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The Other Side #3
The Other Side of the Wall
In this new adventure with Tess and Max, internationally bestselling author Amy Ephron takes readers to London at Christmastime, where a new fantastical journey awaits.
It's Christmas break and Tess and Max are in London, staying at the posh Sanborn House with their Aunt Evie. As they wait for their parents to arrive, there is an unusual snowstorm that makes the city seem as if it's caught in a snow globe. Perfect weather for an adventure in Hyde Park. But when Max, Tess, and Aunt Evie leave to search for a cab, they find a horse and carriage and driver curiously waiting for them at the curb. And that's just the beginning...
Soon Tess is charmed by a mysterious boy named Colin who lives at the hotel all year round--on the 8th floor. But Max is sure the elevator only had 7 floors the day before. And how come everyone at the hotel seems to ignore Colin? Things seem to get stranger and stranger. There's a 1920s costume party in Colin's parents' apartment. A marble that seems to be more than it appears. And a shadow that passes mysteriously by Tess and Max's hotel window.
Tess wants to figure out what's going on, but finds only more Is it just a coincidence that Colin's last name is Sanborn, the same as the hotel? Why does the cat's-eye marble look eerily similar to the crystal at the top of their hotel room key? And, most importantly, what happened in that hotel one Christmas long, long ago?
In this mysterious story sprinkled with holiday enchantment, Amy Ephron transports readers into the magic of London at wintertime, where it's just possible that what seems imaginary is real, and your wishes might come true.
Praise for The Other Side of the Wall :
"Tess especially follows in that lineage of strong, intelligent female characters – a sort of Lucy Pevensie/Hermione Granger hybrid who is a leader, who believes in magic." — Teen Vogue
"Another time-bending mystery . . . nicely paced, starting slow and accelerating to breakneck speed by the end. This story is both charming and vaguely creepy." — School Library Journal
“Ephron renders this magical world with such assertive beauty that readers of all ages, who are fortunate enough to believe in the power of magic, will enjoy immersing themselves in the roller-coaster fun of these stories, and come to trust, even if for a short time, that in this ‘alternate universe’ it is possible for us to come together and ‘touch the sky.’” — Jewish Journal
"A very entertaining middle-grade read [that] will captivate and entice you to read more....This is a good old classic family adventure that you will want to both read and own." —Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books
It's Christmas break and Tess and Max are in London, staying at the posh Sanborn House with their Aunt Evie. As they wait for their parents to arrive, there is an unusual snowstorm that makes the city seem as if it's caught in a snow globe. Perfect weather for an adventure in Hyde Park. But when Max, Tess, and Aunt Evie leave to search for a cab, they find a horse and carriage and driver curiously waiting for them at the curb. And that's just the beginning...
Soon Tess is charmed by a mysterious boy named Colin who lives at the hotel all year round--on the 8th floor. But Max is sure the elevator only had 7 floors the day before. And how come everyone at the hotel seems to ignore Colin? Things seem to get stranger and stranger. There's a 1920s costume party in Colin's parents' apartment. A marble that seems to be more than it appears. And a shadow that passes mysteriously by Tess and Max's hotel window.
Tess wants to figure out what's going on, but finds only more Is it just a coincidence that Colin's last name is Sanborn, the same as the hotel? Why does the cat's-eye marble look eerily similar to the crystal at the top of their hotel room key? And, most importantly, what happened in that hotel one Christmas long, long ago?
In this mysterious story sprinkled with holiday enchantment, Amy Ephron transports readers into the magic of London at wintertime, where it's just possible that what seems imaginary is real, and your wishes might come true.
Praise for The Other Side of the Wall :
"Tess especially follows in that lineage of strong, intelligent female characters – a sort of Lucy Pevensie/Hermione Granger hybrid who is a leader, who believes in magic." — Teen Vogue
"Another time-bending mystery . . . nicely paced, starting slow and accelerating to breakneck speed by the end. This story is both charming and vaguely creepy." — School Library Journal
“Ephron renders this magical world with such assertive beauty that readers of all ages, who are fortunate enough to believe in the power of magic, will enjoy immersing themselves in the roller-coaster fun of these stories, and come to trust, even if for a short time, that in this ‘alternate universe’ it is possible for us to come together and ‘touch the sky.’” — Jewish Journal
"A very entertaining middle-grade read [that] will captivate and entice you to read more....This is a good old classic family adventure that you will want to both read and own." —Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
2 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 9, 2019
I totally didn’t realize that this was the third book in the series*, so when I started I was a little bit confused. But it quickly became clear that while it would help to understand references, you didn’t have to read previous installments to read this one. Which was great for me!
