I love this book! I’ve never read something like this by Andre Norton before, but man she did a great job on it. It’s aimed at tweens, and the protagonists are two 12-year-olds who are suddenly thrown together to be family with Aunt Elizabeth while their newly married mother and father are off galavanting somewhere. Neither Chris nor Nan are happy about this.

So far so not unexpected. When one of them brings a model of an English inn called The Red Hart into their home they begin having connected and compelling dreams that centre around that inn.

Norton’s handling of the story is sure and lively and there was not a moment when I found my thoughts wandering away from the book. But what I like most is her deft and non-intrusive weaving of the dreams' effect on their waking lives and their understanding of themselves and each other. I’m so glad I stumbled across this book. It expands my vision of Andre Norton, whose books like Witch World, Judgement on Janus, and Cat’s-Eye inspired me as a tween and teen ( )