An appealing cast populates this enjoyable, lighthearted fantasy.

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      Two youngsters spend their summer in a magic-filled valley in Curtin’s debut middle-grade novel. Eleven-year-old Hanna is finally “old enough” to stay in Layamon for the summer. Kids in her home village often visit this place, which is within hiking distance. Apparently, everything in Layamon is magic, but those who’ve been there before are frustratingly short on specifics.

      Hanna, who journeys there with older, more experienced kids, isn’t the only “first timer” on this trip; there’s also “Nono,” who’s new to the village, though his parents once lived there. His frequent bouts of mischief-making have earned Nono his nickname, and he manages to cause trouble, for both himself and Hanna, before they even reach Layamon. The tweens nevertheless find common ground in this magical land where animals talk, trees seemingly come alive, and the beautiful fairy queen, Nirveena, sleeps an awful lot.

      There’s so much to do, from exploring a sparkling cave, to traveling to a faraway land courtesy of a magic door that reputedly leads to anywhere. Hanna and Nono meet Elephant Rock, a boulder in the forest with a “deep, grandfatherly voice” and extensive knowledge of Layamon’s history. The two vow to help Elephant Rock get back up to the nearby mountain peak from whence he rolled down—a hefty feat that will require others’ help and maybe even a bit of magic. But their enchanted summer may come to an abrupt end when a greedy individual, who years ago tried to steal Layamon’s magic, returns to the valley with the same sinister plan.

       Curtin’s entertaining tale pairs a couple of memorable lead characters. They occasionally bump heads, since Nono may be, at least initially, “too daring” for the ever-wary Hanna. Watching their friendship develop, whether they’re having fun or confronting a threat, is truly rewarding. The author skillfully fuses lessons for younger readers into the narrative as the tweens learn to work through disagreements and to think before they act (although the latter mostly applies to Nono). Readers may relish the pronunciation guide for the delightfully named characters, such as the eagle Bayooteon, as well as a “secret word” that holds astonishing power.

       Alongside the magical beings and fascinating Layamon sights, Curtin grounds the story with relatable components—the kids go camping and engage in such traditional activities as staying in a lean-to, swimming in a lake, and proving that they can start a fire. The taut, simple story teems with colorful prose: “Many trees were green… but some were like giant flowers, with thin trunks and wide purple leaves on top. Others looked like upsidedown bowls, covered with gold or orange leaves.” The author builds tension equally well: “Entering the tunnel, they stayed close to the rock wall on the right, away from the thundering cascade of water to their left. Soon they saw sunlit mist ahead.” While the story concludes with a superb resolution, Layamon is a wondrous place that surely contains myriad other stories to be told.

       An appealing cast populates this enjoyable, lighthearted fantasy.