*this actually happens quite a lot with me, you’d think i’d have learned by now. once i started with the TWELFTH book in a series. just imagine.
The atmosphere was amazing! For a middle-grade, I was surprised to find that at times it had a bit of a creepier vibe. At other times, it felt very festive since it’s set near Christmas! Even weirder this combination actually worked. It made for a very satisfying encapsulation of emotions.
Tess and Max are excellent leading characters. They act their age, are enamored by both the complex and the simple, and make decisions that, while the reader might not always agree with it, stays true the personalities that the author has set forth.
also! can we talk about the fantastical elements for a hot second???
This had so many elements that I was not expecting in the slightest. Like um, yes, hello, give me a seer that shapeshifts into a cat! A dash of portal fantasy! And some good old-fashioned British food*.
*that happens to not be magical at all but hey, what kind of review would this be if i didn’t mention the food? not a good one, that’s for sure.
I have a few minor quibbles, mainly that because this book is so short, it feels like the plot is too rushed or a little underdeveloped at times. But! If a younger reader were reading this, I think that it would be the perfect pace and the amount of information well-balanced. It really does depend on who you are, and what your standards are.
On occasion, I felt that the word repetition was a little too blatant for my tastes. Again, this could simply be a problem of my own, one that the intended audience wouldn’t have an issue with.
I'd recommend this for fans of Narnia for sure! The entire book had this feeling of nostalgia. I don’t know if it was the Christmas setting, or the characters themselves but I think that fans of Narnia will be able to appreciate this story quite well! 4/5 Cat's Eye Marbles!
*this actually happens quite a lot with me, you’d think i’d have learned by now. once i started with the TWELFTH book in a series. just imagine.
The atmosphere was amazing! For a middle-grade, I was surprised to find that at times it had a bit of a creepier vibe. At other times, it felt very festive since it’s set near Christmas! Even weirder this combination actually worked. It made for a very satisfying encapsulation of emotions.
Tess and Max are excellent leading characters. They act their age, are enamored by both the complex and the simple, and make decisions that, while the reader might not always agree with it, stays true the personalities that the author has set forth.
also! can we talk about the fantastical elements for a hot second???
This had so many elements that I was not expecting in the slightest. Like um, yes, hello, give me a seer that shapeshifts into a cat! A dash of portal fantasy! And some good old-fashioned British food*.
*that happens to not be magical at all but hey, what kind of review would this be if i didn’t mention the food? not a good one, that’s for sure.
I have a few minor quibbles, mainly that because this book is so short, it feels like the plot is too rushed or a little underdeveloped at times. But! If a younger reader were reading this, I think that it would be the perfect pace and the amount of information well-balanced. It really does depend on who you are, and what your standards are.
On occasion, I felt that the word repetition was a little too blatant for my tastes. Again, this could simply be a problem of my own, one that the intended audience wouldn’t have an issue with.
I'd recommend this for fans of Narnia for sure! The entire book had this feeling of nostalgia. I don’t know if it was the Christmas setting, or the characters themselves but I think that fans of Narnia will be able to appreciate this story quite well! 4/5 Cat's Eye Marbles!
October 25, 2019
I’m not sure what made me select this digital ARC from Edelweiss as I only liked Castle in the Mist (The Other Side #1) a little bit and did not much care for book #2, Carnival Magic. But I did and this one was far better than either of its predecessors and can stand alone as the plot does not build on the earlier works, only continues with the lives of siblings Tess and Max. Tess’s ability to travel through time and space, meet unusual people, and right something wrong continues, but this time, the odd young Colin from the past who takes over Max’s body makes sense and there aren’t any weird plot twists and quirky events that caused me some confusion in the second installment of this series. I rather enjoyed trying to figure out if Colin was up to no good or needed help and was anxious to see how the shape-shifting psychic Adele was going to factor into the story’s conclusion. Tess’s determination to save her brother and, ultimately, to also save Colin rang true and I value the obvious loyalty and love that Tess exhibits throughout this relatively short work of fantasy for readers in grades 4-6. Ephron keeps the story free of profanity, sexual content and violence giving the target age group a magic-filled story that few could challenge for content.
