bought a second copy on Amazon to give to my younger brother for his birthday. It's definitely worth it and I really wish that McKenna Ruebush would write a sequel. It was sad to find out that this book was written nearly five years ago, and she hasn't published a book since.
I would really like to write to this author.
I became very invested with the various characters and I really want to know Celeb's origin (although I wholeheartedly know that he belongs with Mikal and George).
I liked it so much that I bought a second copy on Amazon to give to my younger brother for his birthday. It's definitely worth it and I really wish that McKenna Ruebush would write a sequel. It was sad to find out that this book was written nearly five years ago, and she hasn't published a book since.
I would really like to write to this author.
May 3, 2016
I received an ARC of this from the author. I did not read the entire book from start to finish, but completed the first couple of chapters and skimmed the rest - I was really impressed. The writing is descriptive but not forced, the characters have agency and real depth and the illustration mock-ups were very cute, too. I think this would a great read for junior fiction readers.
May 7, 2020
I must say, I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would, but I recommend it and I loved it.
May 16, 2017
Ruebush, McKenna Enter a Glossy Web, 389 pages. Henry Holt and Company, 2016. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”) Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (kidnapping, murder).
12 year old George has to live with her Aunt Henrietta and Uncle Constantine after her brother has gone missing. There is something mysterious happening that involves Uncle Constantine leaving and someone having Aunt Henrietta kidnapped. George and two boys, Mikal and Caleb, have a mission to rescue Aunt Henrietta and help Uncle Constantine. George, Mikal, and Caleb go on an adventure through a fantasy world and they meet “The Hag” who is a witch, dragons, and other creatures. Can George find out what is happening and successfully help Uncle Constantine?
This book was very enjoyable because it contained vivid details and the reader could clearly imagine what was happening in the book. The book has relatable characters with good personalities, they could also be actual people. The author’s writing style made it easier to understand what was going to happen in the book without spoiling it.
MS- ADVISABLE Student Reviewer 8th Grade TL
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
12 year old George has to live with her Aunt Henrietta and Uncle Constantine after her brother has gone missing. There is something mysterious happening that involves Uncle Constantine leaving and someone having Aunt Henrietta kidnapped. George and two boys, Mikal and Caleb, have a mission to rescue Aunt Henrietta and help Uncle Constantine. George, Mikal, and Caleb go on an adventure through a fantasy world and they meet “The Hag” who is a witch, dragons, and other creatures. Can George find out what is happening and successfully help Uncle Constantine?
This book was very enjoyable because it contained vivid details and the reader could clearly imagine what was happening in the book. The book has relatable characters with good personalities, they could also be actual people. The author’s writing style made it easier to understand what was going to happen in the book without spoiling it.
MS- ADVISABLE Student Reviewer 8th Grade TL
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
November 22, 2017
When her brother disappears, George's parents leave her with relatives while they continue their search. Yet she is quickly embroiled in her own adventure which leads her to discover worlds of fantastic creatures and imaginative contraptions. She and her new friends must embark on a series of treasure hunts to save her aunt and prevent the end of the world. This story moved along and will be enjoyed by those who like fantasy. It felt a lot like the recently written books "A Most Magical Girl" and "The Lost Proprty Office" where it is set in the 1800's and skirts around magic but doesn't fully embrace it as a major emphasis in the story. The characters aren't as developed as I like but they reflect an innocence that 4th - 5th graders will most likely enjoy, and don't interfere with the unique elements of the story.
February 12, 2017
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a parent and adult, I had some issues with the beginning of the book, i.e. dropping a child off at a relatives three months after the disappearance of another child. It didn't make sense to me, but I'm sure kids would love the idea.
Other than that, it's an interesting and fun book. It might be a bit long for the age group is directed at, but an advanced reader would probably still enjoy it.
As a parent and adult, I had some issues with the beginning of the book, i.e. dropping a child off at a relatives three months after the disappearance of another child. It didn't make sense to me, but I'm sure kids would love the idea.
