Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action-packed magical fantasy also has charm and wit.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
THE LEFT-HANDED BOOKSELLERS OF LONDON are an extended clan who still possess magical abilities and are tasked with intervening when mythical people and beings from ancient times break through into the modern world. Oh, and they also run a couple of bookshops in London. Merlin and his twin sister Vivien are young newcomers, just out of magical training school and starting to get their feet wet when it comes to fending off the ancients. Susan is a young woman who decides to spend the summer before she starts art college trying to find her father. It's going to be tough, though, since she doesn't even know his name. The only clue she has leads to an old friend of her mother's, who happens to have just been disintegrated by Merlin. Forced to flee together, Merlin and Susan will have to overcome powerful creatures and beings in order to finally learn the truth.
Is It Any Good?
Veteran author Garth Nix has added another winner to his impressive body of work with this fast-paced, inventive magical fantasy that also has lots humor and charm. The Left-Handed Booksellers of London nicely balances characters and plot elements steeped in ancient lore with quirky, refreshing characters in an interesting, alternative version of London in 1983. The story is well structured and keeps the pages turning for the most part, although it does slow down a bit in a couple of places. Teens will enjoy rooting for Merlin and Susan as they seek the truth. Lots of fantasy violence with some mildly gory descriptions make it best for high-schoolers and up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. How much is too much? Do you react differently when you read it than when you see it in movies, videos, games, or other media? Why?
Why is it important to represent different kinds of people in books and other media? How do you feel when there's a character you can identify with? What can you learn about people who are different from you?
Have you read any other books by Garth Nix? If you have, which ones are your favorites? If you haven't, would you like to now?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date : September 22, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 415
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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