A tale by one author, two ghosts, and the most magical book in a while

Liesl & Po
By: Lauren Oliver
Reported by: Juli Helms
Source: Author (won from a contest)
Release Date: October 11th, 2011

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places.

-Summary from Goodreads

*DISCLAIMER: While I did receive this ARC on behalf of the author, it does not, in anyway, influence my opinion or review of the book.*

Liesl & Po was an absolutely enchanting story! It captivated me from the very first sentence to the surprising and fulfilling last pages. Brilliant! This story is absolutely magical and more than satisfying.

There weren't a lot of characters in this book, maybe a dozen or so. And every single one of them was strong. They were all integral to the story, all were interesting, and none were flat. A lot of the times in third-person omniscient books, I find myself to prefer one character's POV (Point Of View) and finding another irritable, but this book definitely did not belong to that category. I looked forward to every single character, and experiencing the story through the multiple POVs really enhanced its quality, instead of deducting it with unnecessary information.

The plot was magical. Compete it with Disney, and this book will win. Seriously. It's mesmerizing and the world building was great, and the story really emphasized the "sacrifice" part of a fairy tale--great endings don't come for free, a lesson we should all learn.*

And finally, Lauren Oliver--the author--herself. In my opinion, she is the most talented, versatile writer out there today. Before I fall (Contemporary) was stunning, Delirium (Dystopian) was astonishing, and Liesl & Po (Middle Grade) was just plain unbelievable.

All in all, Liesl & Po is a must-read for all ages. It will definitely bring out the inner child in you. And if you're a kid? Read it! It'll blow you away!

*You might think I'm spoiling something here by saying "great ending", (if you're one of those people, stop reading right here. I might be "spoiling" more) but fairy tales almost always end in happy endings (unless we're speaking of their original versions. Those are gruesome). So, I'm merely confirming, but not spoiling anything here.