The Restorationists
Beneath the Swirling Sky (Book 1)
The Restorationists: Beneath The Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou is book one in a magical series centered on the world of art. Named after famous painters, Vincent and his cousin Georgia travel through paintings in order to save Vincent’s sister Lili who has been “kidnapped” by Vincent’s thought to be dead aunt.
Center to this world, there are people known as the Restorationists and those that are the Distortionists. Vincent’s family, unbeknownst to him, are Restorationists, something that is hereditary. Not everyone can travel through art work, but Vincent’s family can and they are from a long history of family working to restore famous works of art that have been damaged by time, neglect, or the distortionists. Distortionists aim to use art for its power in order to manipulate or gain more power for themselves. Vincent’s mother has kept this world secret from him in order to keep him safe as many Restorationists have been killed by the Distorionists, and thus only a few remain. Additionally, Lili is an adopted sibling from China. The fact that she is even able to travel, along with the other sixteen children later saved from Vincent’s aunt, should technically not be able to travel through art. This loose string leaves open more questions and answers to be explored later in the series.
As the story opens, Vincent is unhappy to be staying with his Great-Uncle Leo, someone he has never met, while his parents go on a cruise. He knows his Great-Uncle Leo is an art conservationist, and within the last year, Vincent has stopped art altogether. Leiloglou does a great job of building out this internal conflict for Vincent throughout the story. As readers will slowly discover, Vincent faced harsh criticism from classmates about his art, art that his parents always praised. Now, he questions everything his mother ever said to him and greatly doubts his real ability as an artist. Vincent has sworn off art altogether. That is, until he begins traveling and working to save his sister and the other children. He discovers his gift and is determined to use it. The overarching message is to not let fear stop you from doing what you know you should or could do. Vincent ends with a new determination to train in his artistic ability and to no longer allow fear to control him.
Noteworthy Quotes/Mentions:
While there are millions of dollars worth of art locked away in Uncle Leo’s attic for him to restore, he makes it very clear that people are “worth more than a picture” (38).
Georgia knows how to paint, but her true art is her pottery. Vincent questions her about her pottery early in the novel. She responds, “‘Pottery is what I do. And I don’t care about being cool. I think it’s more important to do what you like and not worry about what other people think’” (40).
After Lili goes missing, Uncle Leo is explaining the world of Restorationists and art to Vincent. Uncle Leo explains that “artists expressed ideas about politics, society, human nature, and religion and that the best art expressed truth in a way that people needed to hear. That made it dangerous for people who sought power.” He then goes on to explain the times in history when art has been stolen during times of war and the damage done to art during protests. Furthermore, the Distortionists “steal art, create propaganda, and destabilize societies” (60-61).
The story regarding Vincent’s aunt is that she is believed to have died in a house fire that also killed her parents. However, Vincent learns the truth from his aunt that while her parents did die, she escaped. The man she loved and was working with ultimately left her and now she claims she doesn’t work with the Distortionists or the Restoriantists. She is working for her own benefit. She also claims the children in her care were not kidnapped, but that she saved them from the paintings they were found wandering in.
In his aunt’s school she teaches the children in her care that “‘Art is the power to move freely. To take what you want, to be infinitely wealthy. And, greatest of all, that power to influence the minds of the populace’” (145).
Georgia offers some sage advice to Vincent in a time in the book when his internal conflict is coming to a head. She explains to him that there is a difference between people who seek fame and to be great versus those who do art for the experience and those who also will experience it (194). He begins to reexamine the way he views art and the way he was perhaps using it himself.
The opening of Chapter 22 is quite humorous and there is an author’s note that accompanies it. In order to reach the children safely to save them from his Aunt, Vincent and Georgia must travel through a painting of naked people. There is a brief conversation on page 227 as they discuss the uncomfortableness of the situation. Georgia doesn’t think much of it, but then she questions that about herself. In the author’s note on page 283, Leiloglou explains that just like Georgia states “Naked people are a part of art” that it doesn’t mean you have to look at it. She tells the readers to not look at art that makes them uncomfortable and to seek help from a parent if they want to explore more of the art from some of the famous people mentioned in the book and want to bypass anything that would make them uncomfortable. In the story, Vincent and Georgia have a canoe with them as they are using this painting of naked people to get to another painting they will need the canoe for. They turn the canoe upside down and carry it over their heads so they do not have to look at the naked people as they make their way through the painting to the corridor. I thought it was a funny scene and a great way to address something that does come up with some art work.
“Fear shouldn’t get to decide what I do” (232).
While Vincent is primary, Georgia, his cousin, is his partner in "crime" throughout the book. She has grown up traveling and understanding the world of the Restorationists; however, she is at Uncle Leo’s for the week as her parents are “traveling” on a mission without her. In her own story arc, she wants to be seen as capable of doing great things, but her parents are likewise trying to keep her safe by thinking she is not ready for mission work. At the end, they acknowledge that she is ready. Additionally, throughout the story, she is a great motivator for Vincent and she challenges him to really consider what art is and why make art. She is a well thought out companion to balance Vincent and they make a good team.
