In Furthermore by Taherah Mafi, you are welcomed to the land of Ferenwood, a town where magic is money and color is power. Sadly, Alice Queensmedow, is born completely colorless in the land where color means everything. After her father disappears leaving Alice in complete care of her cruel mother, she fails her Surrender, an event where children show off their magical talents and are assigned a special task. But when all seems bleak to Alice, her childhood bully Oliver approaches her, claiming to have changed his ways and that his task is to find her lost father. But in order to find him, Alice and Oliver must journey through the distant land of Furthermore, where magic runs wild and things know no meaning, and a new danger lies around every turn.
My Thoughts
I have to say, I did not go into Furthermore with high expectations. I thought it would be like one of those books you read once and then throw into the back of bookshelf, to be forgotten and never read again. But after reading Furthermore, my opinion has changed drastically. I was not expecting such a creative and descriptive adventure. I found myself imagining the over-saturated worlds of Ferenwood and the many different towns of Furthermore, each with their own new atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere, Taherah Mafi does a wonderful job of creating a setting that gives me a feeling I want to bathe in. Warmth, with an underlining soft cold.
I feel a connection to Alice, and I was almost sad when I finished the book and realized that there would be no more of her story. I can only wait until I can get my hands on the Furthermore spin-off, Whichwood. Otherwise, I give Furthermore a 9 out of 10, and recommended to anyone who wants a fun, light-hearted, and colorful fantasy story.