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Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.4 / 5)
Genre: Children's Fiction, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure

Book Review:
For anyone who has ever wished they could step inside their favorite book and meet the characters face-to-face, Anna James's Pages & Co.: The Bookwanderers is a dream come true. This enchanting debut is the first in a series that celebrates the magic of reading and the power of imagination in the most delightful way possible.

The story introduces us to Tilly Pages, a young girl who lives with her grandparents in their cozy bookshop, Pages & Co. Tilly has grown up surrounded by stories, and she has always felt a special connection to the characters within them. But she soon discovers that this connection is more than just imagination. She learns that she is a ''bookwanderer,'' someone with the magical ability to travel into the world of books and meet her literary heroes in person.

Tilly's world becomes even more magical when beloved characters start appearing in the bookshop. She finds herself having tea with Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and taking advice from the irrepressible Anne of Green Gables. But there is a mystery to solve. Tilly's mother disappeared when she was a baby, and Tilly begins to suspect that her new powers might hold the key to finding out what happened.

James has created a world that will be instantly recognizable and deeply appealing to any book lover. The Pages & Co. bookshop is a character in itself, a warm and wonderful place filled with the smell of old paper and the promise of adventure. The concept of ''bookwandering'' is brilliantly conceived, opening up endless possibilities for future stories. The book is filled with references to classic literature that will delight young readers and adults alike, and it encourages a love of reading that is both infectious and inspiring.

The Bookwanderers is a story about family, friendship, and the enduring power of stories. It is a thrilling, inventive, and heartwarming adventure that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. As Matt Haig, author of The Truth Pixie, says, it is ''a thrilling, inventive book-lover's delight.'' Perfect for fans of The Story Thief or The Land of Stories, this is a magical series that is not to be missed.