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The Night We Got Stuck in a Story
Turn the page . . . join the adventure in the latest bestseller from Ben Miller!Lana and Harrison are staying with their grandparents, when they discover their favourite tree to play in is under threat. That night, a magical golden thread leads them up through the hollow of the tree into a storybook land, where wind and rain rage and a fearsome beast terrifies all who live there. When Harrison is kidnapped by the evil Queen, Lana must do whatever it takes to find him, save the villagers and restore the balance of the storybook world, before the night is out. A breathtaking journey through magical worlds for all the family, featuring Lana and Harrison, the adventure-loving siblings from the bestselling The Day I Fell into a Fairytale , from master storyteller, Ben Miller. Praise for Ben'Wonderful, funny, magical' Chris Evans on How I Became a Dog Called Midnight‘A magical adventure’ Sunday Express on The Day I Fell into a Fairytale'Bubbles with warmth and mischievous humour . . . irresistible' Alexander Armstrong on The Night I Met Father Christmas
304 pages, Paperback
Published May 11, 2023
32 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 21, 2025
Full of surprises and amazing ending not confusing but very adventurous
May 19, 2023
I like this. Luna and Harrison like to climb a hollow trees. The developer suggests taking down the tree for estate development.
There is a group of spiders living near there. Luna wants to have a new playground which is promised as part of development. Harrison wants to save the spider and delay the project.
This is the background of the story.
Luna is woken up by a spider threat link to her fingers. Then an adventure begins with her following the threat to a land of magic and spider queen.
The process for Luna to learn about spiders and the see the values beyond human desires. I wish more humans would learn that lesson.
I read this in a train and got some look as this is a children book complete with illustrations.
I feel no shame in reading children book with its good story and straightforward meaning.
To get the approval of other human adults, many literature try to please the readers by adding unnecessary spices, or try to be difficult with too much symbols and hidden vague meanings. That probably is separate category of art of not getting the point across to reader in the most direct way possible. It is sophisticated when done right, and boring and pretentious when not done right. I am kind of tired of that as I do find some modern literature overly pretentious.
Maybe I was wrong. It might be my own lack of patient that is acting out on books not getting to the point. This is a good compromise for reading a story without trying to too clever.
I give this 4.5 stars. It is good for both children and adults.
There is a group of spiders living near there. Luna wants to have a new playground which is promised as part of development. Harrison wants to save the spider and delay the project.
This is the background of the story.
Luna is woken up by a spider threat link to her fingers. Then an adventure begins with her following the threat to a land of magic and spider queen.
The process for Luna to learn about spiders and the see the values beyond human desires. I wish more humans would learn that lesson.
I read this in a train and got some look as this is a children book complete with illustrations.
I feel no shame in reading children book with its good story and straightforward meaning.
To get the approval of other human adults, many literature try to please the readers by adding unnecessary spices, or try to be difficult with too much symbols and hidden vague meanings. That probably is separate category of art of not getting the point across to reader in the most direct way possible. It is sophisticated when done right, and boring and pretentious when not done right. I am kind of tired of that as I do find some modern literature overly pretentious.
Maybe I was wrong. It might be my own lack of patient that is acting out on books not getting to the point. This is a good compromise for reading a story without trying to too clever.
I give this 4.5 stars. It is good for both children and adults.
September 17, 2022
I didn’t know what to expect from this at all, but I didn’t expect to give up with it so quickly. The first third just seemed so bonkers and irresponsibly daft I couldn’t carry on. Two kids like climbing up inside the hollow tree near their grandparents’, but they can’t as it’s in a building site, although the building works might be put off by the fact some endangered spiders have been found there. That night, the girl of the siblings wakes up with a mahoosive spider’s thread stuck to her finger, so she wakes her brother and they follow it all through the house, all through the marsh to the tree, and all up the tree until lo and behold out the top they’re in another world, peopled by different versions of characters they’ve just met.
