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The Silver Arrow #1
The Silver Arrow
"I loved every page. This is middle grade fiction at its best."-- Ann Patchett
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Magicians comes a must-read, wholly original middle-grade debut perfect for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Roald Dahl.
Dear Uncle Herbert,
You've never met me, but I'm your niece Kate, and since it is my birthday tomorrow and you are super-rich could you please send me a present?
Kate and her younger brother Tom lead dull, uninteresting lives. And if their dull, uninteresting parents are anything to go by, they don't have much to look forward to. Why can't Kate have thrilling adventures and save the world the way people do in books? Even her 11th birthday is shaping up to be mundane -- that is, until her mysterious and highly irresponsible Uncle Herbert, whom she's never even met before, surprises her with the most unexpected, exhilarating, inappropriate birthday present of all a colossal steam locomotive called the Silver Arrow.
Kate and Tom's parents want to send it right back where it came from. But Kate and Tom have other ideas -- and so does the Silver Arrow -- and soon they're off to distant lands along magical rail lines in the company of an assortment of exotic animals who, it turns out, can talk. With only curiosity, excitement, their own resourcefulness and the thrill of the unknown to guide them, Kate and Tom are on the adventure of a lifetime . . . and who knows? They just might end up saving the world after all.
This thrilling fantasy adventure will not only entertain young readers but inspire them to see the beautiful, exciting, and precious world around them with new eyes.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Magicians comes a must-read, wholly original middle-grade debut perfect for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Roald Dahl.
Dear Uncle Herbert,
You've never met me, but I'm your niece Kate, and since it is my birthday tomorrow and you are super-rich could you please send me a present?
Kate and her younger brother Tom lead dull, uninteresting lives. And if their dull, uninteresting parents are anything to go by, they don't have much to look forward to. Why can't Kate have thrilling adventures and save the world the way people do in books? Even her 11th birthday is shaping up to be mundane -- that is, until her mysterious and highly irresponsible Uncle Herbert, whom she's never even met before, surprises her with the most unexpected, exhilarating, inappropriate birthday present of all a colossal steam locomotive called the Silver Arrow.
Kate and Tom's parents want to send it right back where it came from. But Kate and Tom have other ideas -- and so does the Silver Arrow -- and soon they're off to distant lands along magical rail lines in the company of an assortment of exotic animals who, it turns out, can talk. With only curiosity, excitement, their own resourcefulness and the thrill of the unknown to guide them, Kate and Tom are on the adventure of a lifetime . . . and who knows? They just might end up saving the world after all.
This thrilling fantasy adventure will not only entertain young readers but inspire them to see the beautiful, exciting, and precious world around them with new eyes.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2020
339 people are currently reading
7145 people want to read
About the author
Lev Grossman
70 books10.2k followersHi! I'm the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy—The Magicians, The Magician King, and The Magician’s Land—which was adapted as a TV show that ran for five seasons on Syfy.
I've also written two novels for children: The Silver Arrow, which the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, People magazine, Apple and Amazon all put on their best-of-the-year lists, and its sequel The Golden Swift. I do some journalist and screenwriting too.
I grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, the son of two English professors. My twin brother Austin is a writer and game designer, and my older sister Sheba is an artist. Sometimes I live in Brooklyn, New York, other times in Sydney, Australia, where my wife is from. I have three kids and a somehow steadily increasing number of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 854 reviews
June 2, 2024
This is a middle grade book, and this is the first book in the Silver Arrow series. The audiobook was so good. The narrator of this book is Simon Vance. I do listen to my audiobooks at a faster speed because I feel it is to slow at the normal speed. I feel the narrator had a clear voice and changed voices for the character parts. The total audiobook is just under 4 hours at a regular speed, so it is a shorter audiobook. Now, on to how I feel about the book/story. I really enjoyed this story. The main character is Kate who is 11 years old. There is also talking train and talking animals. All the characters is super developed and I fall in all of the characters. It said it is like "The Chronicles of Narnia" and I have to say I disagree. This book is totally different then the Chronicles of Narnia. I would not say fans of The Chronicles of Narnia would love this book, but I did love this book and I loved the Chronicles of Narnia. This book is a fast moving middle grade book, and It keeps you wanting to read. I was kindly provided an audiobook of this book by the publisher (Little Brown Young Readers and Hachette Audio) or author (Lev Grossman) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
September 13, 2020
A magic train adventure! I love Lev Grossman's writing, and it turns out he's great at writing middle grade too.
The opening chapters are fantastic fun (happy birthday, here's a GIANT train). Then after some delightful shenanigans, there's a shift to a slowly building environmental focus that I can see being inspirational for kids (we can change things!). But that same message is pretty bleak for adults, or at least it was for me.
All of that, adventure and environment, is tied up with animal passengers boarding the train. I ended up loving all the animals, but at first I found them distracting. Then about halfway through the book, I realized why all the animals were on the train and I cried. Hard.
I'm glad Lev Grossman is back and with such a lovely book. I hope his King Arthur book is going well too.
(I listened to the audiobook, and Simon Vance was a great narrator, as always.)
The opening chapters are fantastic fun (happy birthday, here's a GIANT train). Then after some delightful shenanigans, there's a shift to a slowly building environmental focus that I can see being inspirational for kids (we can change things!). But that same message is pretty bleak for adults, or at least it was for me.
All of that, adventure and environment, is tied up with animal passengers boarding the train. I ended up loving all the animals, but at first I found them distracting. Then about halfway through the book, I realized why all the animals were on the train and I cried. Hard.
