As a parent of a child who has experienced seizures, I was intrigued when I discovered the book “Delilah Versus the Ghastly Grim.” The description of the book caught my attention because it promised an exciting adventure filled with themes of strength and courage.
📖 Book Description
Winner of the Children’s Book International Award and Literary Global Children’s Book Award for fantasy—an exciting middle-grade adventure about perseverance, friendship, and self-discovery.
After a life-threatening seizure opens an indigo door in Delilah Jay Monroe’s mind and lands her in the mysterious fantasy realm of Othersphere, she discovers she is “the traveler from the stories of old,” the only one who can defeat the evil Ghastly Grim.With the help of a wise kangaroo council member named Viticus and a lively ladybug named Sir Nellid, Delilah must embark on a dangerous quest to obtain the Book of Truth, crack codes, save a dragon, and uncover the hidden powers within her before Othersphere is lost to the shadow and mist.
Trapped in the in-between, her body in a hospital bed on Earth, and the fate of Othersphere hanging in the balance, Delilah will need to find a way past her insecurities and solve a seemingly impossible riddle, or she may just lose everything. Will she survive the Ghastly Grim and his monstrous horde to get back home, or will the darkness prevail?
Written for the author’s grandchild and inspired by the real girl’s struggles, Delilah Versus the Ghastly Grim is a heartfelt fantasy novel about self-acceptance and hope.
Disclosure: I did get an ARC copy for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
📝 My Review
I read the book before encouraging Zeva to read it. It gave me a feeling reminiscent of both “Harry Potter” and “Alice in Wonderland.” Although I haven’t read those books in a long time, I’m not quite sure why this book reminds me of them, but it does.
In her daily life, she endures a significant amount of torment from her classmates, who unleash their relentless teasing without a second thought. At home, her relationship with her parents is characterized by formality, marked by a lack of warmth and open communication. Adding to her challenges, her brother delights in mocking her, further amplifying her feelings of isolation. Each day feels like a battle as she navigates the unrelenting pressures from both school and family.
I love how the author makes Delilah so strong and able to tackle whatever she endures. The Othersphere is an intriguing world full of adventure for Delilah. It features interesting, well-developed characters.
I’ve found that truly finding books that entertain Zeva has become quite the journey. She has made it clear that she enjoys spooky and fantasy-style reads. And after her having seizures, this was a book that she could relate to more.
Overall Thoughts:
This book is ideal for middle schoolers or others who enjoy reading books about adventures. I also think it’s suitable for anyone who deals with seizures, bullying, and so many other things. This was a fun read, even for me as an adult.
🔗 Where to Get It
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Delilah Versus the Ghastly Grim, the award-winning, bestselling fantasy book edited by The Hunger Games editor. We cannot put into words how much we appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to review this inclusive middle-grade book. Very happy you enjoyed it. We are looking forward to delving into your take on some of the other books you’ve read!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It was fun.