Kate Mathos

In 1941, as Europe is ravaged by the second World War, a ten-year old girl from Chicago faces an entirely different battle.  Georgia Karras’s father has enlisted in the army to help with the war effort, while Georgia discovers a strange green light emanating from her attic. Georgia and her best friend Sam follow the light and find a curious letter and a small bottle of pixie potion. They fall through the floorboards and find themselves in a strange world, known as the Kingdom of Nern. As Georgia and Sam try to make sense of their new world, they meet a pixie named Lizl and a purple ‘fuzzball’ creature named Ned. They learn that many years ago, the current King of Nern began a war with the rightful Queen Aurelia.  Georgia and Sam are sent on a perilous quest across Nern to find a mysterious amulet and to right the wrongs perpetrated by the King. On the journey, Georgia discovers that her father’s involvement in the war effort was not quite what she was led to believe. As Georgia tries to find the truth about her father, and restore the rightful queen on the throne, the Kings Guard and evil Leechers will stop at nothing to catch her.

Georgie Karras and the Niddle of Nern is a fantasy fiction novel for middle-grade readers, by author Kate Mathos.  Set in 1940’s Chicago, the book whisks readers away to an alternate world, brimming with magic and mystery. The story follows Georgia, an ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny. Packed full of action and adventure, with a colourful cast of characters, and captivating twists and turns, the book will keep young readers on the edge of their seats.  

With pixies, sea witches, merfolk, dragons, pirates, and many more wonderful creatures, this book has all the ingredients for an epic fantasy fiction story.

Star rating: 5 Stars 

Summary: A captivating fantasy fiction novel, with a colourful cast of characters, set in the magical and mysterious world of Nern.