SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
When Lottie gets a gift from her father, a box made from her favorite old tree, she puts it away. Years later, after ignoring it, she and her friend Lewis end up using it to accidentally travel to another world called LightLand. But the two end up getting separated and have to try to reunite, even when a dangerous being called the NightKing threatens them.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Lottie is an odd young girl raised by her father in a small town. She doesn't care what anyone thinks of her and is very stubborn. She lost her mother at a young age and is known for her great memory.
Lewis is Lottie's best friend. He doesn't speak and hasn't since she has known him. Like Lottie, Lewis has no problem with being seen as odd. He also sleeps with his eyes open. His father disappeared when he was three but it's unknown if that caused his loss of speech. He draws odd pictures and admits he doesn't know what they mean.
Ms. d'Avignon is Lottie and Lewis' new teacher. She surprises everyone by causing Lewis to smile and challenges Lottie to do better in school. Oddly enough, she seems to know things she shouldn't, like when she reads Lottie's mind or when she knew about the gym coach and what Lottie said to him.
The Night King is a mysterious figure who threatens everyone who lives in Lightland. When the sun goes down he rules and anyone who he catches loses his memories.
LEWIS' FATHER-SPOILERS
We learn early on that Lewis' father went missing years ago. He and Lottie don't discuss it. Eventually we learn about the Night King and his identity.
There is only one hint about their relationship, when he meets some mice, they assume he is the Night King, presumably because they look similar. And when he sleeps with his eyes open they state that he is just like the Night King. So instead of seeing a build up of hints, we pretty much figure it out right away with the mice.
THE NIGHT KING
The Night King reveals that he believes he is from LightLand, originally. Lewis tries to argue with him, pointing out the stories of his father's history. But he says they were all false memories. He doesn't offer any actual proof of this, however. And he seems determined to be angry, even when Lewis tries to remind him of his wife.
He is an adequate villain in that he comes across as deeply disturbed. I didn't doubt that he was capable of great evil. And I suppose more about him could be learned in another book.
LOTTIE'S MEMORIES
Lottie loses certain memories, which is horrible because she can usually recall almost anything from her childhood. Even if it happened when she was small. There isn't any explanation of why this is.
Her father gave her a box to put in memories (this box being made of a special tree) and she never used it. But this doesn't matter, until it does. I was left kind of confused.
I get that the tree had magic that brought her to Light Land, but how did it take her memories? Or was it something else? She gets them back when she arrives in LightLand, and we don't discuss the loss again.
LIGHTLAND
The world is kind of confusing, as its inhabitants don't fully explain it. Lottie travels though her wooden box, and travels home by going to sleep. Lewis on the other hand, doesn't come home (this isn't explained but we just assume it's because of who he is related to).
The world is full of taking animals, including a bird named Umber who guides Lottie. She later learns it came from her first drawing, a picture of a bird. So LightLand doesn't just bring memories of living beings to life, but nonliving as well.
You can also bring memories to life. Lewis remembers his two dogs and they appear. And Lottie remembers a story told to her about her grandfather, only to have him show up as a young man. But they don't last. Interestingly enough, she wonders if she could summon her dead mother.
Also it's revealed that people who have lost their own memories are sustained by others' remembering them. It happend to a character named Robert.
Umber later reveals that only solid memories are citizens of LightLand. Which is why Lottie's grandfather disappears.
ALICE'S INSIGHT
There is a student in Lewis and Lotties' class named Alice. When Lewis writes his strange markings on the chalkboard she is called on by the teacher to interpret it. Oddly enough, the girl doesn't blow them off as nonsense. Instead she expains a vague story, and seems confused at the insight, herself.
Later on, Lottie goes to her to show more of Lewis' writings. I liked that it showed the stubborn Lottie making a friend. It made her more likable and showed a slight arc.
But the insight didn't really add much to the story other than that.
LOTTIE'S DILEMMA-SPOILERS
When Lewis is left in LightLand, Lottie gets a call from his mom, saying she had to rush off for a week because of an emergency. I thought this was kind of convenient. What are the odds that she would leave without ever seeing her son? I guess she is rather selfish. And since her son cannot speak, she just rambles on, assuming the mute boy is listening.