November 30, 2019
MY THOUGHTS;
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is the third book to the kids' series written by Amy Ephron. This one takes place in London around the holidays.
I found this series a bit different from others in that although a series, each book was unique in its own style, pacing and stand-outs. I love that Tess is still strong traveling through time. I did not like how slow the pace moved. It was painfully slow at times. So, with all three books of the series, I'll say that "Castle in the Mist" is still my favorite. I enjoyed that one immensely, and the second and third not-so-much.
There was a lot of repetitive phrasings and a bit of confusion about possession. The strengths of this book includes the world building and relatable episodes with parents. I love Ephron's voice in describing various settings. Character development was okay. I just didn't get so involved with what was going on between the pages of this book and that was sad for me as I hoped to enjoy all.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is the third book to the kids' series written by Amy Ephron. This one takes place in London around the holidays.
I found this series a bit different from others in that although a series, each book was unique in its own style, pacing and stand-outs. I love that Tess is still strong traveling through time. I did not like how slow the pace moved. It was painfully slow at times. So, with all three books of the series, I'll say that "Castle in the Mist" is still my favorite. I enjoyed that one immensely, and the second and third not-so-much.
There was a lot of repetitive phrasings and a bit of confusion about possession. The strengths of this book includes the world building and relatable episodes with parents. I love Ephron's voice in describing various settings. Character development was okay. I just didn't get so involved with what was going on between the pages of this book and that was sad for me as I hoped to enjoy all.
December 13, 2023
Parts of this book were quite interesting and imaginative. I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if I’d read at least the previous book as the author referenced it several times. There were several very interesting characters, but they were not really developed in any meaningful way. I thought this was going to be a Christmas book, but it really had little to do with the holiday. Lots of interesting things happened, but none of them were really explained.
May 29, 2021
I was intrigued by this book but didn’t realize it was the third in a series. I may have enjoyed it more if I’d read the first two books for more back story on the main characters. I like time travel stories and there was plenty of adventure but I was glad it was only 176 pages. What I didn’t like was how the story ended rather abruptly with little explanation. Although I understood what happened, I feel like a middle grade novel needs to be more explicit in resolving the plot for young readers.
November 9, 2019
Leisurely and Literate
This is the third book in Amy Ephron's "Other Side" series. Each book features siblings Tess and Max. While the books have similar strengths and weaknesses, ("weakness" being a matter of taste and point of view), the books are distinctive and different in plot, pacing, and emphasis. The first book, "Carnival Magic", had a dreamy/misty Brigadoon sort of feel. The second book, "Castle in the Mist", was more of a take on Ray Bradbury's "Something Wicked..." meets Susan Cooper's "Dark is Rising". Both books were set in a magically fantastic English countryside, with atmospheric castles and carnivals. This new book, though, is set in London at Christmastime, is explicitly urban, and has more of a possession/ghost story feel.
So while the books are all in a series, each addresses and plays variations on different kid lit fantasy conventions. Consequently, in one we get a mysterious castle, in another a mysterious carnival, and here a mysterious hotel with an out-of-time eighth floor, and residents who appear and disappear. We again have a spectral child in trouble who pleads, angles, and schemes for assistance. We also get time and era, (1926), switching, (although without all the sci-fi paradox ballyhoo), and glimpses of an elegant, gauzy, gossamer sort of alternate reality. To be sure there is also suspense, and action, and a bit of derring-do, but it's carefully thought out and purposeful action. The ending builds to a gripping and satisfying conclusion.
Running through all of this we have our two heroes - stalwart, companionable, bright, siblings Tess and Max. Sometimes cranky and petty, often cheerful and feisty, and always loyal and supportive, these two characters have surprising depth and carry off all the books with classic aplomb. It's very old school and very much in the Blyton, Nesbitt, Cooper, Nimmo tradition. For this alone I'm thankful.