I'm glad Lev Grossman is back and with such a lovely book. I hope his King Arthur book is going well too.
(I listened to the audiobook, and Simon Vance was a great narrator, as always.)
May 17, 2021
4ish stars.
Had to read based on my curiosity of how a middle grade book written by the author of the decidedly vulgar, nihilistic, and ADULT The Magicians series (one of my very favorites) would work. Surprisingly well, it turns out!
It’s reminiscent of classic children's books like Narnia and The Polar Express, or more recently La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman, although maybe not destined to be a classic in its own right. It’s sweet and adventurous with a likable protagonist and a colorful array of secondary animal characters. Wasn’t expecting the heavy wildlife conservation focus but it was a nice surprise and a way to set it apart from similar stories.
Not gonna lie I really just want more adult books by Grossman, but I’m glad I read this and it’s a worthy entry in the canon of juvenile fantasy novels.
Posted in Mr. Philip's Library
Had to read based on my curiosity of how a middle grade book written by the author of the decidedly vulgar, nihilistic, and ADULT The Magicians series (one of my very favorites) would work. Surprisingly well, it turns out!
It’s reminiscent of classic children's books like Narnia and The Polar Express, or more recently La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman, although maybe not destined to be a classic in its own right. It’s sweet and adventurous with a likable protagonist and a colorful array of secondary animal characters. Wasn’t expecting the heavy wildlife conservation focus but it was a nice surprise and a way to set it apart from similar stories.
Not gonna lie I really just want more adult books by Grossman, but I’m glad I read this and it’s a worthy entry in the canon of juvenile fantasy novels.
Posted in Mr. Philip's Library
November 19, 2021
I read this book after it was recommended to me by a colleague and I enjoyed it very much. It’s about a young girl who is gifted a magic train by her uncle on her birthday, and the journey she goes on with her brother.
If I had had time, I would have read this book in a single sitting (I finished it in two sittings). I was sucked into the story and genuinely sad when I had to put the book down. I also love that even as an adult, this book taught me things that I never knew before and found myself googling to check.
A great middle grade novel, I see myself recommending this book a lot in the future.
If I had had time, I would have read this book in a single sitting (I finished it in two sittings). I was sucked into the story and genuinely sad when I had to put the book down. I also love that even as an adult, this book taught me things that I never knew before and found myself googling to check.
A great middle grade novel, I see myself recommending this book a lot in the future.
October 2, 2020
This is a middle grade book. The audiobook was so good. The narrator of this book is Simon Vance. I do listen to my audiobooks at a faster speed because I feel it is to slow at the normal speed. I feel the narrator had a clear voice and changed voices for the character parts. The total audiobook is just under 4 hours at a regular speed, so it is a shorter audiobook. Now, on to how I feel about the book/story. I really enjoyed this story. The main character is Kate who is 11 years old. There is also talking train and talking animals. All the characters is super developed and I fall in all of the characters. It said it is like "The Chronicles of Narnia" and I have to say I disagree. This book is totally different then the Chronicles of Narnia. I would not say fans of The Chronicles of Narnia would love this book, but I did love this book and I loved the Chronicles of Narnia. This book is a fast moving middle grade book, and It keeps you wanting to read. I was kindly provided an audiobook of this book by the publisher (Little Brown Young Readers and Hachette Audio) or author (Lev Grossman) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. (*)
September 24, 2020
I am privileged and not a little proud to have had the opportunity of spending some small time talking to Lev Grossman about his work. It might surprise you, it certainly surprised me, to learn he didn't start out as a fantasy writer. He comes from a family of academics and artists and I think there was a feeling there that fantasy writing simply wasn't serious or intellectual enough.
Its almost insane to think that had he held on to that notion we'd never have gotten The Magicians, that's a world I am very glad I don't exist in. It also means I would never have had the great and satisfying pleasure of reading The Silver Arrow aloud to my family over the last couple of weeks.
This is an fantastical adventure of the old school. Think Narnia (because this is Lev Grossman), but also The Neverending Story and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (perhaps without the intense hatred for children) and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass andThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz (without the overt insanity) where precocious children are dropped into extraordinary circumstances, make friends with astonishing creatures and have adventures that guide them, sometimes roughly, toward adulthood. Then throw in witty, never pandering writing, rich and delicious descriptions and ancient, melancholy magical moments and you'll get a bit closer to this magnificent book.
Kate is more or less your typical pre-teen. She's quick witted and clever and kinda done with her boring little suburban life. Its her birthday and more or less just because she has nothing better to do she decides she'll ask for a present from her mother's estranged (and strange) rich brother, Uncle Herbert.
More than a little wackiness ensues when Uncle Herbert delivers. What he delivers turns out to be a train. A real life, fully operational steam train that Kate and her family are astonished to find sitting in front of their house along with Uncle Herbert. Wackiness trades up for outright crazy town when mysteriously appearing train tracks whisk Kate and her little brother Tom away on an honest to goodness real magical adventure.
What's the deal with the train? Why in the heck does Uncle Herbert have it? Who are the passengers? Where is it going? All very good questions with equally marvelous answers that I wouldn't dream of spoiling for you.
Grossman's literary gifts are so many its rather pointless to start listing them but the most obvious is his unfailing honesty, his commitment to make you believe in his stories. When I read his books I never doubt for even a second in what's happening. To have the ability to make such amazing things like a graduate school that teaches magic or a train that pulls any kind of car you can imagine seem not just real but totally logical is a very rare and beautiful thing.
