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Young Emmeline dreams of becoming a veterinarian or a biologist in the future. She is inspired by her father, who works as a naturalist and travels all over the world. When she convinces him to let her meet up with him on an expedition to the Falkland Islands, Emmeline travels on the Maria Christina, where she becomes friends with a crew member’s son named Demetrio. Disaster strikes when the boat comes under attack and sinks, leaving Emmeline alone when she washes up in the strange land of Pletonia. But she soon makes friends with many of its inhabitants, learning it is natural for them to get reincarnated as various animals. Further, during her journey to visit its rulers, Emmeline discovers that she has personal ties to this fantastical land. However, Pletonia comes under attack by the exiled Valdrimos Pish, who unleashes creatures that kill and stop the reincarnation process. Emmeline and her new friends must work together to find solutions to the crisis.
Emmeline is a kind-hearted and inquisitive soul whose determination to return to her father means she never lets anything keep her spirits down for too long. These traits make her an inspiring and uplifting protagonist who serves as a great role model for readers of any age. Most of the characters Emmeline meets are also genuinely nice people, which makes the devastation caused by Vish’s beesh very poignant and terrible to see. Emmeline and her friends come up with solutions to help protect Pletonia, but it speaks volumes that Pletonia is not the kind of place where everything is solved right away. The fact that recovery will take a long time and a lot of effort is realistic but still offers a hopeful message. Unresolved issues in the book hint at a sequel, which is sure to delight readers.
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Phelps Williams' Emmeline Grant and the Monstrous Beesh was a 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award Category Finalist.