All of that said, the books move at a leisurely pace and sometimes they start with a bit more padding than a young reader might find strictly necessary. This book doesn't really get into gear until almost at the half-way point, when the possession/time switching plotline comes into focus. Before that we get a lot of teas and carriage rides, with only occasional hints that something odd is lurking just beyond the next chapter. Some of this is scene and mood setting and some of it really seemed unnecessary, (the skateboard race?), but it may be that the little details, extended scenes, and bits of business are what gives the book its literate flavor. Sometimes stories like these just need a some room to breathe. That said, Ms. Ephron skips tedious scenes in which kids try unsuccessfully to convince incredulous adults that something odd is afoot. She also avoids info dumps and monologuing in favor of things like shape-shifting cats that help out and subtle clues that point the heroes in the right direction. These books, after all, display great respect for any young reader's ability to fill in gaps on their own.
So, in style, in substance, in its characters and its setting, and in its lovely command of how you tell a fantasy adventure story, this book was, to me, a great success. It may be my favorite. In any event, I'm pretty sure I'd like any kid who liked this book.
(Please note that I had a chance to read a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that, and my general high regard for Ms. Ephron's work, I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is the third book in Amy Ephron's "Other Side" series. Each book features siblings Tess and Max. While the books have similar strengths and weaknesses, ("weakness" being a matter of taste and point of view), the books are distinctive and different in plot, pacing, and emphasis. The first book, "Carnival Magic", had a dreamy/misty Brigadoon sort of feel. The second book, "Castle in the Mist", was more of a take on Ray Bradbury's "Something Wicked..." meets Susan Cooper's "Dark is Rising". Both books were set in a magically fantastic English countryside, with atmospheric castles and carnivals. This new book, though, is set in London at Christmastime, is explicitly urban, and has more of a possession/ghost story feel.
So while the books are all in a series, each addresses and plays variations on different kid lit fantasy conventions. Consequently, in one we get a mysterious castle, in another a mysterious carnival, and here a mysterious hotel with an out-of-time eighth floor, and residents who appear and disappear. We again have a spectral child in trouble who pleads, angles, and schemes for assistance. We also get time and era, (1926), switching, (although without all the sci-fi paradox ballyhoo), and glimpses of an elegant, gauzy, gossamer sort of alternate reality. To be sure there is also suspense, and action, and a bit of derring-do, but it's carefully thought out and purposeful action. The ending builds to a gripping and satisfying conclusion.
Running through all of this we have our two heroes - stalwart, companionable, bright, siblings Tess and Max. Sometimes cranky and petty, often cheerful and feisty, and always loyal and supportive, these two characters have surprising depth and carry off all the books with classic aplomb. It's very old school and very much in the Blyton, Nesbitt, Cooper, Nimmo tradition. For this alone I'm thankful.
All of that said, the books move at a leisurely pace and sometimes they start with a bit more padding than a young reader might find strictly necessary. This book doesn't really get into gear until almost at the half-way point, when the possession/time switching plotline comes into focus. Before that we get a lot of teas and carriage rides, with only occasional hints that something odd is lurking just beyond the next chapter. Some of this is scene and mood setting and some of it really seemed unnecessary, (the skateboard race?), but it may be that the little details, extended scenes, and bits of business are what gives the book its literate flavor. Sometimes stories like these just need a some room to breathe. That said, Ms. Ephron skips tedious scenes in which kids try unsuccessfully to convince incredulous adults that something odd is afoot. She also avoids info dumps and monologuing in favor of things like shape-shifting cats that help out and subtle clues that point the heroes in the right direction. These books, after all, display great respect for any young reader's ability to fill in gaps on their own.
So, in style, in substance, in its characters and its setting, and in its lovely command of how you tell a fantasy adventure story, this book was, to me, a great success. It may be my favorite. In any event, I'm pretty sure I'd like any kid who liked this book.
