Liesl & Po

by Lauren Oliver

Liesl is a little girl who has just lost her beloved father. After his death, her evil stepmother locks her in the attic, alone, barely keeping her alive with tiny bits of rotten food. But she's not alone. One day Po appears to her. Po is a ghost, but it's been a ghost so long it doesn't remember if it was a boy or a girl. Po has another being with it, named Bundle, but Bundle doesn't know if it was a dog or cat when it was alive.

The ashes of Liesl's father are at the undertaker's. A magic dust that grants all things life, created by an evil magician, are with Will, the magician's apprentice. He goes on an errand, gathering items from the undertaker for the magician's spells, but when he leaves, he is tired. He takes the wrong box. And that's when the story gets interesting...

There is no better way to describe this fairy tale than "heartwarming." If you're a fan of books by Kate Dicamillo, (Tale of Despereaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane) you'll love Liesl & Po. It's beautiful writing, a sweet story, and characters you'll never forget. I absolutely adored this book.