There are moments in this book that are simply breathtaking. Grossman leads Kate and Tom through those familiar paths that children in fantasy adventures have traveled before but you never arrive where you expect to and the journey is never anything short of shatteringly wonderful. He breaks your heart and then mends it so carefully you don't even mind that its beating a little differently than before.
I straight up wept through parts of this book and when I wasn't doing that I was laughing my butt off. There is just so much here I can't think of a single person who wouldn't totally love reading this. There are daring chases and escapes, fantastical feats of magic, heart breaking realizations, witty repartee and of course, hard lessons learned.
Couldn't recommend this one harder if I tried.
Its almost insane to think that had he held on to that notion we'd never have gotten The Magicians, that's a world I am very glad I don't exist in. It also means I would never have had the great and satisfying pleasure of reading The Silver Arrow aloud to my family over the last couple of weeks.
This is an fantastical adventure of the old school. Think Narnia (because this is Lev Grossman), but also The Neverending Story and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (perhaps without the intense hatred for children) and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass andThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz (without the overt insanity) where precocious children are dropped into extraordinary circumstances, make friends with astonishing creatures and have adventures that guide them, sometimes roughly, toward adulthood. Then throw in witty, never pandering writing, rich and delicious descriptions and ancient, melancholy magical moments and you'll get a bit closer to this magnificent book.
Kate is more or less your typical pre-teen. She's quick witted and clever and kinda done with her boring little suburban life. Its her birthday and more or less just because she has nothing better to do she decides she'll ask for a present from her mother's estranged (and strange) rich brother, Uncle Herbert.
More than a little wackiness ensues when Uncle Herbert delivers. What he delivers turns out to be a train. A real life, fully operational steam train that Kate and her family are astonished to find sitting in front of their house along with Uncle Herbert. Wackiness trades up for outright crazy town when mysteriously appearing train tracks whisk Kate and her little brother Tom away on an honest to goodness real magical adventure.
What's the deal with the train? Why in the heck does Uncle Herbert have it? Who are the passengers? Where is it going? All very good questions with equally marvelous answers that I wouldn't dream of spoiling for you.
Grossman's literary gifts are so many its rather pointless to start listing them but the most obvious is his unfailing honesty, his commitment to make you believe in his stories. When I read his books I never doubt for even a second in what's happening. To have the ability to make such amazing things like a graduate school that teaches magic or a train that pulls any kind of car you can imagine seem not just real but totally logical is a very rare and beautiful thing.
There are moments in this book that are simply breathtaking. Grossman leads Kate and Tom through those familiar paths that children in fantasy adventures have traveled before but you never arrive where you expect to and the journey is never anything short of shatteringly wonderful. He breaks your heart and then mends it so carefully you don't even mind that its beating a little differently than before.
I straight up wept through parts of this book and when I wasn't doing that I was laughing my butt off. There is just so much here I can't think of a single person who wouldn't totally love reading this. There are daring chases and escapes, fantastical feats of magic, heart breaking realizations, witty repartee and of course, hard lessons learned.
Couldn't recommend this one harder if I tried.
August 3, 2020
This is the audiobook version of the Silver Arrow, a middle grade children's book by Lev Grossman, narrated by Simon Vance.
This is a wonderful children's story about two kids who have an adventure on a magic train, and the passengers are talking animals! I think young kids will really enjoy this story, which also provides education about animals and the environment.
For myself, I would have liked the author to take the story further. When you have a magic train with a library car and a candy car, there are so many possibilities! The author stayed in the "environmental education" lane, where I would have liked him to make it more of a fantasy adventure. There appears to be many possibilities for a sequel, however, and I would definitely want that audiobook as well.
The narrator, Simon Vance, is amazing. He gets 5 stars. He creates a magical world you want to live in, just like Jim Dale did with Harry Potter. I will definitely be seeking out Vance's other work.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
This is a wonderful children's story about two kids who have an adventure on a magic train, and the passengers are talking animals! I think young kids will really enjoy this story, which also provides education about animals and the environment.
For myself, I would have liked the author to take the story further. When you have a magic train with a library car and a candy car, there are so many possibilities! The author stayed in the "environmental education" lane, where I would have liked him to make it more of a fantasy adventure. There appears to be many possibilities for a sequel, however, and I would definitely want that audiobook as well.
The narrator, Simon Vance, is amazing. He gets 5 stars. He creates a magical world you want to live in, just like Jim Dale did with Harry Potter. I will definitely be seeking out Vance's other work.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
May 5, 2020
A cover quote compares this to The Chronicles of Narnia, but that's not right. Grossman expressed his ideas about Narnia in The Magicians trilogy, and they're... complicated. This book has more in common with The Polar Express, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the book version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Phoenix and the Carpet, and Ranger Rick magazine (or No Man's Valley for something truly obscure). It starts out with an impossible premise, and gets more impossible and stranger as it goes on. It's only at the end that you realize that (on one level, at least) the whole thing has been a kind of metaphor for our generation's failure to save the planet. I felt uncomfortable with the magic, never sure what it could and couldn't do, and at times the book was preachy (and I say that as someone who leans pretty far to the Green). The descriptions are all written in Grossman's skillful style, though, and there are many moments of wonder and the numinous. The characters are rich and believable. I expect this book will be popular for a long time.
(I read an advanced reader copy, so there's still a wait before you can buy it.)
(I read an advanced reader copy, so there's still a wait before you can buy it.)
August 13, 2020
I was looking forward to reading this book because I tend to love middle-grade adventure stories. They usually feel so carefree and magical to me. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the same about The Silver Arrow, and I ended up being very disappointed.
