I don’t even know where to begin so I will begin and begin and begin.

I bit into Super Mario’s Mushroom, it was magic and it tasted like peach!

Why did I even buy this book?

What was it that drew me to want to read it?

I don’t even know.

I read no blurb. 

I read no reviews. 

I saw the cover in a Goodreads give away, a couple of times and while I wasn’t drawn to it, it must have made an impact because I was in the bookstore with a credit that needed spending, and there, that weird cover stuttering over ‘Tomorrow’ was on shelf of ‘Staff Picks’. 

Okay, I saw it on Goodreads, and I saw it in a bookstore in Chilliwack, obviously, it’s stalking me. I bought it. Here I was, the week before Christmas hanging out with a couple of kids as they played video games. 

“Hey, do you know where our Nintendo is?” I asked my husband. He was sucking on a candy cane and watching football. 

“In the sea can, but you’ll never, ever, ever, ever find it.”

“Damn.”

“Why do you ask now?”

“I had an urge to chase mushrooms.” I cracked the book and continued to read, and then I read and read and read.

The story is magnificent (and I don’t usually use that word for anything so this is a magnificent thing!)

My being was touched that the story revolved around ‘friendship’. It was sweet, it was troubled, it was angry, it was confused. What started as a coming of age story, grew, like the Super Mario mushroom, larger and tastier, older and wiser.

I appreciated the writing. Zevin’s storytelling drew me in and kept me there and when I got to the last few pages I was sad. It was one of those books you know will end, but you just don’t want it TO end.

Every character Zevin introduced had a beautiful spot within the story, from Sadie’s Grandmother to Ichigo, real and imagined it was masterful the way they intertwined, developed, grew, and died. I felt like I was reading a classic. Zevin’s skill is masterful!

Gabrielle Zevin, I’m so glad your book stalked me! I rated it 5 out of 5, and I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a well-developed storyline with loveable characters, it doesn’t matter if you like video games or not, this story will keep you riveted to the very end.

PS If you are not an art connoisseur nor a Macbeth fan…The cover will make complete sense after you read the book!