Then the thread is ensnaring a unicorn – just because – but the unicorn bamfs out of existence to be replaced by the baddy of the piece – just because, and she snatches the brother, but that’s OK, the girl can hear hunters approaching and they might help her find him, except then the talking bear comes along… It’s just so wilfully incoherent, to me. I’m sure there’s something here for the target readers (definitely under-tens), and there certainly is a pell-mell flow to the plot, but I seldom read something for this audience that is so adult-proof, meaning this really is for young minds only. This was so speedy and yet so ungainly – like an ice-skating crocodile, it might be snappy but I wouldn’t bother getting too close. One and a half stars from me.
Then the thread is ensnaring a unicorn – just because – but the unicorn bamfs out of existence to be replaced by the baddy of the piece – just because, and she snatches the brother, but that’s OK, the girl can hear hunters approaching and they might help her find him, except then the talking bear comes along… It’s just so wilfully incoherent, to me. I’m sure there’s something here for the target readers (definitely under-tens), and there certainly is a pell-mell flow to the plot, but I seldom read something for this audience that is so adult-proof, meaning this really is for young minds only. This was so speedy and yet so ungainly – like an ice-skating crocodile, it might be snappy but I wouldn’t bother getting too close. One and a half stars from me.
September 20, 2024
Спомняте ли си „Денят, в който пропаднах в приказка“ от британския детски писател Бен Милър? Не е лесно човек да я забрави! Е, нейното е вече тук! „Нощта, в която заседнахме в приказка“, отново издадена от ИК „Хермес“, е книга, в която се разказва за поредното чаровно и вълнуващо приключение, което ни пренася в света на детските фантазии и магията на приказките. Присъединяваме се за втори път към младите авантюристи Лана и Харисън за едно незабравимо пътешествие, което разпалва въображението и поддържа любопитството на младите на години… и по дух. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
July 27, 2024
Cool book
November 16, 2024
i really love the way Ben Miller narrates a story! I also feel I am stuck into the story I read and I really wish our heroes will have a happy ending!
A really nice book, discussing about ecology, ecosystems and the respeced needed for all species. A book with a strong environmental message, that would be interesting for all youngsters to read!
Great illustrations as well!
A really nice book, discussing about ecology, ecosystems and the respeced needed for all species. A book with a strong environmental message, that would be interesting for all youngsters to read!
Great illustrations as well!
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August 16, 2022Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I feel a bit behind s I didn’t know Ben Miller even wrote books, which is exciting, as I’m a big fan of his. Yes, I know this is a children’s book and probably not aimed at a 29 year old but it sounded like such a fun story. It turned out to be a proper fantasy adventure.
I read an early e-copy; it would be lovely to see a finished book to see the final images as the description of this fantasy world sounded so bright and beautiful, and the black and white images in this copy don’t do them justice.
There was definitely a sense of Narnia about it, with magical lands and talking animals.
By having a boy and a girl as your protagonists, it would appeal to all children as they are all able to identify with them and follow them on their adventure.
I liked the main plot point of the spiders. In my experience, most people do not think favourably of spiders, and a lot of the children I know fall into that category. And whilst I’m not about to go and stroke a spider, I think this book could do a lot to change their perspective, especially for children.
It is straightforward and exciting for children to follow but developed enough to interest older readers.
I feel a bit behind s I didn’t know Ben Miller even wrote books, which is exciting, as I’m a big fan of his. Yes, I know this is a children’s book and probably not aimed at a 29 year old but it sounded like such a fun story. It turned out to be a proper fantasy adventure.
I read an early e-copy; it would be lovely to see a finished book to see the final images as the description of this fantasy world sounded so bright and beautiful, and the black and white images in this copy don’t do them justice.
There was definitely a sense of Narnia about it, with magical lands and talking animals.
By having a boy and a girl as your protagonists, it would appeal to all children as they are all able to identify with them and follow them on their adventure.
