Pamalican Island

Emma Excell

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Lovereading Price £5.99

RRP: £5.99

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Why I wrote this book

Written for Children aged 7 - 9.

The idea for Pamalican Island began during a family holiday with my own parents and children in the Philippines six years ago. During the trip, the children were amazed to bump into a huge monitor lizard. Subsequently we all saw these lizards except for my mother. For some reason “Granny” was never in the same place as a lizard. Soon the children and I started to joke that Granny had lots of lizard characteristics and that she must be the lizard. The story grew from that.

I believe that Pamalican Island is an original and enchanting story. Toby and Alice have a great relationship with their grandparents, which I think is really important and makes the book rather different. I believe that the readers will also enjoy the story behind Granny’s ability to become human.

Synopsis

Twins Toby and Alice join their grandparents on the holiday of a lifetime, a trip to Pamalican Island. They have never been anywhere like this before. Meanwhile, deep in the blossoming island, exotic preparations are being made for the arrival of a very special visitor.
The holiday adventure begins with great excitement. The island is a playground of white sand, turquoise sea and lush tropical vegetation. But when Granny begins acting completely out of character and Toby encounters a talking monitor lizard; Dakila, it become obvious that things are not all as they seem on Pamalican. Toby recounts his story but no one believes him. In a desperate attempt to convince at least his sister, Toby and Alice explore the island in search of Dakila. To their horror they stumble across their own Granny transforming into a lizard and their world changes. They are not prepared for the revelation that Granny has a life in a parallel world of lizards,  that they know nothing about. She is in fact a royal lizard returning to her homeland for the first time in nearly forty years.
Granny tries to explain but the terrified children want nothing more to do with her. Slowly with their help of their grandfather, their early childhood memories begin to fit into place and they realise they have always known something. Eventually all the members of the families both lizard and human meet at a majestic ceremony and a royal banquet follows.
When the holiday ends no one wants to leave. Tearful goodbyes are said and promises to visit are made. Everyone is surprised as Granny appears at the plane accompanied by an unknown boy…who turns out to be a Dakila, transformed into a human. Hardly has Toby fastened his seat belt on the plane before his mind is whirring with thoughts of lizard transformations. This must be hereditary he thinks to himself and Toby asks Granny “Can I turn into a lizard?”…

Reviews

Pamalican Island is a wonderful story told with the sparkle of fun and a true understanding of the magic of childhood. A magical journey for any child who dreams of desert islands.  Raffaela Barker

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