Skip to main content

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

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Fowl Play

  Fowl Play By Kristin O'Donnell Tubb New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2024. Fiction 277 pages. Still reeling from her beloved uncle's death, Chloe Alvarez is comforted and confused when at his last will and testament reading, Uncle Will gifts her his African Grey parrot, Charlie. Charlie has a robust vocabulary and loves to make Alexa requests for her favorite songs, but when she starts saying things like, "homicide," and "cyanide," Chloe becomes convinced that Uncle Will may have met his demise by murder instead of a genetic disease, as was previously thought. Ultimately, bringing in her brother, Grammy, and Uncle Frank (and of course Charlie,) Chloe's ragtag and adoring family support her search for answers ---going on stakeouts, engaging in fast pursuits, and searching for clues. But as the suspects stack up and the mystery grows, Chole will learn that the process of death and grieving is complicated, and in the end her Uncle Will's words that, ...

Review: The Factory

The Factory By Catherine Egan New York, NY : Scholastic Inc., 2025. Fiction. 306 pages.  Thirteen-year-old Asher Doyle has been invited to join the Factory, a secretive research facility in the desert which ostensibly extracts renewable energy from the electromagnetic fields of its young recruits. But Asher soon realizes something sinister is going on. Kids are getting sick. The adults who run the Factory seem to be keeping secrets. And the extraction process is not only painful and exhausting, but existentially troubling. Asher makes a handful of new friends who help him with an investigation that turns into a resistance, which turns into...a cliffhanger! The Factory is a page-turning sci-fi with multidimensional characters, an intriguing plot, and refreshingly straight-forward writing. Egan weaves in detail about climate crises and social unrest, making the story's dystopian setting feel rich and plausible. With its sophisticated themes and accessible storytelling, I would recomm...

Review: A Game of Noctis

A Game of Noctis By Deva Fagan New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024. Fiction. 310 pages. On the island of Dantessa, social standings and wealth are determined by your place in the Great Game. If you keep on winning, you can reap treasures, power, and security for yourself and your family; but if you lose too many games, you'll be exiled to Pawn Island and a life of servitude. That's what happens to 12-year-old Pia's grandfather. Due to poor vision, he struggles to see the games, but also can't afford new eyeglasses without winning. When his score falls to zero, he is sent away. Desperate to bring him back, Pia joins a ragtag group of misfits to form a team for the annual game of Noctis. The game requires contestants to perform dangerous challenges in front of a live audience, and no one outside the wealthy Diamond District has ever won. Each member of Pia's team, the Seafoxes, has their own reason to compete, but if they're going to win they'll h...