I am a sucker for portal fantasy, secret societies, parallel worlds, and witches, so this middle-grade adventure was a natural for me. Melanie Crowder starts quiet, with a chapter that deftly sketches out the relationship between Griffin and his widowed father (no spoilers). But then it revs up until we are careening between our world and Somni to thrilling effect. This is a book that adults just may swipe away for a fun, immersive read. ( )

Beginning is compelling, but plot is a bit derivative. ( )

Lighthouses fascinate me. They’re so mysterious. Though I’ve never seen a real one, pictures of them hint at secrets that only the lighthouse knows. Author Melanie Crowder’s novel THE LIGHTHOUSE BETWEEN THE WORLDS, is a perfect example of a lighthouse that is more than just a warning for ships to not come near the land. This lighthouse is the story of a family, a mother who is dead, or so they believe, a father who disappears, and a boy who must find the answers to his father’s whereabouts and his mother’s death.

Melanie Crowder has written a touching story about a family torn apart and a lighthouse that is much more than a lighthouse. As I read, the story pulled me deeper and deeper into young Griffin’s life as he finds himself in another world. This novel kept me reading to discover the answers Griffin was seeking. THE LIGHTHOUSE BETWEEN THE WORLDS would make a nice addition to school libraries, public libraries, and your own library. Enjoy. ( )