Other than that, it's an interesting and fun book. It might be a bit long for the age group is directed at, but an advanced reader would probably still enjoy it.
April 13, 2022
The Snaffleharp Company consist of George, Caleb and Mikal whose purpose is to set the world a right. The book reads a little like a puzzle…each chapter it’s own story but it all comes together in the end. The overall story kept me on my toes and full of questions about the meaning behind each event. I love stories like this!!! I hope there is more to this series
May 13, 2020
Beautiful read!
August 3, 2021
i absolutely love how unique this book is and how great of a character george and mikal are. i’ll definitely be waiting for the second book!
Read
August 20, 2021This is a fantasy that is beyond comprehension and beyond any semblance of reality, even the magical realm.
January 6, 2022
Very imaginative. Waiting for #2!!!
April 3, 2022
3.5 stars
March 7, 2025
Adventurous, magical, and loads of fun!
June 10, 2017
I found this little treasure at the library and I loved it. I loved the storyline and all the characters. All of the characters grew throughout the story and I got a little choked up at the end of the book. I hope there will be another book.
January 9, 2017
Review written for SLJ:
Grades 4-6
Twelve-year-old George (short for Georgina) feels right at home with her zany aunt and uncle, despite missing her lost brother. However, she’s soon swept up in the adventure to stop an apocalyptic meteor shower by re-forming the mythical Council of Seven from Uncle Constantine’s bedtime stories. Along the way she meets two orphaned boys who pledge to help her. Through muddy puddles and the zooming highway of flying doors (“the Door Way”) that connect ingeniously crafted little worlds, the friends are perfectly set up for a specific challenge at each stop. A bit too linear and simplistic in structure for more sophisticated readers, the protagonists grow their bravery and parade hearty lessons such as the value of leaving a place better than you found it. The character of a cantankerous magical tablet that serves as a map and doomsday clock shines out from among amusing others, lending a refreshingly modern feel to the tale. Although featuring a female protagonist as the leader of the self-named Snaffleharp Company, Enter a Glossy Web includes more than enough male characters to appeal equally to both genders. There is a possible racial concern with a comment about children playing cowboys and Indians in a heaven-like world encountered along the way. Less blatantly, the book also presents yet another all white fantasy world.
VERDICT Just the beginning of an amiable new fantasy trilogy for younger readers who can handle moderately large page counts.
Grades 4-6
Twelve-year-old George (short for Georgina) feels right at home with her zany aunt and uncle, despite missing her lost brother. However, she’s soon swept up in the adventure to stop an apocalyptic meteor shower by re-forming the mythical Council of Seven from Uncle Constantine’s bedtime stories. Along the way she meets two orphaned boys who pledge to help her. Through muddy puddles and the zooming highway of flying doors (“the Door Way”) that connect ingeniously crafted little worlds, the friends are perfectly set up for a specific challenge at each stop. A bit too linear and simplistic in structure for more sophisticated readers, the protagonists grow their bravery and parade hearty lessons such as the value of leaving a place better than you found it. The character of a cantankerous magical tablet that serves as a map and doomsday clock shines out from among amusing others, lending a refreshingly modern feel to the tale. Although featuring a female protagonist as the leader of the self-named Snaffleharp Company, Enter a Glossy Web includes more than enough male characters to appeal equally to both genders. There is a possible racial concern with a comment about children playing cowboys and Indians in a heaven-like world encountered along the way. Less blatantly, the book also presents yet another all white fantasy world.
VERDICT Just the beginning of an amiable new fantasy trilogy for younger readers who can handle moderately large page counts.
November 6, 2016
68%. This was rather long for a children's book, which is neither a good thing or a bad thing, just different. The main reason for this was because the universe was so large and dense that it took a very long time to explain the world in general. However, because the universe was so massive, there are many opportunities for the rest of the series to be even better than the first. My favorite part of the book by far was the characters. George was strong but not overbearingly so, Caleb was sweet and mysterious at the same time, and Milak was tiny but sarcastic and witty. These conflicting personalities and backstories was what made me intrigued. I also enjoyed the different elements of mythology or magic throughout the story and those backstories also intrigued me.
