Review: The Grace of Wild Things

By Heather Fawcett

HarperCollins Publishers, 2023. 360 Pgs.

Grace has always known that she was different from the other children at the orphanage and when she was overlooked for adoption once again she decides to run away. She has never been good at anything except magic so she goes looking for the witch who lives in the woods.

Grace is determined to become the witches apprentice no matter how scary she may be and Grace tells herself that the witch surely isn't as wicked as everyone claims. But when Grace is nearly eaten by the witch she is forced to reconsider her plan. In desperation she strikes a bargain with the witch. Grace agrees to complete the witch's book of spells by the time the cherry trees bloom. If she can finish all of the spells in the witch's book, the witch will take her on as her apprentice, but if she fails she must freely give her magic to the witch.

If you love the classic story of Anne of Green Gables you will enjoy this charming middle grade fantasy book. Throughout the story the author gives subtle nods to the classic story, Anne of Green Gables, through setting, characters and a few plot points but this book is not a copy of the original story but has its own enchanting tale of magic which I loved. The main character Grace is every bit as charming as Anne with her imaginative and chatty personality and her ability to find adventure among everyday life. A perfect read for anyone who sees the magic in the world around them.

Comments

Five Faves: WWII Spies and Codebreakers

I can't help but assume I'm not the only kid who grew up playing spies. As a child, my imaginative playtime was filled with covert espionage largely derived from the Spy Kids movies. As an adult, my interest in spycraft has never wavered. In fact, the older I get, the more I am intrigued by spies, ciphers, and codes. Combine that with a love of rich historical settings and untold stories of people from history, there are few things I find as satisfying as a historical spy story. If you're anything like me, you'll love this list of stories -- real and fictional -- starring spies, codebreakers, and cryptanalysts. Max in the House of Spies By Adam Gidwitz New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2024. Fiction. 320 pages. After Kristallnacht, Max Bretzfeld's German Jewish parents decide to send him to England via the Kindertransport. Now accompanied by two invisible-to-all-but-him spirts -- a dybbuk and a kobold -- Max is desperate to return home to Berlin. As Max adjusts

Five Faves: Mysterious High-Low Intermediate Books

Intermediate Mystery books are a gold mine. High-low books refer to titles that are of high interest to readers, but contain low level vocabulary. These titles are clever, action-packed, and have several books in the series to keep the mystery alive. These intermediate mystery books are the first in their series and are sure to appease any mystery loving reader. The Ghost Tree Written by Natasha Deen Illustrated by Lissy Marlin New York: Random House Children's Books, 2022. Intermediate. 95 pages. With a dash of paranormal mixed with mystery, this book introduces Asim, a Guyanese American fourth grader who moves to a new town. After a visit to a graveyard, an evil spirit is unleashed. Asim works with new friends, Rokshar and Max, to save their town. With scarily cool illustrations to accompany this text, this book is great for any amateur sleuths who love a touch of creepy. Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash Written by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver Illustrated by Dan San

Display: Dino-mite Reads

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs By Mo Willems New York: Balzar + Bray, 2012. Picture Book. "Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway. One day--for no particular reason--they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then--for no particular reason--they decided to go . . . someplace else. They were definitely not setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl. Definitely not!" --Editor Smart Vs. Strong! Written by Jill Esbaum Illustrated by Miles Thompson New York: Simon Spotlight, 2021. Easy Reader. 64 pages. "When Thunder gets stuck in quicksand, Cluck uses his smarts to free his friend." --Editor How Dinosaurs Went Extinct Written by Ame Dyckman Illustrated by Jennifer Harney New York: Brown and Company, 2023. Picture Book. "When a child in a museum asks how dinosaurs became extinct, Dad co

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog