The Strangeworlds Travel Agency looked more like a lost and found office, or a rather specialist antique shop, than a travel agency. So it was hardly surprising that the boy was suspicious—even before the suitcase sprang open.

This ability takes on a meaning beyond being a bit of fun when Jonathan divulges that his dad has gone missing somewhere out there and he desperately wants to find him. Then there was the fact that the travel agency had no fancy posters of Disneyland, or the Algarve, or anywhere else you might have wanted to visit. There were no posters at all, in fact. Only a few globes and atlases. And something that was like a globe, except the sphere was shaped more like a pear than a ball. Túto knihu môžem odporúčať len deťom. Nemyslím si síce, že je zlá, ale dospelým podľa mňa nič moc nedá a nič sa nestane, ak si ju neprečítate. Author L. D. Lapinski and the cover of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: The Edge of the Ocean Section 28 L. D's new middle-grade fantasy series ARTEZANS launches in February 2024 with the first book Artezans: The Forgotten Magic.

I do know,” Jonathan snapped, drawing himself up so he seemed much taller than his usually unimpressive five-foot-eight. “How—how dare you? You know full well you do not have the authority to wield that.”

As you can see, a lot of good, a lot of love… but sadly also things I just wasn’t happy with. For now it is going to be 3 stars as I still enjoyed reading it, and I was happy to see all the worlds and see the characters grow.Section 28 was an amendment to the Local Government Act, put in place by Margaret Thatcher’s government in 1988. It stated that: a local authority “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality” or “promote the teaching in any [school] of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”. In a nutshell, this meant No Gay Books™ in school libraries, no LGBTQ support clubs in schools, and ultimately left teachers and school librarians all but unable to provide support for queer students, or even to condemn homophobic bullying within schools. It was not repealed until 2003. Like me, a lot of adults in their 30s have grown up not knowing what Section 28 was. Jonathan, I never could get a grip on his age. At the one hand he felt like 14-15, but on the other hand also 30. It was utterly confusing for me. We’ll do better, next time,” Hudspeth interrupted dismissively, helping his wife to her feet. “You all right, Mori?” Taking your responsibilities seriously, I see,” Hudspeth said, with grudging admiration. “No offense meant, er…”

No, you listen.” Jonathan came around the desk, his eyes flashing dangerously behind his glasses. “You’re Society members. You know the history of the agency, and you know why those lenses are a restricted item. How dare you keep one, let alone take it with you? I am your Head Custodian. I should strike your names off the ledger right this second.” Ale dvadsaťtriročná žena áno, obzvlášť ak som ňou ja. A nanešťastie vydavateľstvo spravilo tú chybu, že ju promovalo ako nasledovníka Harryho Pottera. Veľmi zlý krok. Mám hodnotiť knihu spôsobom, že si položím otázku, čo môže dať desaťročnému čitateľovi? Alebo ju budem hodnotiť z pohľadu dvadsaťtri ročnej ženy? A shadow crossed in front of the large bay window. And then it passed again, this time pausing in the region of the front door. After a moment the door opened, scraping over the swollen floorboards, and a boy came in, curling not so much his lip as his entire face at the sight of the shop interior. Imagine stepping into a suitcase and ending up in a jungle, or an enchanted forest, or a bright, bustling city filled with magic. Because that’s The Strangeworlds Travel Agency, the first book in a new series.I am not a huge fantasy fan, but the Strangeworlds Travel Agency hooked me in and had me reading on for more. First of all, the visitor was correct in pointing out that the place was a technological relic. Indeed, the most modern item in Jonathan Mercator’s possession was a typewriter from the 1960s. He liked to type passive-aggressive notes on it and hide them in library books. The desk the typewriter sat upon wouldn’t have been out of place in the office of a Victorian headmaster, and even Jonathan’s clothes looked old. You got the feeling someone might well have died in some of his tweed suits. They were not the sort of thing you’d expect an eighteen-year-old to be wearing. Jolly’s not the word I’d use.” The woman, Mori, ruffled her hair and lifted a pair of glasses to her face, before taking them off and trying a second pair which she kept on, apparently liking them better. “The weather’s taken a turn for the worse—you wouldn’t believe the size of the waves. There was talk of ships being blown off the edge of the map entirely.” L. D.'s books are published around the world in fifteen languages, and each book in the Strangeworlds trilogy has been awarded a Kirkus star - one of the most coveted designations in the book industry, Perhaps, before things become too complicated, we should clarify precisely why this young man was so skeptical about the Strangeworlds Travel Agency.