In Journey Back to the Great Before by Zaro Weil, the Jolicoings set off on a family summer holiday in France, an adventure decided by the mother sticking a finger onto a map. When they arrive they are confronted by an ancient farm for sale and an owner, Madame Aligot, who will not take no for an answer. Falling under her spell they agree to buy the house and discover that they are meant to be the one family to save the world.
A talking dog leads them to the discovery of an ancient tome which, as they manage to decipher the language, depicts a time long, long ago when humans and animals walked and talked together in friendship and harmony. The Jolicoings must make an epic journey to restore this balance if only they can outwit the one animal which is determined to destroy the delicate trust building up between the family and the animals...
Journey Back to the Great Before is narrated from different viewpoints – at the beginning the four family members: Zinnia, the mother, her husband, Coriander and 12 year old daughter Verbena and ten year old son Cosmos and Madame Aligot. For me, it would be better to concentrate on the children's and animals' voices. These children are, I feel, a little young for Young Adult fiction.
The book is very long with so much of the narrative "told" instead of "shown" that the storyline, which is an interesting concept, gets bogged down and lost at time. A lot of the dialogue is really speeches and this does little to endear the reader. The writing needs to be edited more closely to improve the quality and flow.
The length of Journey Back to the Great Before is off-putting and I find the different typefaces irritating and I have no idea why the illustrations are included. In fact the cover seems more appropriate to a book aimed at younger children. I would recommend this book only for complete bibliophiles who devour books, not reluctant or slow readers.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Published by MQP Books, Journey Back to the Great Before