THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE / Neil Gaiman / 195 Pages / May Challenge (Gaiman title) / April Challenge (Ocean-pond)

 Having never read Neil Gaiman before, I was pleasantly surprised by The Ocean at the End of the Lane. The story is part childhood reminiscence, part mythology including a monster, and part innocence lost wrapped up with a marvelous bow of lyrical language.

A fifty-something man returns to his hometown for a funeral and ends up recalling a life-changing incident from his childhood. Shortly after his 7th birthday, the narrator meets 11-year Lettie Hempstock, her mother and grandmother, three mysterious individuals who are so much more than they appear. What follows changes how he views the world and the members of his family but he will never be able to tell anyone what happened.

Fans of Neil Gaiman's work will be enthralled. A good suggestion for any reader who enjoys light fantasy with a touch of the creepy. While the book is marketed for Adults, teens should enjoy the story as well.