I liked the main plot point of the spiders. In my experience, most people do not think favourably of spiders, and a lot of the children I know fall into that category. And whilst I’m not about to go and stroke a spider, I think this book could do a lot to change their perspective, especially for children.
It is straightforward and exciting for children to follow but developed enough to interest older readers.
October 7, 2023
I read this book in a day and I wasn't overly impressed.
The book had plot that wasn't really going anywhere and the book was also not that descriptive.
I understand that this is a children's book but I think that there could be more effort put into the overall plot.
I did enjoy the time when Lana transformed into a spider as the description of what spiders thought of humans and what it's like to be a spider but overall I didn't enjoy this book.
The book had plot that wasn't really going anywhere and the book was also not that descriptive.
I understand that this is a children's book but I think that there could be more effort put into the overall plot.
I did enjoy the time when Lana transformed into a spider as the description of what spiders thought of humans and what it's like to be a spider but overall I didn't enjoy this book.
October 23, 2022
Lana and Harrison made travel to a magical world 🌌🌠🕸️🕸️🕸️🕷️🕷️🦄🐻🦅🪶 I didn't know spiders was so important little animal to the world 🕷️ such a magic book 📚📖☕📱 thanks Ben Miller to make me travel to a totally different world 🥰 5 stars ✨ book love it can't wait for November another amazing book is coming 💜
September 3, 2023
By my 8 year old daughter:
I give this 4.5 stars but I didn't like the ending. I loved the rest of the book though. I liked the fact it was about spiders because they're not usually characters in books. My favourite character is Lana because she is funny. I hope Ben Miller writes a new Lana and Harrison book as I loved the first one when they fell into a fairytale too.
I give this 4.5 stars but I didn't like the ending. I loved the rest of the book though. I liked the fact it was about spiders because they're not usually characters in books. My favourite character is Lana because she is funny. I hope Ben Miller writes a new Lana and Harrison book as I loved the first one when they fell into a fairytale too.
April 16, 2023
BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!
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August 28, 2022I didn’t know that Ben Miller did write stories, however really loving the the magic involved in this one!
This is the story about how Lana and Harrison meet some spiders and end up on a magical adventure at night-time. Lana is the younger of the two and she is very much into play and believing, whereas Harrison is just that more grown up as he’s a teenager. They both want to play on the old hollowed tree at their Grandparents area, but when some developers ask Lana if she wants to save the spiders that live there or have a big climbing frame. She wants to play and Harrison wants to save the spiders.
One of the things that I enjoyed about this book is that the chapters aren’t very long and a straight forward read which, really helps when you’re reading with younger children, or maybe when they’re reading by themselves. Recommended for parents looking for a fun and magical bedtime read and children who like magic and relatable characters.
I found myself really caring about the spiders by the end of the book too, which I think was the point. The writer makes you feel and understand things from the spider’s perspective.
There was definitely a ‘Narnia’ feel about it. (with magical lands and talking animals.) and I think this book could do a lot to change peoples perspective on spiders, especially children.
This is the story about how Lana and Harrison meet some spiders and end up on a magical adventure at night-time. Lana is the younger of the two and she is very much into play and believing, whereas Harrison is just that more grown up as he’s a teenager. They both want to play on the old hollowed tree at their Grandparents area, but when some developers ask Lana if she wants to save the spiders that live there or have a big climbing frame. She wants to play and Harrison wants to save the spiders.
One of the things that I enjoyed about this book is that the chapters aren’t very long and a straight forward read which, really helps when you’re reading with younger children, or maybe when they’re reading by themselves. Recommended for parents looking for a fun and magical bedtime read and children who like magic and relatable characters.
I found myself really caring about the spiders by the end of the book too, which I think was the point. The writer makes you feel and understand things from the spider’s perspective.
There was definitely a ‘Narnia’ feel about it. (with magical lands and talking animals.) and I think this book could do a lot to change peoples perspective on spiders, especially children.
November 7, 2022
I wanted to read this book as I read other stories by Ben Miller and they're alwyas well plotted and gripping.
