Wayward Bookshelf

In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire In this 4th book of the Wayward Children series, we focus on Lundy, who we know from the other books as the girl who will never grow up. We see her enter a door to the high-stakes, logical world of the Goblin Market and begin to navigate it. We see her build relationships, we see her care about her biological family and her found family, torn between finding meaning in her two very different worlds. We see the consequences of 'fair trade.' While my favorite Wayward Children installment thus far is Down Among the Sticks and Bones , there were a couple things that made this book very compelling. One, [little spoiler warning] we see an example of a child who finds the same door her parent did. This informs part of their relationship. It also informs a little of Lundy's existence in the Goblin Market, because the market has known another Lundy (and lost him when he chose to remain in the 'real' world). The second compelli

The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner This book is a blend of fairytales & Jewish history. Our story follows two sisters, Liba & Laya, in chapters that alternate perspectives. Liba is cautious & rule-abiding, while Laya is more of a free spirit. When their estranged grandfather falls ill, and their parents travel to the city and the girls are left alone to begin a coming of age journey. But before their parents go, Liba & Laya are each given some information about their family history & their own natures, they realize that they may not be simply human as they seem. This is where some of the fairytales come to life in our story. Things that I especially enjoyed about the book was the reference to Rosetti's Goblin Market poem, the seamless interweaving of the history and fairytales, especially towards the end when the more fantastic elements of the story affect the real world outcomes. I enjoyed themes of transformation, sacrifice and forging