Eleven-year-old Florence Ibbot is off to her favourite place, the town of Inkwell where her Grandfather runs the local book store. Florence is a very lovely young girl who adores reading and words. She is an only child and her parents are lecturers and rarely ever at home.

The town of Inkwell is an unusual place with its feather field that makes you lose time, drumming Wombats, and pushy plum trees that talk to you all about how plums are the best fruit in the world.

One day whilst helping at her Grandfathers shop something bad happens to all the books and the words inside. It is up to the two of them to solve the mystery or the written word could be lost forever.

The Word-Keeper is certainly a strange little book that has plenty of magical moments and a big adventure within. Florence is a very bright, well-educated young girl who just adores words and their meanings. She also adores the town of Inkwell and can’t wait to visit her Grandfather. She is given a hard time at school by some of the school bullies and words are her safe, happy place.

I would say that this book is for middle-grade readers. The plot is quite exciting and nothing like I have read before. There is also some amazing artwork within the pages too and a map of Inkwell at the beginning – who doesn’t love a map in a book!

The story reminds me a little of Alice in Wonderland or Peter Pan where you have the normal world and then a magical one and the two work well side by side.

My only tiny worry is with the cover, as the story within is delightful, full-on and has you eagerly reading. There is an evil sorceress and a bookmark that comes to life, but for how lively the tale is I’m concerned that children won’t see past the cover to read the fabulous story within.

Veronica Del Valle grew up in Argentina, but life eventually led her to live in London, the city that was her home for many years.

Veronica’s always had a fondness for words, language and the magic of storytelling. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University.

Veronica currently lives in Buenos Aires with her husband, Ale, and her daughter, Tomiko. She teaches creative writing at Universidad de San Andres and is a contributing editor and writer for one of Argentina’s leading news organizations.

When she’s not writing or teaching, she’s either a) meditating or b) enjoying life with her family (which, in a way, is another beautiful way to meditate).

The Word Keeper is the first novel she’s written.

What did you think of The Word-Keeper? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!