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Reviewed by Richard Prause for Readers' Favorite
In A.V. Harlow’s Ellie Harlow and the Secret Light of Yosemite, we meet Ellie, a character who experiences everyday sights and sounds with an intensity that can easily get overwhelming. While hanging out at the Smithsonian American Art Museum with Max, her fast-talking best friend, she spots the light doing something strange on an 1868 masterpiece by Albert Bierstadt. Suddenly, a mysterious symbol lights up on her grandmother’s old brass flashlight, and the two kids get magically whisked inside the canvas, into the real Yosemite Valley. There, the painter tells them that smoky monsters called Faders are bleaching the whole landscape simply because people don’t stop to notice nature’s wonders anymore. To rescue this gorgeous world, Ellie has to trust her unique senses to travel through the valley and sketch the color back into existence. Is it possible for a young girl’s drawings to hold off a huge wave of color-stealing monsters?
I think Ellie Harlow and the Secret Light of Yosemite by A.V. Harlow is a compelling children’s adventure story because it makes exploring art history seem like a magical playground. The whole idea of stepping inside a painting at a museum is a fantastic bit of worldbuilding that will easily capture the imaginations of young readers. I love how the author takes the concept of mindfulness and actually turns it into an awesome superpower, giving kids a nice reminder about why we should slow down in a hectic world. The gorgeous illustrations throughout the story really add to that feeling, letting kids visualize exactly how the gray landscapes change back into bright, vibrant colors. In the end, it is a really creative story that does a great job of blending education with fantasy. It leaves you with a real appreciation for the masterpieces we see on museum walls. Very highly recommended.