This book sort of feels like a mix of The Polar Express and The Chronicles of Narnia, but not done well. It honestly felt very contrived and forced, which really hindered my enjoyment of it.
The story starts out with rich Uncle Herbert gifting his niece Kate with a train—a real, metal, life-size train. Although her parents were initially upset about this gift, Kate and her brother Tom set out alone together on an adventure on this train, which is called the Silver Arrow.
I thought the beginning was very slow and weird. Just the fact that the uncle got her a real train for her birthday that he put in her backyard (like, what?) and the parents were angry but were still like, “Okay have fun playing in it,” rubbed me the wrong way for some reason. The story just felt very forced to me at that point, like Lev Grossman had a cool idea about two young kids getting lost on a magical train adventure but didn’t know how to actually introduce the train into the story so he invented a rich uncle to just hand-deliver it to them. That was not believable at all, and my absolute least favorite thing about any fictional story is when the story is not believable within the boundaries of its own world, and I felt like this book suffered from that at the very beginning.
So Kate and Tom go on this adventure and meet all kinds of talking animals, who tell them all about themselves. The Silver Arrow feels like an ecological novel for kids. Lev Grossman tells us about different animals from around the world and explains details like the animal kingdom hierarchy and what happens if it gets out of balance, what animals eat, what their habitats are, what they like to do, why they migrate, and why humans need to help preserve them from going extinct.
This sounds like a cool concept, but honestly, the whole book felt very contrived to me, like Grossman’s hidden agenda was to indoctrinate children with the desire to make a good ecological impact on our planet. Now don’t get me wrong, I think it’s important to teach children (and adults) the importance of caring for animals and nature and protecting our planet, but I don’t like how that information was presented here. I felt like this whole concept took away from the actual plot of the book because every scene had to be paused so one animal could talk about their natural habitat or their predators or how human impact was harming them. It was very obvious, as an adult reader, what Grossman was trying to do here, and it put me off a lot.
I honestly just felt really bored with this story. It was very slow-moving for how short it was and it had me rolling my eyes at some of the scenes in it. It read very young for its intended audience of kids ages 8 to 12, and it felt pretty silly to me at times. This seemed like a kind of story someone tells their young kids before bed but not one that was ever supposed to be published. That sounds kind of harsh but there are so many similar stories out there that are much more interesting and well-written, ones that communicate the same messages in a more natural and engaging way. I honestly don’t think if Lev Grossman was already a best-selling author that this book would have been published at all.
Besides the aforementioned issues I had, I also thought that the writing was unimpressive and unenjoyable to read. Lev Grossman’s The Magicians Trilogy has been on my to-read list, but after reading this book, I honestly don’t know if I even want to read that series because the writing style in this book really got on my nerves and I suspect that what I didn’t like here will be present in his other works as well.
I listened to the audiobook for The Silver Arrow and I thought the narrator, Simon Vance, was alright. Good but not great. The way his voice sounds when he narrates almost reminded me of a knock-off Jim Dale narration because of his British accent and the inflections he used to tell the story, and some of the character voices sounded similar to me. The story takes place in the modern-day but his voice made me feel like it was a story of the past. I particularly didn’t like how he narrated the adults at the beginning when the train gets introduced because they sounded whiny and strange to me. Eventually, I did feel like the narration got better as the story progressed, and I would listen to more books narrated by Simon Vance in the future, but he’s not my favorite narrator.
The Silver Arrow has adventure, talking animals, magical trains, and lots of presumably factual ecological information. I would recommend this book for kids ages 5 to 8 who want an easygoing adventure on a magical train ride that will teach them real facts about all kinds of animals from around the world, as well as teach them how to be more eco-conscious.
My Book Blog: Storeys of Stories
This book sort of feels like a mix of The Polar Express and The Chronicles of Narnia, but not done well. It honestly felt very contrived and forced, which really hindered my enjoyment of it.
The story starts out with rich Uncle Herbert gifting his niece Kate with a train—a real, metal, life-size train. Although her parents were initially upset about this gift, Kate and her brother Tom set out alone together on an adventure on this train, which is called the Silver Arrow.
I thought the beginning was very slow and weird. Just the fact that the uncle got her a real train for her birthday that he put in her backyard (like, what?) and the parents were angry but were still like, “Okay have fun playing in it,” rubbed me the wrong way for some reason. The story just felt very forced to me at that point, like Lev Grossman had a cool idea about two young kids getting lost on a magical train adventure but didn’t know how to actually introduce the train into the story so he invented a rich uncle to just hand-deliver it to them. That was not believable at all, and my absolute least favorite thing about any fictional story is when the story is not believable within the boundaries of its own world, and I felt like this book suffered from that at the very beginning.
So Kate and Tom go on this adventure and meet all kinds of talking animals, who tell them all about themselves. The Silver Arrow feels like an ecological novel for kids. Lev Grossman tells us about different animals from around the world and explains details like the animal kingdom hierarchy and what happens if it gets out of balance, what animals eat, what their habitats are, what they like to do, why they migrate, and why humans need to help preserve them from going extinct.
This sounds like a cool concept, but honestly, the whole book felt very contrived to me, like Grossman’s hidden agenda was to indoctrinate children with the desire to make a good ecological impact on our planet. Now don’t get me wrong, I think it’s important to teach children (and adults) the importance of caring for animals and nature and protecting our planet, but I don’t like how that information was presented here. I felt like this whole concept took away from the actual plot of the book because every scene had to be paused so one animal could talk about their natural habitat or their predators or how human impact was harming them. It was very obvious, as an adult reader, what Grossman was trying to do here, and it put me off a lot.
