Wednesdays in the Tower

Wednesdays in the Tower
by Jessica Day George
240 page
Elementary+

Princess Celie is still mapping out her beloved Castle Glower, but strange things are happening.  The holiday feast room has returned, even though it's the wrong time of year.  New rooms are appearing almost faster than Celie can map.  The most intriguing addition is a tower beyond her classroom.  At the top of this mysterious tower is an egg.  A bright orange, big as a pumpkin egg.

As Celie cares for the egg, she wonders what it could be.  It is way to large to be anything she knows about, but it could be a roc, or a dragon, or even something else.  When it finally hatches, a small, pitiful looking griffin tumbles out, starving and immediately latching onto Celie as its caretaker.

Celie quickly feels overwhelmed by this new responsibility, so she asks Castle Glower for help.  In addition to adding another tower just off her bedroom, it starts providing food and toys for Rufus the baby griffin.  Charmed by him, Celie keeps him a secret.  But when she finally wants to tell people, the Castle itself stops her!  It slams doors, and even closes off areas to keep her from telling.  Only a coupe people know, and they help her raise Rufus.

With all the mysterious actions of the Castle, Celie's family has asked for help from the Wizard College.  But when an unexpected wizard shows up, and takes a lot of interest in Celie's study of griffins, she gets very suspicious of him.  Does he have anything to do with the Castle's strange actions?  And why should a griffin appear now, hundreds of years after the last known griffins lived?  And how can Celie keep Rufus a secret for much longer?

This was a great sequel to the first book.  But warning!  Such a cliff hanger!  I like that the setting from the first has been fleshed out a little more, and some questions from the first are beginning to be explained.  While the first stood by itself just fine, this addition enhances it and makes the world even more interesting.  I can't wait for the next one!

So, definitely a book and series to recommend.  I can see a lot of little girls really enjoying this one.  Celie is so likable, and stays true to being a kid, without seeming childish most of the time.  Her relationship with her family is realistic, and her reactions at times definitely what a kid would do.  Strong female character without her being a tomboy or overly feminine or being super romantic.

Overall, fun book!  I really had a hard time putting it down.  I finished last night and stayed up a little too late finishing!  Great book!  Good characters, intriguing plot lines, and lots to come in the next one (whenever it finally comes).  I eagerly await the sequel!