This gives Lottie a week to find and bring back her friend. Also it gives her the option to do it alone or ask for help.
LOTTIE'S TEACHER
Ms. d'Avignon is likable and she ends up being a confidant for Lottie, who admits the truth about Lewis. Like the NightKing, I think more will be revealed about her in the future. After all, it's never explained how she knows things she shouldn't. I am guessing she has some connection to LightLand herself. If not, it would be strange that she believed Lottie so easily. Also, it's hinted that she might have an attraction to Lottie's father.
Ms. d'Avignon also ends up helping explain why the box is so important. She theorizes that because it spanned a time where important memories were made, between Lottie and her mother, it became a bridge to LightLand. I appreciated the discussion she, Lottie and Lottie's father had.
VEIL OF OBLIVION
The NightKing has hundreds of sacks that contain memories that he has stolen over the years. Some of the memories are so awful that they can kill. One is called the Veil of Oblivion.
Lottie only learns about it from Umber, and that's more than halfway through the story. Even then, Umber doesn't explain just what it is, only that the bird believes that Lottie can defeat it and face the King. It explains that without it, they believe the king will have no power.
LEWIS' ABILITIES-SPOILERS
When Lewis is trapped in the NightKing's castle, he learns that he can will things to happen. He causes a narrow crack to grow until its big enough for him to use. And then it closes behind him.
There seems to be another side affect, as later on he wants to give the Veil over to Umber, but finds his body resisting. We get an explanation that this is the NightKing's spell. But his mouse friend whispers to him and breaks the spell easily.
LEWIS' WORDS
When Lewis meets his father, he finally speaks. He is thrilled to do it, finally show his father that he is not afraid of him. He doesn't really explain why he refuses to talk but we do get some insight. He wishes Lottie were there to speak for him, so for some reason he had decided to rely on her.
It's interesting that the NightKing asks if he still doesn't speak, meaning he was like this long before his father went missing.
LOTTIE'S JOURNEY
Lottie eventually heads off to rescue Lewis, when she figures out how to return to LightLand. She doesn't go alone, and is accompanied by Robert, the young man who previously lost all of his memories.
GOODBYE ROBERT
After Robert finds Lewis, the Mouse tells him to jump from the window and rally the citizens out of hiding. Lewis decides to stay and find Lottie, even though he is scared to face the NightKing.
I wasn't sure exactly why this was necessary. Perhaps giving Lewis the chance to leave and not taking it would show bravery and help his arc. But I never really expected him to leave Lottie behind (even though Robert said she might have already escaped). And I didn't understand why Robert needed to leave other than the fact it left Lewis to be the hero on his own.
CLIMAX
Lottie meets the NightKing, who mocks her for not summoning her dead mother. He explains he is linked through her because of the bags he has, that hold many of her memories. And also that her memories are powerful and interfering with his. So he attempts to wipe hers away (by killing her, unlike what he normally does). Lewis shows up. And the NightKing is defeated by an item that Lottie obtained earlier.
THE SPECIAL TREE-SPOILERS
In the end, Lottie throws her cherry tree seed into the veil of oblivion in order to destroy it. I suppose it adds up. After all we are told from the beginning that the tree was special. It was so strong it created a gateway to LightLand.
CONCLUSION
LightLand has many strong points. Lottie, Lewis and Ms. D'Avignon are all distinct, likable characters. The LightKing is creepy and mysterious. Both Lewis and Lottie go through arcs, Lottie learning to trust her father and her new teacher as well as make a new friend from her class.
Lewis' arc might be percieved as slightly forced, as he only talks when he is put in an extreme circumstance. But he goes from learning to reply on Lottie for everything, including his speech, from meeting and escaping the NightKing. I still wish he had struggled more with the influence that the NightKing had upon him, instead of that one scene.
The world of LightLand is interesting and has lots of potential. Enough is revealed in this first story to spark your interest in hope of learning more. And the truth about the NightKing is a theme that I hope will occur.
I give “LightLand” three and half stars.
