Author: Debbie Robins

Illustrator: Victor Robert

Publisher: Cambridge House Press

ISBN: 0-9787213-7-3

Debbie Robins had one wish and that was to ‘inspire the world to choose peace’. Having been an accomplished TV and film producer for more than twenty years, a president of Roland Joffe’s Warner Brothers company Lightmotive, a vice president at Hollywood Pictures/a division of Walt Disney Entertainment  and finally a producer partner with director John McTiernan, it is fair to say that Debbie knew her stuff.

Being surrounded by literary legends and artists, her parents always encouraged her to write and from these roots she has successfully published Where Peace Lives. Within just one week from its publication date it became second on the Amazon.com Bestseller list, only outdone by Harry Potter. It was also a best seller on Barnes and Noble and has received praise world-wide.

Debbie also very kindly gave away preview copies of her debut book to more than several hundred school children and in return had many letters sent to her, all saying how much they appreciated her work. Some said her book provoked wonderful visions of worlds far from ours, others loved her literary usage and some vowed to be more peaceful in the future and respect others. This is sure to have given Debbie the response she desperately wanted,children and young people were reading her book and it was making a difference.

Where Peace Lives is an enchanting story about the journey to free a beautiful angel named Peace who has been locked in a glass box and cannot get out. In order to free her, the Three Keys must be obtained, but how?  Within these pages the reader must travel and discover the unusual and vivid characters that play a part in these unique worlds. From those ones who fight over right and wrong, to perhaps the most memorable of all - the Cube of Bitterness.

We get to meet Mister Buddha who is trying to help the people by selling his wonder potion called Acceptance. There’s also Ah who comes from the Land of La and respects all living beings. This is a journey into a fantasy where peace abounds.

Debbie has created a very thought-provoking book alive with strange and mysterious creatures. In almost every page there are underlying proverbs, from The City of Right and Wrong onwards to the rough turquoise ocean. 

However I am not too sure about the quirky illustrations of some of these characters. Some look rather grotesque and might well be scary to young children although there are some pictures that are extremely pretty and delicate. The Roomy Tea Garden design is elegant, architectural and floral all mixed into one. I think most people will find it an image as attractive as it is believable.

The real question is will Debbie manage to convert as many people as she hopes?  I don’t think that many children and young people will be changed just because they chose to read this tale. While I love the idea that Debbie has, I don’t believe one book will be enough to have the effect she wants.

This is however an enjoyable fairytale taking you on a voyage of self-discovery through the mystical lands of peace and hatred.

The above review was contributed by: Jessica Roberts: Jessica has been a book reviewer for a newspaper and a national women's magazine and is working on a novel.