This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite
Elliot & Bo in Icyland by Agatha Georges follows a ten-year-old boy named Elliot who lives in Oregon. He wants to be a marine biologist like his Uncle Jesse and decides to go to the beach to collect seashells. But he discovers what looks more like a waste disposal site instead of a beach. There’s old fishing gear, garbage, and a toilet seat. Then Elliot sees a penguin tangled in seaweed and plastic webbing. He frees her and soon learns that she can talk and her name is Bo. Bo explains she is from the magical realm of Icyland, and it’s melting and going to cause the oceans to rise, leaving coastal towns underwater and garbage. She creates a portal in Elliot’s kitchen, pulling them into Icyland, where he encounters floating books, snow pillows, sliding ice ramps, and a Library of Whispers. With the help of a rhyming narwhal librarian named Noria, Elliot and Bo must move quickly to save both worlds.
Agatha Georges balances adventure with environmental awareness in Elliot & Bo in Icyland. It was informative without overwhelming readers. The pacing was moderate, and the scenes just kept moving from the discovery of Bo wrapped in plastic to the portal in the kitchen, and the intricate worldbuilding inside the Library of Whispers. Elliot’s character was brave but uncertain, just like any child his age. Bo was sarcastic and humorous, which added warmth and a good contrast to the tension. Noria brought the lyrical layer into the story that made it feel quirky. I loved Petronille’s illustrations that elevated the whole book. My favorite were the translucent bubbles and the floating books. Readers who enjoyed other eco-conscious fantasy stories like The Last Bear by Hannah Gold would love Elliot & Bo in Icyland.