What did annoy me throughout the book, however, was the slight instalove between Caleb and George, which I saw coming as soon as Caleb said he was thirteen. While it is to be expected within a young adult/older children's book, it is unrealistic in real life. I did like that there was no actual romantic actions between the two, but some dialogue had me rolling my eyes.
Overall, I would recommend this book to children looking to merge into young adult, as well as young adult readers looking for a magical series that is a relatively easy read.
What did annoy me throughout the book, however, was the slight instalove between Caleb and George, which I saw coming as soon as Caleb said he was thirteen. While it is to be expected within a young adult/older children's book, it is unrealistic in real life. I did like that there was no actual romantic actions between the two, but some dialogue had me rolling my eyes.
Overall, I would recommend this book to children looking to merge into young adult, as well as young adult readers looking for a magical series that is a relatively easy read.
November 30, 2016
This is a special book. The author, McKenna, is around my age, and lives not far from me in humble 'ol Idaho. My mom (who is the local newspaper reporter) did an interview with her, and then she was given a copy of the book. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and it's very creative, with beautiful illustrations from Jaime Zollars.
A girl named George saves the worlds with two boys (Caleb and Mikal) as her companions. Her uncle and aunt are ancien Council Members; the Timekeeper and the Innocent. She meets many colorful characters in her adventures and there are multiple words.
I liked the idea of the Door Way, and endless tunnel where you ride floating doors called "Touries" to get to the new worlds, which are behind sustained doors, or "Moors." I also enjoyed the creatures that seemed scary at first, but were actually kind and sensitive. Yorik the Skeleton, Thazel the "Monster" (Oogul) and Hector the Dragon Who Lost His Fire. One of my very favorites was the Dusklord/Boris Night. He seemed grouchy and sarcastic at first, a bit like Snape, (and he had a long, black braid of hair, which I can never resist on a man) but was sincere and helpful in the end.
I'm looking forward to more of Ms. Ruebush's work, which will be made into three books called "The Gossamer Trilogy".
A girl named George saves the worlds with two boys (Caleb and Mikal) as her companions. Her uncle and aunt are ancien Council Members; the Timekeeper and the Innocent. She meets many colorful characters in her adventures and there are multiple words.
I liked the idea of the Door Way, and endless tunnel where you ride floating doors called "Touries" to get to the new worlds, which are behind sustained doors, or "Moors." I also enjoyed the creatures that seemed scary at first, but were actually kind and sensitive. Yorik the Skeleton, Thazel the "Monster" (Oogul) and Hector the Dragon Who Lost His Fire. One of my very favorites was the Dusklord/Boris Night. He seemed grouchy and sarcastic at first, a bit like Snape, (and he had a long, black braid of hair, which I can never resist on a man) but was sincere and helpful in the end.
I'm looking forward to more of Ms. Ruebush's work, which will be made into three books called "The Gossamer Trilogy".
June 23, 2016
I liked it. I've seen multiple drafts and just finished reading my ARC.
The characters are enjoyable (if not ones I personally identify with) and I find their quest to save the world interesting and entertaining. The journey of the Snaffleharp Company through multiple worlds tantalized at times and once past an inflection point, I found myself tearing through pages to the end. There are some doldrums through the center where I felt like the story lags momentarily but its really just gathering momentum for the final surge.
What I most enjoy, however, is McKenna's use of language. Her willingness to to play with words delights me.
If I had to compare this story with books from my younger days I'd probably call it a mash up of Boxcar Children and Narnia.
The characters are enjoyable (if not ones I personally identify with) and I find their quest to save the world interesting and entertaining. The journey of the Snaffleharp Company through multiple worlds tantalized at times and once past an inflection point, I found myself tearing through pages to the end. There are some doldrums through the center where I felt like the story lags momentarily but its really just gathering momentum for the final surge.
What I most enjoy, however, is McKenna's use of language. Her willingness to to play with words delights me.