This is a great story that will appeal to children and adult: well developed characters, a fabolous world building.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
This is a great story that will appeal to children and adult: well developed characters, a fabolous world building.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
August 24, 2023
Yet another lovely story from Ben Miller. I'm not a young reader (not that old either) but I simply love Ben's books. Thank you!!
And thank you for helping me see spiders from a whole new perspective!!
And thank you for helping me see spiders from a whole new perspective!!
October 8, 2025
It was good because this girl needed to climb a tree but needed a her brother to help her so she climbed the tree and went into a different world but her brother got taken so she went on a lot of adventures and got her brother back so a spider queen sent her back to the real world with a flick.
October 9, 2022
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I adore middle grade novels, with all their creativity and imagination; and this one is no exception. This portal fantasy follows the adventures of siblings, Lana and Harrison, when they are pulled into a story world by the thread of a spider.
The underlying message to look after our ecosystem, even the parts that aren't cute and cuddly, was really heart-warming. I love that this is a unique theme that I haven't seen in many other middle grade novels (so far!).
I loved that this followed siblings. These are always my favourite kind of relationship to read about.
As a teacher, I can't move past how perfect this book would be for years 2-4. Some writing constructs to keep an eye out for are the author's astute use of similes and a rather enlightening embedded narrative. Great teaching points, particularly in those middle years. Also obvious connections to the curriculum for biological sciences, particularly in year 4.
This book would be wonderful for kids who also enjoyed The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis, The Witches by Roald Dahl, or Seven Wherewithal Way by Samantha Ellen-Bound.
Publication date: 5 October 2022
RRP: $16.99
I adore middle grade novels, with all their creativity and imagination; and this one is no exception. This portal fantasy follows the adventures of siblings, Lana and Harrison, when they are pulled into a story world by the thread of a spider.
The underlying message to look after our ecosystem, even the parts that aren't cute and cuddly, was really heart-warming. I love that this is a unique theme that I haven't seen in many other middle grade novels (so far!).
I loved that this followed siblings. These are always my favourite kind of relationship to read about.
As a teacher, I can't move past how perfect this book would be for years 2-4. Some writing constructs to keep an eye out for are the author's astute use of similes and a rather enlightening embedded narrative. Great teaching points, particularly in those middle years. Also obvious connections to the curriculum for biological sciences, particularly in year 4.
This book would be wonderful for kids who also enjoyed The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis, The Witches by Roald Dahl, or Seven Wherewithal Way by Samantha Ellen-Bound.
Publication date: 5 October 2022
RRP: $16.99
January 3, 2023
A fun children's story - provided you are not bothered by spiders 🤪
February 14, 2023
My 7 year-old daughter recommended this to me as she'd read it and loved it. I think it's very imaginative, very creative and a brilliant children's read.
June 9, 2023
A quick wonderful read that I really enjoyed.
June 20, 2023
Wow!
Short but enjoyable and well worth a read
Short but enjoyable and well worth a read
June 29, 2023
It was a bit slow to start but once the new characters come it makes it alot more interesting
March 6, 2024
I enjoyed this book, I still think The Night I Met Father Christmas was the best Ben Miller book I’ve read so far, but this was very enjoyable and there are lessons learnt about real life in it.
March 21, 2024
dint like it much, the storyline was too basic. i gave the book up in the middle and somehow managed to complete it. this book isnt giving.
May 10, 2024
4.5 really good but ending could be better ending was anticlimactic
June 9, 2024
It was okay, but it's quite repetitive. Doesn't give enough information about the background or characters' appearance. Not my type of book.
July 22, 2024
Loved this although I am scared of spiders
April 18, 2025
I think this is a good book and good how the characters match another one of his books, I would recommend this book if you like thrill and adventure
Read
July 26, 2025Adventure genre for school's summer reading challenge. The Elvis character made me smile.
September 28, 2025
was really good with great suspense
November 18, 2025
Great for the middle grade reader who likes adventure and fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews