Can one boy with no memories save the world?
Inspired by the author’s uniquely personal experience of memory loss comes an incredible, immersive fantasy series about a boy with no memories and a world that only he can save.
In the Earth world, a boy dreams of faraway lands to escape life with his horrible aunt. In the Elf world, he wakes up with a mysterious golden torch but without any clue who he is… except for the compass he pulls from his pocket, engraved with one name: JAYBEN.
Jayben discovers that many moons ago, a giant put a dark spell on the golden torch, and the elves forgot everything that had come before. Now they hang precious memories in jars on trees, just to try to remember.
But a new darkness grows among them… An evil villain called Null is burning down the forests, hellbent on finding the torch and becoming the most powerful being ever to live.
If Jayben can find his own magic and ignite the torch with its fierce violet flame, his power will be unstoppable… Can Jayben save the world before the lights go out forever?
I was instantly drawn into this middle grade fantasy! It’s a magical tale of courage, hope and friendship, honing in on the idea that whatever pages are missing in your story, you can be the hero on the next page.
Inspired by his own experience of memory loss after a brain injury, author Thomas Leeds introduces us to Jayben, a boy who can’t remember anything before the age of six. Leeds layers his young protagonist with his lived experience. It’s also refreshing to see a character who lives with seizures. This fantastic representation is extremely significant for kids and readers who might identify with Jayben so that they might see themselves as the hero of their story.
The world of Jayben and the Golden Torch is rich with lore, flitting between our modern world and an elven world with magical powers, and the threat of a sinister villain who wants to make everyone forget. It is a classic children’s fantasy with fast-paced action and I cannot wait to see what comes next.
If your young reader is a fan of Francesca Gibbons and the Wizards of Once series, then Jayben and the Golden Torch will be right up their alley! I recommend it for children aged 9+.
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