This novel would make a great family read aloud, and offers a fantasy world in which art can literally transport readers around the world and into an artist’s mind. There is no profanity and there are great Christian elements weaved into the story. In one of Rembrandt’s paintings, Vincent encounters Jesus as he calms the storm, and this encounter leaves him changed as he is filled with peace and courage. Leiloglou also addresses the power of art in her author’s note and how it is a reflection of the image of God, the ultimate Creator. What a beautiful touch and witness to young readers, especially those who are more creative. Sometimes our world today values what seems more tangible, realistic, and productive, which can devalue those who are creative especially when the focus is on how much money you can make off a certain skill. Artists are important, creativity is important, and most importantly it is a reflection of God’s amazing gift. I love how Leiloglou offers that validation to young readers through her story and her art.
Between Flowers and Bones (Book 2)
Between Flowers and Bones by Carolyn Leiloglou is book two in The Restorationists Series. This amazing sequel starts a few weeks after the end of book one. Vincent has been receiving a lot of attention from the adults, in particular - Georgia’s parents, which has left her feeling resentful of everything having to do with Vincent. To make matters worse, Georgia feels like everything she does is not as great or as worthy of praise because her “gift” as navigator is nothing compared to Vincent’s gift as an artist.
In an effort to teach them both to grow in their skills and work as a team, the parents have devised a training exercise for them. However, everything goes terribly wrong when out of bitterness Georgia causes a rift between her and Vincent. Vincent then travels alone back to Gramp’s house, but when Georgia arrives later she realizes that Vincent is gone. He has gone to Adelaide. Georgia makes the decision to travel there as well. Once there she learns that Vincent has been going a little crazy these last few weeks because Adelaide has a painting that Vincent produced in the first book. It is through this painting that she is able to get into his mind, which has been the reason for his headaches and grumpy attitude.
Adelaide is desperate for Georgia and Vincent’s help. Along with Ravi, she wants them to steal a priceless Monet painting in order to settle things with distortionist Damien Crowe, her former boyfriend. In the midst of all of this, Georgia discovers that her parents have been taken, likely by distortionists, and she thinks that she can use the stolen painting to get information from Adelaide to help her rescue her parents. Georgia convinces Vincent to help her, but things go wrong during the heist which results in Georgia almost being arrested while Vincent and Ravi manage to escape. Georgia not only ends up with an injured ankle, but her Gramps is furious that she has officially revealed their gifts to a museum guard, a normal person.
Through various means of convincing, Ravi, Vincent, and Gramps along with two normal people, help Georgia pull off a fake Monet and trap in order to arrest Adelaide and force her hand. As a spoiler, in the end they are successful and Adelaide is placed in a protection program for information leading to the capture of Damien Crowe. As another sweet plot twist, Ravi sort of switches sides when he learns that Gramps is his godfather. Gramps and Vincent’s mother also have moments of bravery and progress in their own characters by the end of the book, in addition to Georgia’s own character arc as she realizes that there is nothing wrong with her gift.
Noteworthy quotes/mentions:
“Distorionists were known to corrupt paintings from the inside. The changes wouldn’t be visible on the surface, but that didn’t mean people weren’t affected by them. Distortions could evoke dark emotions in the viewer, contrary to the artist’s original intent” (31).
“The world is full of doubters who think the only real things are the things they can see and touch. The things they can understand” (76).
Georgia confesses her frustration to Mr. Ortiz, the museum guard. He gives her some advice for her frustration, “I see this art every day for the past forty years, and yet I cannot paint it,” he finally said. “That doesn’t make my job without meaning. We all are given the gifts we need to do what we are meant to do” (77).
When Georgia confesses to Gramps about Adelaide, she is shocked to learn that he already knew she was alive. Adelaide had visited him sometime in the past after the incident with the burning of her parent’s home. Gramps was still too upset and angry at the time about the loss, so he refused to forgive and listen to Adelaide. The massacre of Restorationists came soon after. Gramps tells Georgia reflectively, “My anger drove her away when I should have forgiven her. If I’d done that, she might have helped me prevent the Great Massacre–she tried to warn me at the time that something bad was about to happen. I just couldn’t listen. But it looks like my anger’s still bearing rotten fruit” (95).
“Y’all stick together, you hear? It’s a dangerous world, but it’s the one we live in. We can’t just hide away when there’s work to be done” (119).
Georgia thinks over the last week, “This last week, though, the tables had turned, and she’d fallen into the shadows. Was it wrong that she liked knowing more than he did? She pushed that question away” (137).
When visiting Mr. Ortiz’s home, she notices a painting of Christ on his wall. When she asks about the painting, Mr. Ortiz tells her that it was a favorite of his wife. She had loved it “because Jesus loved the small things that others didn’t consider important” (168).
On page 211, Georgia fully realizes her jealousy and asks Vincent for forgiveness and expresses her desire for them to be a team. She also includes Ravi in the team.
I really enjoyed book two, and I am looking forward to getting a review out for book three. As you can see from the overall events and few quotes listed above, this book is full of great themes and messaging for our young readers - messages that will orient their hearts in the right way to see how they have been masterfully created and that their place in the world is exactly where they need to be.
Beyond the Far Horizon
(Book 3)
Beyond the Far Horizon by Carolyn Leiloglou is book three in The Restorationists series. If you are encountering this series for the first time, book one is told from Vincent’s perspective, book two from Georgia’s, and book three from Ravi’s. Readers encounter Ravi in book one as he works with Aunt Adelaide, in book two there is a shift as he helps with Adelaide’s capture, and in book three Ravi is dealing with the emotional fallout of all that has happened to him.
Taking readers back a little bit to book one for Ravi’s storyline - Ravi was somewhat kidnapped by Adelaide in book one. She is really the only parental figure he has known after the loss of his parents. As readers discover in book two, Adelaide’s relationship with Dorian led to the death of his parents. In book three, Ravi learns that his mother and younger sister are still alive and that Adelaide was aware of this the entire time. As you can imagine, Ravi has trust issues which are central to his story in this book and his character arc.
Ravi desires to be accepted by the Restorationists and to trust them but given his life experiences thus far he is constantly on edge, waiting for their kindness to end, and preparing for an escape of his own. Once he learns about the survival of his mother and sister, his escape plan comes into question, but he still keeps a portrait with him for his inevitable escape nonetheless.
In the midst of Ravi’s inner conflict, the team is working with the FBI who is holding Adelaide in custody in order to devise a plan to ultimately capture Dorian. Part of this plan requires Vincent’s mom, Arte, to pose as her twin sister to gain an entrance into Dorian’s latest heist. Much of the story is Ravi, Vincent, and Georgia figuring out a plan of attack, gaining Dorian’s trust to be on his team, and trying to learn his actual plans in order to inform the FBI. Uncle Leo and Arte in the meantime are focused on the rescue mission side of the plan in order to release Georgia’s parents and Ravi’s mother and sister.
In the midst of all of this, they learn of more Restorationists - children like them - in Kenya. Augusta, Selma, and Horace lost their parents in the massacre and have been surviving on their own with the help of their small community. Augusta and Horace have the gift of soother, which means that whatever an artist creates within the painting they can control for good or evil. The team attempts to get their assistance, but Augusta refuses for the safety of her siblings. After a series of events and a rescue mission by them to save Augusta, the two girls do show up in the midst of Dorian’s heist and are able to help save the mission.
As a spoiler, in the end Adelaide manages to escape the FBI guard and returns to Dorian. Not sure why and if they can trust her, it is Ravi who quickly realizes that things are not as they seem and in the end Adelaide sacrifices herself to take Dorian down for good and they fall into an endless hole to their deaths. Everyone is rescued and a new family of Restorationists begins.
Noteworthy quotes/ mentions:
Early in the book Ravi is with Arte when they have to continually visit Adelaide. “Being asked to confront her again and again felt like continually picking a scab off a wound, never allowing it to heal. But that didn’t mean he was ready for anyone to see his scars” (11).
In trying to understand why there are children Restorationists when their parents are clearly not, Arte conjectures that, “After so much loss, I guess it’s God’s way of rebalancing the world” [...] “We’ve always thought the ability to Travel is a gene mutation of some sort, passed down through families. But I think that when so many of us were lost during the Great Massacre, God chose to rebalance our world” (68).
Ravi, considering his time with the Restorationists and his internal struggle, “Although the more time he spent with them, the more he was beginning to believe that maybe they saw him as a person and not a tool. He actually felt like their equal and not like they were just trying to use him. Was that trust?” (152).
When Vincent and Georgia decide to help Augusta, even after she has refused to help them, Ravi struggles to understand why they would do that. Ravi wonders if they are going to help so then Augusta and Selma then HAVE to help them in return. Georgia and Vincent make it clear that that is NOT the reason to help them, but simply “because they need us” (155). This interaction goes back to some of the struggles that Ravi is working through inside - not using and seeing people for his own personal gain, which is how he has been used in the past by Adelaide and even Dorian.
In a sweet interaction between Vincent and Ravi before the ultimate heist, Vincent reveals to Ravi that he understands why he took Uncle Leo’s painting to keep as a possible escape route for himself. Vincent shares about how when Lili was adopted she used to hide food under her bed. Because of the trauma she had faced early in life, she hid food as a safety mechanism. Vincent’s personal story and understanding of Ravi helps Ravi work through his feelings and his acceptance of his place among the Restorationists.
Before Adelaide causes the demise of Dorian and herself, Ravi has to decide what his role will be. “Ravi looked at the tube again. Was it worth fighting evil with evil? No. If he’d learned anything from Adelaide’s example, justifying an action didn’t make it right” (245).
As with the other books in the series, there are strong Biblical connections and truth weaved into this story. There are paintings relating to the parable of Jesus leaving the 99 for the one and an image of Peter’s denial of Christ. These images are used as opportunities to convey scriptural truth and minister to Ravi and the reader’s hearts. Additionally, there is a constant representation of forgiveness and understanding.
I am a little sad that this is only a three part series as I absolutely love the premise of the story and all the scriptural truth that ministers rightly the minds, hearts, and imaginations of young readers. I will be keeping a close eye on this author, and I hope to bring you more great books by her as they release.