I honestly just felt really bored with this story. It was very slow-moving for how short it was and it had me rolling my eyes at some of the scenes in it. It read very young for its intended audience of kids ages 8 to 12, and it felt pretty silly to me at times. This seemed like a kind of story someone tells their young kids before bed but not one that was ever supposed to be published. That sounds kind of harsh but there are so many similar stories out there that are much more interesting and well-written, ones that communicate the same messages in a more natural and engaging way. I honestly don’t think if Lev Grossman was already a best-selling author that this book would have been published at all.
Besides the aforementioned issues I had, I also thought that the writing was unimpressive and unenjoyable to read. Lev Grossman’s The Magicians Trilogy has been on my to-read list, but after reading this book, I honestly don’t know if I even want to read that series because the writing style in this book really got on my nerves and I suspect that what I didn’t like here will be present in his other works as well.
I listened to the audiobook for The Silver Arrow and I thought the narrator, Simon Vance, was alright. Good but not great. The way his voice sounds when he narrates almost reminded me of a knock-off Jim Dale narration because of his British accent and the inflections he used to tell the story, and some of the character voices sounded similar to me. The story takes place in the modern-day but his voice made me feel like it was a story of the past. I particularly didn’t like how he narrated the adults at the beginning when the train gets introduced because they sounded whiny and strange to me. Eventually, I did feel like the narration got better as the story progressed, and I would listen to more books narrated by Simon Vance in the future, but he’s not my favorite narrator.
The Silver Arrow has adventure, talking animals, magical trains, and lots of presumably factual ecological information. I would recommend this book for kids ages 5 to 8 who want an easygoing adventure on a magical train ride that will teach them real facts about all kinds of animals from around the world, as well as teach them how to be more eco-conscious.
My Book Blog: Storeys of Stories
May 14, 2024
"When you're a child the adult world looks so exciting, and it is, but it's also so much sadder and more complicated that you expect. And you can't just take the good parts, you have to take it all, even if it's not what you wanted."
➸ Trigger warnings for .
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
December 20, 2020
Kate and her younger brother Tom lead dull lives. With her 11th birthday imminent, Kate sends a letter to her rich Uncle Herbert for a birthday gift. Herbert and her mother are estranged, but he shows up in a bright yellow suit, and parks a 102-ton locomotive (The Silver Arrow) in her backyard. Reminiscent of The Phantom Tollbooth, they jump on the train and head off on an adventure, starting with their eclectic choice of railcars, ranging from a library to swimming pool to candy shop. At the first few stops, the siblings, who become the train's engineers and conductors, gather passengers: each one, an animal bringing with them fresh stories and perspectives. The train itself has a quirky personality, which I liked. At its heart, the novel is a rollicking and heartwarming adventure story, with an important message for all (and some nice illustrations.)
September 16, 2020
Any book that features a pangolin deserves my love and attention because I love those adorable creatures.
This was a sweet and very eye opening book for children. It does teach a lesson about animals and their migrations and what is happening to them around the world.
The part with the pangolin broke my heart, and it really does make you think. This was full of magic and mystery and lessons that are easy for a child to learn.
This was a sweet and very eye opening book for children. It does teach a lesson about animals and their migrations and what is happening to them around the world.
The part with the pangolin broke my heart, and it really does make you think. This was full of magic and mystery and lessons that are easy for a child to learn.
June 7, 2021
This book was purely a cover pick up, I had no idea what the book was going to be about. I was not expecting the lessons and important message that are between these pages. This is a book I think everyone should read.
December 26, 2025
This story follows a young girl named Kate who leads an otherwise dull life at home with her little brother Tom as their parents are too busy to have fun times with them, and she wishes for adventure. They have a very rich uncle Herbert who has a very carefree life and soon enough will grant Kate her wish for her birthday. That wish turns out to be a massive steam locomotive called “The Silver Arrow” which is a massive shock to the kids and their parents. The two reluctantly take the locomotive for a go and they’ll immediately be on an amazing and magical ride with so much to see and experience.
Being a huge lover of whimsical and magical stories, Grossman’s book is an exciting one that has a quick start to the magic with lots to explore. The story definitely reminded me of “The Polar Express”, and “Narnia” with its many animal characters. The themes founds include finding happiness, sibling and family bonds, helping others and yearning for adventure. It also has plenty of emotional moments found through the ride.
A magical round trip. A- (91%/Excellent)
Being a huge lover of whimsical and magical stories, Grossman’s book is an exciting one that has a quick start to the magic with lots to explore. The story definitely reminded me of “The Polar Express”, and “Narnia” with its many animal characters. The themes founds include finding happiness, sibling and family bonds, helping others and yearning for adventure. It also has plenty of emotional moments found through the ride.
A magical round trip. A- (91%/Excellent)
June 1, 2021
No sabéis las ganas que tenía de leer un libro de este estilo: mágico, sencillo, pero directo, sobre valorarse a uno mismo, encontrar nuestro camino, y también la necesidad de cuidar la naturaleza y el mundo que nos rodea: los animales que viajan en este mágico tren viajan alrededor del planeta, pero también se detienen a dar lecciones a Kate sobre el impacto de los seres humanos en la naturaleza, en sus vidas, y en sus muertes.
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...
