"Unlocking the Poet's Realm" by Matt Wiebusch

by Ely Bazan
(Southport, Qld, Australia)

Genre: Fiction Fantasy.

Number of Pages: 506.

Year of Publication: 2009.

Recognition: Winner of the 2009 Readers Favorite Award- Fiction- Fantasy/ Sci Fi.
Is currently a finalist in the 2010 EVVY Awards.
Is currently in the 2nd round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards.

Short Summary:
Unlocking the Poet's Realm is about a young girl, Minnie, who has lost her way in the world and is depressed by where her life is heading. She is picked on at school and ignored at home. One day she is transported to a mystic world called Buval. The creatures there have selected her, due to her love for all creatures, to assist them in saving their world from the evil that dwells there. To ensure the secret of what she must do is kept secret, Minnie is given a cryptic poem that she must unravel that outlines her quest. Along the way she encounters tasks that she must complete and beasts that she must outsmart and overcome. She also learns the secrets and finds the strength to overcome the issues that plague her in her own world.

Short Opinion:
Unlocking the Poet's Realm is a brilliant read that rivals Harry Potter and Narnia, yet it also sends a message that makes it an adventure to live. The struggles that Minnie encounters and overcomes is exactly the type of thing that kids of today are dealing with and trying to find answers to. Whether it be a dysfunctional family, bullying, making friends or low self esteem, Matt Wiebusch's experience in working with troubled teens has enabled him to give great advice in a subtle way. I highly recommend this book for teens, parents and teachers. Every school should be reading it...or at least have a copy in their library.