The story all starts in the boring little place called Chickentown, named accordinly, due to the large amount of chickens there. Candy Quackenbush was just another resident in this isolated town, but not for long. During school, while being sent down the hall to the principal's office, she feels the need to get out. Something pulls at her mind and she runs away from her school to a field she has never seen before, beyond the limits of the town. The wonderful adventure begins there when she meets a strange man with seven other faces attached to antlers coming out of his head. This is John Mischief and his brothers. They are on the run from an evil being named Mendelson Shape and Candy has to help Mischief. When she does, an ocean of possibilities opens up in front of her (that will make even more sense if you read the book). She is carried away to a mystical archipelago called the Abarat where anything is possible, and anything that can happen, does.
When I began reading this book, it reminded me greatly of The Wizard of Oz. For those of you who have not read that timeless classic, I shall explain. The Wizard of Oz (and all of the other parts of the series) are fantastical books filled to the brim with strange creatures and much adventure. Abarat has so many magical, interesting creatures! I loved this book! I would rate it a 8 out of 10 and recommend it to all ages!