The tale of 6-yr old Flora Lea’s disappearance and her 14-ys old sister Hazel’s search for her was interesting to read but the convoluted plot of the American author, the illustrations that found their way to Hazel, her made up land of Whisperwood….all of it was unnecessary. All that Hazel had to do was agree to meet with Dot, the reporter who had been pestering her for years to tell the story of Flora Lea’s disappearance. The minute she met Dot she would have known it was her sister. No stealing illustrations. No American author. No leaving boyfriend Barnaby at the train station. No trip to find out which person from her past knew of Whisperwood.

When there is such an obvious solution to the story yet it is framed as “magic” “coincidence” “never lost hope” , it sort of ignores the fact that WHISPERWOOD WASNT THE REASON SHE FOUND FLORA LEA! It was because Hazel finally decided to meet the reporter.