May 13, 2022
Considering how much I disliked Lev Grossman’s “The Magicians”, I was pleasantly surprised by this fun kids’ book. A sister and brother become conductors on a full-sized, magical steam train Kate received from her uncle Herbert for her birthday.
Kate, her younger brother Tom, and the sentient train transport many, many animals from stations all over the world to new habitats, hopefully where they can live in some peace from the implacable predator destroying their homes in the name of greed, industry or lack of awareness.
The tone is light, but Grossman educates his readers about habitat loss in such a way likely to exhort kids to think and possibly act to slow the destruction worldwide for our fellow inhabitants on this planet.
Kate, her younger brother Tom, and the sentient train transport many, many animals from stations all over the world to new habitats, hopefully where they can live in some peace from the implacable predator destroying their homes in the name of greed, industry or lack of awareness.
The tone is light, but Grossman educates his readers about habitat loss in such a way likely to exhort kids to think and possibly act to slow the destruction worldwide for our fellow inhabitants on this planet.
May 22, 2021
3.5 en realidad 💙
Me ha recordado un poquito a la película de Polar Express, por el tren, la magia, el viaje... aunque no tiene mucho que ver: se trata de una historia sobre la necesidad de cuidar la naturaleza y a los animales, de respeto y de amor. Muy bonita, aunque para mí le ha faltado una vuelta de tuerca para hacerla realmente conmovedora.
Me ha recordado un poquito a la película de Polar Express, por el tren, la magia, el viaje... aunque no tiene mucho que ver: se trata de una historia sobre la necesidad de cuidar la naturaleza y a los animales, de respeto y de amor. Muy bonita, aunque para mí le ha faltado una vuelta de tuerca para hacerla realmente conmovedora.
July 14, 2020
This is the audiobook version of the Silver Arrow, a middle grade children's book by Lev Grossman, narrated by Simon Vance.
This is a wonderful children's story about two kids who have an adventure on a magic train, and the passengers are talking animals! I think young kids will really enjoy this story, which also provides education about animals and the environment.
For myself, I would have liked the author to take the story further. When you have a magic train with a library car and a candy car, there are so many possibilities! The author stayed in the "environmental education" lane, where I would have liked him to make it more of a fantasy adventure. There appears to be many possibilities for a sequel, however, and I would definitely want that audiobook as well.
The narrator, Simon Vance, is amazing. He gets 5 stars. He creates a magical world you want to live in, just like Jim Dale did with Harry Potter. I will definitely be seeking out Vance's other work.
This is a wonderful children's story about two kids who have an adventure on a magic train, and the passengers are talking animals! I think young kids will really enjoy this story, which also provides education about animals and the environment.
For myself, I would have liked the author to take the story further. When you have a magic train with a library car and a candy car, there are so many possibilities! The author stayed in the "environmental education" lane, where I would have liked him to make it more of a fantasy adventure. There appears to be many possibilities for a sequel, however, and I would definitely want that audiobook as well.
The narrator, Simon Vance, is amazing. He gets 5 stars. He creates a magical world you want to live in, just like Jim Dale did with Harry Potter. I will definitely be seeking out Vance's other work.
May 8, 2021
The Silver Arrow is a fun, exhilarating, fast-paced, magical tale narrated wonderfully by Simon Vance. The story follows Kate, who on her eleventh birthday receives a life-sized steam engine named 'The Silver Arrow' as a birthday gift from a crazy rich uncle she barely knows. Soon, Kate and her annoying brother Tom find themselves in a mind-blowing adventure aboard the Silver Arrow with walking-talking animals to keep them company. And on their way, Kate and Tom uncover some bitter truths about life as well.
The narration was gripping and wonderful, especially the 'Click, BING' part which denotes that the train is communicating with Kate and Tom. I used to hate audiobooks. I tried listening to one about a year ago and I had a really bitter experience. But now I feel that they are not so bad after all (in fact I felt really satisfied with this one) and I have decided to give it another try.
The writing was lucid but also elegant and eye-opening. There is this scene in particular, which was exceptionally well written- in which Kate and the others magically transform into trees. This book would be fabulous for children because its easy-understandable and teaches them certain values such as being responsible and how to get past the sibling-rivalry. I also love the way that the author introduces the reader (or listener) to bitter and sad facts such as climate change/global warming, deforestation, endangering animals and extinction of certain species, change in migration patterns etc., thus inspiring the reader/listener to do something about it.
I highly recommend this book not only for children but for everybody in general because this is the kind of story in which you could get lost but at the end, you would come out with a better understanding of the world around you.
I thank NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge for giving me this wonderful opportunity to review this book.
The narration was gripping and wonderful, especially the 'Click, BING' part which denotes that the train is communicating with Kate and Tom. I used to hate audiobooks. I tried listening to one about a year ago and I had a really bitter experience. But now I feel that they are not so bad after all (in fact I felt really satisfied with this one) and I have decided to give it another try.
The writing was lucid but also elegant and eye-opening. There is this scene in particular, which was exceptionally well written- in which Kate and the others magically transform into trees. This book would be fabulous for children because its easy-understandable and teaches them certain values such as being responsible and how to get past the sibling-rivalry. I also love the way that the author introduces the reader (or listener) to bitter and sad facts such as climate change/global warming, deforestation, endangering animals and extinction of certain species, change in migration patterns etc., thus inspiring the reader/listener to do something about it.
I highly recommend this book not only for children but for everybody in general because this is the kind of story in which you could get lost but at the end, you would come out with a better understanding of the world around you.
I thank NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge for giving me this wonderful opportunity to review this book.
