Then and There, Here and Where

by Esabella Strickland, Michael Strickland

Fresh out of middle school, 12-year-old Orabella thought the worst of her worries would be choosing between going to high school and being homeschooled—between sticking with her friends or being free from the bullying she receives because of her learning disability. But she soon discovers that the world she knew, school included, isn't what it seems. An eerie encounter with a mysterious raven during the Summer Solstice Festival—and the sudden disappearance of her parents soon after—forces her to move in with her grandparents, where strange occurrences happen more and more often. When Oreballa stumbles upon a family secret with roots in Ancient Egypt, she's thrust into a world of ancient spirits, time-traveling, and, most importantly, the Tree of Life, a spiritual entity that maintains the stability of the entire universe. Newly aware of her true destiny, Orabella must learn to shed her self-doubt and insecurities surrounding her learning disability and adjust to her new role as a protector of humanity and the Tree of Life against the mischievous spirit, Iblis, and his forces of darkness in order to keep the universe in balance and find her parents.

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2021

Reviews

[Darlene Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantasy adventure with a message. There is a lot going on in this book, with many interesting characters, lessons to learn and different worlds. I liked the time travel aspect and would have liked to have had more of that. Perhaps in the next book. I am impressed that the book was written by a 15-year-old and look forward to the next one in the series.

[Julia Torrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book! I loved all the different mysterious occurrences that happen throughout the story. The time travel part was also very interesting, and it also brings emotions and connects the characters well with the reader. I think it's compelling to read about someone who has a learning disability but overcomes a lot.

[alex⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the book and honestly I didn’t expect it to get so interesting, it leaves you on a cliffhanger tho sadly