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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
Curiosity can lead us to places we never expected to go. In Constance and the Battle for Wonder by Julie Lavender, twelve-year-old Constance Faultsom has grown up in a colorful, imaginative home where her family embraces creativity and a magical place called Wonder. They're perfectly happy with their way of life. The other children attend The Dumble Street Center for Child Development and Life Preparation, while she’s homeschooled. One day, Constance grows restless. She wants to make friends and see what lies beyond everything she’s ever known. So, she convinces her parents to let her attend school. But it’s not like anything she ever expected. The students keep their distance, and conformity is encouraged. The more time Constance spends there, the more she sees that some things in Graystone Heights aren’t quite what they seem. Can she stay true to herself while trying to fit in?
Constance and the Battle for Wonder by Julie Lavender is a great chapter book and I think late elementary-aged or middle grade readers would enjoy it, as well. The author did a good job of capturing what it’s like to want to fit in while still staying true to who you are. Constance is easy to relate to, and I found myself rooting for her as she tried to make friends and be the new kid in school. The writing moves at a steady pace, and had just enough tension and humor to keep me turning the pages. Creativity, independence, and self-discovery flow naturally through the story. As a teacher, I’d use this book to talk with my students about peer pressure, kindness, and why it matters to think for yourself. They could also create their own imaginary worlds or write about a time they felt out of place. Katrina Santucci’s illustrations add a lot of personality to the story. They also help bring both the colorful and gray worlds to life. Readers who enjoy fantasy adventures, stories about friendship, and characters learning where they belong will want to read it. The moral of this tale is that growing up doesn't mean leaving your imagination behind. That's one reason this book belongs in homes, schools, and libraries.
