Abarat, an "other" world of thirteen islands surrounded by a wide sea, a sea that goes all the way to Wisconsin and a girl named Candy Quackenbush. Written and illustrated by Clive Barker (of Hellraiser and Nightbreed fame) Abarat is magical and creepy, whimsical and jam packed with emotion. Abarat is the kind of book that you picture every scene of as clearly as the most technicolor movie. Like C.S. Lewis's The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe the book is a marvelous voyage of discovery, the realization that there are other worlds to explore and experience when the one we are in seems to let us down in every way. Candy Quackenbush is a young girl from Chickentown USA, a Wisconsin town so dull and dreary that mostly harmless would be too verbose. But Chickentown used to be a great deal more, it was a mighty Seaport, leading to otherworlds and other times. But that way was closed for a long time. Untill Candy was called that is. And without even realizing it Candy leaves Chickentown behind and enters the thirteen islands of Day and Night. OF course there are all manner of Villians and Heroes she meets upon the way but thats all part of the adventure.
Anyhow I bought it this aftenoon and cant put it down.