The Hole in the Sky Book Review
Author: Barbara A. Mahler
When Kaela’s mother passed away, she left behind a butterfly pendant that Kaela wasn’t supposed to inherit until she was old enough to understand the truth about her mother’s magical life. But after a strange day at school, Kaela decides her inheritance is long overdue. She and her cousin Shawn break into her father’s study and take the pendant, only to discover its connection to another world.
There’s a Hole in My Closet
An unusual visitor appears in her bedroom closet to lead Kaela and Shawn through “the hole in the sky”—a portal to a magical world where boundless adventure awaits. But things aren’t right in this world. Gulig, an evil member of the Rugu people, has stolen the royal baby of Muratenland. In return for the hostage, he wants to become King.
The Cursed Promise
The King and Queen know that this kidnapping is part of a curse placed upon their family generations ago. The former Queen Rhiana desperately wanted a child. She sought the help of a seer, Zella. Unfortunately, [b]seers aren’t trustworthy[/b]. And having seen into her own daughter’s unpleasant future with a ruthless Rugu prince, Zella made Queen Rhiana make a terrible promise: her red-haired daughter must marry the Rugu prince instead. Breaching this contract would place a curse on the family.
A Savior’s Sacrifice
With the help of her cousin Shawn, a friendly Tiger, the butterfly woman and the treepeople, Kayla must find a way to save the royal baby, even if it means sacrificing herself to the Rugu tribe.
The Bottom Line
The Hole in the Sky has its ups and downs. It has all the elements of a magical book, but lacks that little extra pizzazz, excitement and investment in the characters that books like Harry Potter or Inkheart have. It was a satisfying read, tapping into many different emotions, from love and loss to bravery and friendship.
The Hole in the Sky Rating: 
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