The Enchanted Storm

by Christine Rohlie Ojeda

When a strange storm hits Cherry Blossom Lane where Betsy and her next-door neighbor Jimmy live, not only does their power go off, but people start disappearing. When only Betsy, Jimmy, and Betsy's mother are left, they are sucked down a misty black hole in Betsy's house into the enchanted world of Chakra. Here, Betsy and Jimmy alone are charged with finding something in the far off mountains "where the water meets the sun." As they journey, more details about their quest are revealed and magical tools are given to them to use on their way: necklaces, a glowing stone, a flower, a sword. The children learn about courage and faith in each other as they deal with obstacles they encounter.

The Enchanted Storm is a simply written tale for young readers. Compared to epics like the Harry Potter series, it would seem thin, but those books are complex tales for readers of all ages. Once you recognize that this story is a fairy tale, you slip into the fantasy of the land of Chakra and are carried on to each adventure that Betsy and Jimmy experience. Ojeda does use the fairy tale formula well. It will be interesting to see how she develops this genre in future books.