The Twistrose key / Tone Almhjell ; illustrated by Ian Schoenherr.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Something is wrong in the house that Lin's family has rented; Lin is sure of it. The clocks tick too slowly. Frost covers the flowerbed, even in a rain storm. And when a secret key marked "Twistrose" arrives for her, Lin finds a crack in the cellar, a gate to the world of Sylver.
 
This frozen realm is the home of every dead animal who ever loved a child. Lin is overjoyed to be reunited with Rufus, the pet she buried under the rosebush. But together they must find the missing Winter Prince in order to save Sylver from destruction.
 
They are not the only ones hunting for the boy this night. In the dark hides a shadow-lipped man, waiting for the last Winter Prince to be delivered into his hands.
 
Exhilarating suspense and unforgettable characters await the readers of this magical adventure, destined to become a classic.

Excerpt provided by Syndetics

On the desk, next to the typewriter, lay the parcel. It was still heavy, and when Lin shook it, something slid around inside. She emptied it into her palm. Out tumbled two keys, held together by a thin metal band. One was a little old and had an orange plastic tag that said "cellar." The other was large, as large as the length of her hand, and blackened, as if someone had tried to burn it. Its head was fashioned as a petal, and the stem was that of a rose, with three curved, sharp thorns. Across the petal, there was a name engraved: "Twistrose." Excerpted from The Twistrose Key by Tone Almhjell All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

"Tonight, young Rosenquist... you will find that some games are real." These portentous words, spoken early in Almhjell's fantasy debut, launch 11-year-old Lin Rosenquist on a whirlwind, somewhat byzantine hero's journey. Summoned from her Norwegian home by a mysterious key, Lin lands in Sylver, a wintry afterlife populated by anthropomorphized animals. Among the denizens-most were "once the favorite pet of a human child"-is Lin's beloved vole, Rufus. Their joyful reunion ("Rufus!... You're so..." "Handsome?... Eloquent? Alive?") and affectionate partnership anchor the pair's quest for Isvan, the missing boy who can restore magic to the land. Idiosyncratic characters-an avuncular hamster-chef; a sinister, condescending mad scientist-owl-help and hinder as Lin and Rufus decipher prophecies, battle trolls, and navigate Almhjell's meticulously built world. A few dropped threads tangle the plot, and the main villain's demeanor tends toward Bond-ian cliche, but by book's end, strong parallels link Lin's adventure to real-world loss and coming-of-age. Her story feels complete even as the world of Sylver contains enough unexplored territory to invite subsequent volumes. Ages 10-up. Author's agent: Jane Putch, Eyebait Licensing & Management. Illustrator's agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

Even since Lin moved to the city, she feels lonely and misses her Norwegian mountain home, her imaginary troll-hunting games, and, especially, her recently dead pet, Rufus. While exploring her new cellar, she suddenly tumbles into Sylveros, a Narnia-like world populated by human-sized, talking former pets, including Rufus. They're excited to explore the snowy, mountainous land together, but that's not all Lin has in store Sylveros is on the brink of destruction, and Lin learns she is the Twistrose, a human child fated to save the mystical land by fulfilling an enigmatic prophesy. The promise of reunion with pet friends in a winter wonderland is lovely, but debut-author Almhjell's world holds a lot of menace, too: the villains of Sylveros are occasionally terrifying, and Lin often finds herself in grim peril. Though the plot is sometimes overstuffed which, at times, overshadows the tantalizingly rich world of Sylveros children entranced by animal tales and in love with snowy fantasy lands will delight in Lin's magical journey and triumphant determination. Final art unavailable for review.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2010 Booklist

Kirkus Book Review

Skillfully blending facets of classic high fantasy, this debut novel will captivate readers with its rich plot and detailed worldbuilding. Sylveros is populated by the formerly beloved pets of Earth children. After an animal's death on Earth, it passes over to a life of apparent harmony in the winter beauty of the Sylver Valley. While a winter setting inevitably invites Narnia comparisons, this layered plot holds its own. The peace in Sylver has been disturbed, and chief chronicler Teodor does not know why. Nightmares are threatening the protected border. In times like these, a Twistrose--a human child--is called from Earth to give aid. Lin Rosenquist, mourning her tamed pet vole, Rufus, who died some five weeks earlier, finds herself magically transported to Sylver and is met by Rufus himself, now as big as she is. Teodor tells Lin she is the Twistrose and charges her with finding Isvan Winterfyrst, a "glacial-kin" child who has mysteriously disappeared and whose presence is imperative to continue the magic that keeps Sylver safe. Lin's only clue is an ancient, nonsensical ballad. Deeply drawn characters with heart combine with meticulous details to convincingly bring readers into the fantasy world, while a revelatory ending makes this a satisfying read that may be enjoyed even more the second time around. Fantasy that evokes the classics of yore and stands proudly among them. (Fantasy. 9-13)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Tone Almhjell grew up, then quickly un-grew up. In a fit of bravery, she quit her job as a journalist to become a fantasy writer. Almhjell lives in Oslo, Norway with her two wonderfully stubborn kids, a boy and a girl.