January 17, 2021
The silver arrow isnt just a story, it's a cry of help that Lev Grossman is sending.
It's a book full of adventure, as we set on a journey with kate and tom to get the animals to places they wanna go, at first, I didn't know why all the passengers were animals, but when I found out, it broke my heart, hard.
MOst of the chapters are full of sadness but there's hope as well.
The book is loaded with messages to the new generations asking them to do their best to save the planet, that the balance is no more but there's still time to make things better.
Told in a very fluid and attractive way, I hope that this book will reach and touch as many humans as possible while there's still time to restore that balance once again.
It's a book full of adventure, as we set on a journey with kate and tom to get the animals to places they wanna go, at first, I didn't know why all the passengers were animals, but when I found out, it broke my heart, hard.
MOst of the chapters are full of sadness but there's hope as well.
The book is loaded with messages to the new generations asking them to do their best to save the planet, that the balance is no more but there's still time to make things better.
Told in a very fluid and attractive way, I hope that this book will reach and touch as many humans as possible while there's still time to restore that balance once again.
March 5, 2021
¿Eres de esas personas a las que le gusta viajar en tren? Súbete a este libro. Me ha gustado mucho y me lo he pasado en grande con las aventuras de estos dos hermanos en este viaje en tren mágico. Además, está lleno de ilustraciones preciosas de determinadas escenas de la historia del libro.
October 2, 2020
3.5 stars
This was so sweet. I just loved illustrations.
This was so sweet. I just loved illustrations.
August 24, 2020
Before I even get started on my thoughts, I just want to say that the audiobook narrator, Simon Vance, does a spectacular job narrating this book. He really brings all of the characters to life.
The Silver Arrow is a middle grade novel that is perfect for those looking for a whimsical tale like The Polar Express but offers the adventure and magic of The Chronicles of Narnia. This is not to say that this book should be likened to either, but those were the feelings that I had while reading this one.
For Kate’s 11th birthday, she decides to ask her rich Uncle Herbert for a birthday present because she is so sick and tired of her ordinary life. She craves adventure. What Kate doesn’t anticipate is the magical train that Uncle Herbert delivers. With her younger brother Tom in tow, Kate realizes this is the perfect opportunity for them to finally have an adventure, but are they up for the task at hand?
Honestly, from start to finish, this book was just so incredibly fun and full of adventure. I loved that Uncle Herbert allowed Kate and Tom to pick what kind of train cars they wanted to add to their train, and naturally, their imaginations run wild. There were so many magical creatures that I loved, and I wanted to be friends with all of them. I still think that the porcupine and train were my favorites because their honesty and low key sarcasm were refreshing.
I think that this is a story that middle grade students will really enjoy getting wrapped up in.
Thank you Hachette Audio for providing a review copy through NetGalley. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
The Silver Arrow is a middle grade novel that is perfect for those looking for a whimsical tale like The Polar Express but offers the adventure and magic of The Chronicles of Narnia. This is not to say that this book should be likened to either, but those were the feelings that I had while reading this one.
For Kate’s 11th birthday, she decides to ask her rich Uncle Herbert for a birthday present because she is so sick and tired of her ordinary life. She craves adventure. What Kate doesn’t anticipate is the magical train that Uncle Herbert delivers. With her younger brother Tom in tow, Kate realizes this is the perfect opportunity for them to finally have an adventure, but are they up for the task at hand?
Honestly, from start to finish, this book was just so incredibly fun and full of adventure. I loved that Uncle Herbert allowed Kate and Tom to pick what kind of train cars they wanted to add to their train, and naturally, their imaginations run wild. There were so many magical creatures that I loved, and I wanted to be friends with all of them. I still think that the porcupine and train were my favorites because their honesty and low key sarcasm were refreshing.
I think that this is a story that middle grade students will really enjoy getting wrapped up in.
Thank you Hachette Audio for providing a review copy through NetGalley. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
September 6, 2020
I loved The Magicians and it's sequel The Magician King, so I was really excited to get started on this audiobook edition of The Silver Arrow narrated very engagingly by Simon Vance. It was provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher.
This is quite different from the previous books, and pitched at middle grade readers but I think that some of the younger high schoolers I know would appreciate it's lovely fantastic feel, especially the fans of Phillip Reeve and Angie Sage. It is a fantastic adventure, and one which appears a simple story on the surface but it has some great messages about taking care of the planet and looking after each other.
A rather precocious girl asks her rich uncle for a birthday present. Kate is most surprised that he agrees and a beautiful silver train is delivered to her house, she and her brother Tom jump aboard and the adventure begins. The train is managed by a crew of animals with whom she has no trouble communicating. Some of them need careful management. The train itself needs careful management, the flames in the engine can never be extinguished, this will be a challenge as the journey takes the passengers on the train through extremely cold, dangerous and underwater locations.
It is lovely story with lots of themes of resilience, teamwork, the value of friendship. It is an action filled adventure and I really liked it.
This is quite different from the previous books, and pitched at middle grade readers but I think that some of the younger high schoolers I know would appreciate it's lovely fantastic feel, especially the fans of Phillip Reeve and Angie Sage. It is a fantastic adventure, and one which appears a simple story on the surface but it has some great messages about taking care of the planet and looking after each other.
A rather precocious girl asks her rich uncle for a birthday present. Kate is most surprised that he agrees and a beautiful silver train is delivered to her house, she and her brother Tom jump aboard and the adventure begins. The train is managed by a crew of animals with whom she has no trouble communicating. Some of them need careful management. The train itself needs careful management, the flames in the engine can never be extinguished, this will be a challenge as the journey takes the passengers on the train through extremely cold, dangerous and underwater locations.
