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The Chameleon Room Review: A Magical House, Hidden Powers, and Belonging

 




Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thank you to Anas Hakeem for this gifted ARC. Please visit https://www.anashakeem.com/ for more information about the book.



It's a story about Adam, an eleven-year-old orphan who's spent his entire life thinking he's cursed. Strange things follow Adam wherever he goes: paint pots fall on people's heads, bathroom taps mysteriously flood, and bullies seem to follow him around. Worst of all, Adam's shadow has started moving on its own, writhing and stretching whenever he feels strong emotions. He's learned to keep his head down, stay invisible, and pray that no one notices the thing on the wall behind him. 

But everything changes when Adam discovers that he's not cursed at all. He's Gushmar, a person born with magical energy called Gushoolah and an "Animal" fused within his very being. Suddenly, he's whisked away from the adoption center and into the magical world of Teraquair, where he finds a new family, new friends, and a new place to live: a weird and magical house. 

My favorite part about this book is definitely the mysterious house. It gives me a gothic vibe in a magical world. There are so many little details that make the house feel alive, like each space has its own secret, especially the Chameleon Room, which is the star of the story. Honestly, this house is the kind of setting that stays with you. 

The other thing that stands out to me is the animal splitting part. This is the kind of magical concept that's new to me, and I totally love it. I think it's really cool how each Gushmar has their own animal spirit. And with Adam struggling to find his animal spirit, I think it can represent how children feel when they're left out by their friends. The splitting concept in this story does what fantasy does best: it uses magic to explore something deeply true about kids' experiences as they grow up. It reminds us that everyone develops at their own pace, that being "different" doesn't mean being "broken," and that the pressure to be normal can sometimes be the most dangerous magic of all. 

Overall, this is a really good fantasy book, especially for children. There are many things they can relate to in Adam's story, and I think they'll really enjoy it. If you like fantasy with magical animals and magical houses, give this one a read!

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