If I had to compare this story with books from my younger days I'd probably call it a mash up of Boxcar Children and Narnia.
October 31, 2016
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. It's a wonderful adventure through some fantastic worlds, with lessons for children and adults alike. A perfect example is the way the characters try to leave a place better than they found it. An invaluable lesson that my co-workers don't seem to have ever learnt.
The characters are interesting and I found a piece of myself in each of them.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the trilogy, and getting some closure on the unresolved story lines that appear to be deliberately woven into the background.
A wonderful debut, I can't wait for the next one!
The characters are interesting and I found a piece of myself in each of them.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the trilogy, and getting some closure on the unresolved story lines that appear to be deliberately woven into the background.
A wonderful debut, I can't wait for the next one!
December 23, 2016
This has pretty much everything you can ask for in a children's fantasy book - strong and quirky characters up against seemingly insurmountable odds, worlds filled with strange and intriguing creatures and concepts, a dastardly villain, and twists and turns that keep you on your feet the whole story. I really appreciated that Ruebush presented a complex plot without overdoing it. She sticks to her main characters and storyline without throwing in too many side plots and unnecessary characters that can cause confusion and frustration for readers. Assuming there is more to the story of George, Mikal, Caleb, I'll be quick to pick up the sequel.
November 15, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. My opinion is just that...mine, and completely unbiased.
I cannot wait to read this with my grandchildren when they are a bit older. I loved everything about this charming book. It's non-stop action, mysterious worlds, wonderful creatures, friendship and family bonds had me smiling, cheering, and wanting more. The messages within are important too; trust, confidence, perseverance, belief, and sticking together have great meaning, and the rewards can be awesome! There is a book 2 in the works, and I will definitely be adding it to my kids shelf.
I cannot wait to read this with my grandchildren when they are a bit older. I loved everything about this charming book. It's non-stop action, mysterious worlds, wonderful creatures, friendship and family bonds had me smiling, cheering, and wanting more. The messages within are important too; trust, confidence, perseverance, belief, and sticking together have great meaning, and the rewards can be awesome! There is a book 2 in the works, and I will definitely be adding it to my kids shelf.
November 19, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. My opinion is just that...mine, and completely unbiased.
I cannot wait to read this with my grandchildren when they are a bit older. I loved everything about this charming book. It's non-stop action, mysterious worlds, wonderful creatures, friendship and family bonds had me smiling, cheering, and wanting more. The messages within are important too; trust, confidence, perseverance, belief, and sticking together have great meaning, and the rewards can be awesome! There is a book 2 in the works, and I will definitely be adding it to my kids shelf.
I cannot wait to read this with my grandchildren when they are a bit older. I loved everything about this charming book. It's non-stop action, mysterious worlds, wonderful creatures, friendship and family bonds had me smiling, cheering, and wanting more. The messages within are important too; trust, confidence, perseverance, belief, and sticking together have great meaning, and the rewards can be awesome! There is a book 2 in the works, and I will definitely be adding it to my kids shelf.
December 22, 2016
This is a very satisfying first novel. There are several likable characters, a world-saving adventure of the William Joyce variety and several inventive qualities including door travel. I think kids will really like this.
January 8, 2017
Wonderful!! Funny, creative, and unique!! I picked this book up due to the cover (I know, I know) which reminded me of "A Wrinkle In Time" in some ways. This book does have some similar aspects, but it is also its own book. Definitely worth the read. I look forward to the next one!
August 1, 2016
Great fantasy adventure for grades 4-7 where Georgina and her orphan friends must travel through various worlds to save her Uncle Constantine & Aunt Henrietta (and all the worlds) by 11:11 pm.
Read
May 25, 2016I wanted to like this, but unfortunately I'm still confused
March 24, 2017
This book was incredible. It only took me a day to read because I couldn't put it down! Immediately, I fell in love with the characters. The book created strong visual imagery throughout and had an exciting plot that kept me hooked the entire time. I'm in ninth grade so I shared this book with all my friends. I only received positive feedback. I hope there is going to be a sequel!!!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews