Does anyone know this book?

Question

I read this cool book in 6th grade, I only remember some details...This boy somehow enters a portal to this mysterious world/realm at the beginning--it has strange things like trolls/magic/etc...He was running from someone. At some point, he has to run across this giant chess board-battle field. He eventually meets a girl with apparently the same destiny, they both have strange marks on their palms. They wonder through this world...at one point they climb this big tower for some artifact they need, I believe at that point there were trolls or creatures after them...eventually at the end, they reach the sea shore and turn into seals or some type of animal and swim off, that being their destiny. I may have mixed some details with more then one book, but its the best I can do....anyone with any ideas?? I know it sounds weird!

Answer 1

I think it's "Seaward" by Susan Cooper. Not exactly as you describe, but very, very similar. There is a strange, insect-like creature that helps them, too. (It definitely has the chess-board field.)

http://www.amazon.com/Seaward-Susan-Cooper/dp/customer-reviews/0020421907 (reviews)

Answer 2

Yes, I think I remember the same book, and I haven't been able to find the name either. I do remember that they turned into seals, because they were actually selkies, a scottish type of fairy folk. I keep thinking it was called Selkie Girl, but although there is a book called "The Selkie Girl" by Susan Cooper, that's not the same story, and if I remember right the work selkie didn't come in until the very end. I hope you find it!

Answer 3

It sounds like an amalgam of Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, and The Dark Tower.

Answer 4

wow, that really sounds like harry potter and the sorcerers stone, or philosophers stone...