Welcome to a world of fantasy, fun, and fulfillment --- only possible through the realm of books and imaginations. This is the world of THE GREAT GOOD THING by Roderick Townley. Characters come alive in dreams, taking readers to never before seen places, exploring the unknown areas of the mind and experiencing new sensations.
   
Our story begins with Claire. She is the first "reader" of the novel --- after her grandmother, that is. As Claire cracks open the book, the characters scurry to their places in the pages. One of these characters, a girl Claire's age, calls out to her from within the book. And so begins a friendship between Claire and Sylvie.
   
I continued with the book because I liked the characters, even if I could not suspend my disbelief about the story. Both Claire, the "real" girl, and Sylvie, her imaginary (or not) friend, are heartfelt creations. Their escapades are genuine. Author Roderick writes most of the action not within our world, the world of Claire and her grandmother, but within the magic kingdom of the book within the book of THE GREAT GOOD THING and its characters. Sylvie's perilous journey to save her world is engrossing, and her dismay at marrying Prince Riggeloff is deftly written.

Our stories, our novels, will be passed on from generation to generation, and at some other time, in some other place, somebody just may be reading this very review. And somebody may be reading THE GREAT GOOD THING. I say enjoy, because this book is worthwhile. Just read it with a grain of salt --- or maybe just a big imagination.

   --- Reviewed by Lisa Marx