Gr 4–7—Based on the Brontë siblings' real-life juvenilia, this new book by the author of the popular "Fairyland" series should generate excitement among both "Fairyland" and Brontë fans. The novel opens with teenage Emily and Charlotte preparing to return to boarding school. They are justifiably unhappy about the trip, considering that their two older sisters died of a fever while away at school. Their younger sister, Anne, and older brother, Branwell, go along to see them off—but instead of going to school, all four of them find themselves unexpectedly on a magic train to what turns out to be the real-life version of the imaginary world they created together, Glass Town. All the characters they imagined using dolls and toys have come to life, and all the rules they created in their fantasy are suddenly binding. While action-packed, the story is highly whimsical, and readers will need a high tolerance for puns. For instance, a "tea" spoon is made out of actual tea leaves while champagne "flutes" play music. Bad guys range from Napoleon, who rides a giant rooster, to a fly the size of a whale. The silly tone makes the stakes feel low. There is no clear reason why the Brontës ended up in Glass Town, and though the author tries to use the siblings' adventures to explore their relationships, ultimately the book's focus is on the characters' attempts to return home. VERDICT This fanciful take on the Brontë siblings lacks weight, but fans of Valente may be happy to go along for the ride.—Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA