Elsbeth can travel between worlds through openings surrounded by colours. She believes she’s the only one who can do this and often takes things from different ‘Somewheres’ to sell as antiques in her mother’s shop.

One day, she’s spotted by a boy, Idris, who can do the same. He’s from a different Somewhere and is keen to make his grandmother proud. When Elsbeth’s mother goes missing, she’s sure it is because of the things she has stolen. Building a friendship with Idris, the two learn that together they can create and close openings. However, as they hunt for Elsbeth’s mother, they learn that their powers are causing dangerous earthquakes which impact on the Sphere’s they enter. As they explore the more hostile world’s surrounding their own, they learn of family secrets and the possibilities that the different worlds could bring.

This is an engaging fantasy story full of heart and adventure. The main characters are relatable and their growth throughout the story makes them highly likeable. The story gently addresses the loss of parents and how a young person might react to that loss. The end of the story leaves it quite open for a sequel, which I would definitely encourage children to read. It would also be a great opportunity to give older children a writing stimulus to encourage them to predict what would happen in a future adventure. This would be an excellent class novel for Year 4 or 5.