It is lovely story with lots of themes of resilience, teamwork, the value of friendship. It is an action filled adventure and I really liked it.
November 9, 2020
For me, this was fine. It definitely brought to mind the kind of...pragmatic whimsy of a Roald Dahl (but without the antisemitism and fatshaming). It ended up also feeling a little didactic about environmentalism but like, you know, he's not wrong, and also that kind of story appeals to a lottt of elementary school-age readers who I think will really dig this.
But if you're coming to this looking for the kind of gritty complexity of The Magicians, I mean, it's definitely not here because this is not that kind of book. This is a book for young children. And that's fine. I personally probably wouldn't have picked this up if it were by an author who I wasn't already a fan of, but the story will sell itself to kids who aren't familiar with Grossman's work for adults.
But if you're coming to this looking for the kind of gritty complexity of The Magicians, I mean, it's definitely not here because this is not that kind of book. This is a book for young children. And that's fine. I personally probably wouldn't have picked this up if it were by an author who I wasn't already a fan of, but the story will sell itself to kids who aren't familiar with Grossman's work for adults.
January 4, 2021
My kids and I have started a book club. This was our first read. I read it out loud to them and then we had a book club day. My kids gave this 4.5 stars. It was fun to read and had some good themes. It was so fun to talk about the book with them and my son had such a great time reviewing the book and talking about it.
This was a nice book about perseverance, adventure, family and friends. It taught a nice lesson about being kind to earth and animals/habitats. Overall a nice read for my 9 and 11 year olds.
This was a nice book about perseverance, adventure, family and friends. It taught a nice lesson about being kind to earth and animals/habitats. Overall a nice read for my 9 and 11 year olds.
August 3, 2020
Excellent narration! Kids will not want to stop reading/listening to it.
January 28, 2020
Valutazione: 3.75.
Un buon libro per bambini, a tratti didascalico ma forse solo per gli occhi degli adulti. I temi trattati sono molto importanti, una discreta dose di ironia li alleggerisce con successo e i capitoli finali sono decisamente commoventi.
Un buon libro per bambini, a tratti didascalico ma forse solo per gli occhi degli adulti. I temi trattati sono molto importanti, una discreta dose di ironia li alleggerisce con successo e i capitoli finali sono decisamente commoventi.
February 12, 2022
A thoughtful, emotional and highly imaginative story that expertly discusses the negative impact humanity has had on the balance of nature in a way that’s sensitive, informative and void of sugarcoating.
With lovely illustrations, an exciting and magical plot, talking animals and a relatable main character, The Silver Arrow was a heartfelt adventure and one that is sure to touch the hearts of readers of all ages. I adored it.
With lovely illustrations, an exciting and magical plot, talking animals and a relatable main character, The Silver Arrow was a heartfelt adventure and one that is sure to touch the hearts of readers of all ages. I adored it.
October 16, 2020
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Silver Arrow, in exchange for an honest review!
Kate has never met her uncle, but she knows he is very rich and hopes he might send her a birthday present. A real life steam train wasn’t really what she, or her parents, had in mind though. When she boards the train, with her brother Tom, they’re surprised the train is able to communicate with them and whisks them away on an adventure where they encounter all sorts of talking animals.
The Silver Arrow was a cute middle grade read full of whimsical magic. The talking animals were definitely the highlight and the story seemed quite character driven, because to be honest, not a lot happened. Kate and Tom were tasked with delivering the animals to different stations but, unless I got distracted and missed it, the story never really explained why or what the point was. Each animal stopped to talk about their habitat, predators and lifestyle a bit throughout the story, so I guess it had something to do with migration? I also assume it was meant to teach children about ecology and how humans can hurt the animal kingdom, but the way it was written didn’t really give me a clear picture of that and I think it’s likely it would go right over a younger reader’s head. I think The Silver Arrow wanted to be a Polar Express / Narnia cross, but it didn’t really hit the mark other than being mildly cute.
I think younger readers will be enchanted by Kate and Tom’s story (but I’d direct this one to the younger end of middle grade), and the cover of the book is absolutely stunning, I just felt as though many of the plot points were rushed over, with very little explanation of how they related to the overall story.
Kate has never met her uncle, but she knows he is very rich and hopes he might send her a birthday present. A real life steam train wasn’t really what she, or her parents, had in mind though. When she boards the train, with her brother Tom, they’re surprised the train is able to communicate with them and whisks them away on an adventure where they encounter all sorts of talking animals.
The Silver Arrow was a cute middle grade read full of whimsical magic. The talking animals were definitely the highlight and the story seemed quite character driven, because to be honest, not a lot happened. Kate and Tom were tasked with delivering the animals to different stations but, unless I got distracted and missed it, the story never really explained why or what the point was. Each animal stopped to talk about their habitat, predators and lifestyle a bit throughout the story, so I guess it had something to do with migration? I also assume it was meant to teach children about ecology and how humans can hurt the animal kingdom, but the way it was written didn’t really give me a clear picture of that and I think it’s likely it would go right over a younger reader’s head. I think The Silver Arrow wanted to be a Polar Express / Narnia cross, but it didn’t really hit the mark other than being mildly cute.
I think younger readers will be enchanted by Kate and Tom’s story (but I’d direct this one to the younger end of middle grade), and the cover of the book is absolutely stunning, I just felt as though many of the plot points were rushed over, with very little explanation of how they related to the overall story.
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