(Please note that I had a chance to read a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that, and my general high regard for Ms. Ephron's work, I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
September 19, 2019
This review is for an ARC of this book that I picked up at YALC. I didn't know when I got it that this was the third in the series, but that became pretty obvious quite quickly when I started reading. 'The Other Side of the Wall' definitely reads like a follow up to the first two books as the main characters already seem to be quite established, but the plot was self contained so I didn't have any issues following the story.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book, as it had a quite surreal and magical feeling. The story had some great mystery elements and the setting of London in the winter definitely added to the magic and excitement. It's definitely a story I would have enjoyed as a child! I did enjoy the plot to begin with however it felt a bit confused and rushed at the end and there were too many magic elements added all at once. I would have liked the ending to have been a bit better explained, however the overall story had a nice conclusion. The writing was also solid. I wouldn't go out of my way personally to read the other books in the series, but I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend the series to children based on this installment.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book, as it had a quite surreal and magical feeling. The story had some great mystery elements and the setting of London in the winter definitely added to the magic and excitement. It's definitely a story I would have enjoyed as a child! I did enjoy the plot to begin with however it felt a bit confused and rushed at the end and there were too many magic elements added all at once. I would have liked the ending to have been a bit better explained, however the overall story had a nice conclusion. The writing was also solid. I wouldn't go out of my way personally to read the other books in the series, but I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend the series to children based on this installment.
May 22, 2022
This is the last book in the series and it was filled with magic, mystery, and a new entertaining plot! My favorite book in this series was definitely the first one, The Castle in the Mist. It was full of magic and I could easily visualize everything going on. The second book, Carnival Magic, was also very good but took me longer to finish because of some slow parts. It was still magical and a perfect book for readers who like mysterious carnivals! This last book also had magical elements to it but displayed scary scenery as well. Personally, I liked the mix of the two and I found that it made the story even more exciting! Another thing that I liked was that Tess often thought of the words her dad would tell her, during scary situations in the book. I thought it was sweet that her dad’s words made her feel braver. Overall, I would 100% recommend this series to anyone who wants a quick read with magic, mystery, and enchantment!
November 3, 2019
* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I found this book to be such a fun read. I really need to go back and read the previous books in this series. I would say this book could be read as a standalone but you could also read them in order. I really loved the holiday setting of this book and think it make a quick read during christmas. I thought the plot at points was a bit choppy and not as clear but I overall flew through this book. I really did like main characters of this read and def want to read their other adventures soon. I really liked how this book dealt with the present and the past and also loved the dymanics between the siblings.
I found this book to be such a fun read. I really need to go back and read the previous books in this series. I would say this book could be read as a standalone but you could also read them in order. I really loved the holiday setting of this book and think it make a quick read during christmas. I thought the plot at points was a bit choppy and not as clear but I overall flew through this book. I really did like main characters of this read and def want to read their other adventures soon. I really liked how this book dealt with the present and the past and also loved the dymanics between the siblings.
December 5, 2021
Going into this book I did not realize that it was part of a series. Really, it's just a companion book and there isn't much in it that even mentions the other two but there are a couple of instances. I enjoyed this book a lot until the ending which felt rushed. Overall, this was a good book that I enjoyed. I am thinking about picking up the other two to check them out.
December 25, 2023
I would rate this lower, personally, because the writing was awkward and the story dragged. But James has awarded it four stars, because he “enjoyed it, but some parts were a little unsettling.”
We picked this to read as our Christmas story because it was set during the holiday, but sadly there was very little to do with Christmas in the book.
We picked this to read as our Christmas story because it was set during the holiday, but sadly there was very little to do with Christmas in the book.
June 20, 2021
Not as good as the other 2 in the series, but Tess and Max are great characters. Wish this adventure was a little more because it ended so abruptly. Felt like they needed a lot more time with Colin and trying to figure out what happened to him. But a fun easy read.
December 9, 2022
Poorly written- run on sentences are very common, and didn't anyone ever tell this author about "show don't tell"? About 50 pages in my 10 year old and I gave up- it was so hard to follow the story, and in 50 pages very little had happened.
December 11, 2022
I wasn't to impressed with this book, I've read much better stories for this age group. Tess and Max make it to London with their aunt for a Christmas holiday while waiting to meet up with their parents. Tess must save her brother from Colin who is from 1926, what happened to him?
October 25, 2019
Book review to follow on www.mrripleysenchantedbooks.com
February 13, 2020
Not as good as the first 2, but still good.
September 27, 2020
A fabulous page turner for the 5-7 graders.
December 9, 2024
A not-as-satisfactory follow-up to the Tess and Max stories.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews