What do you think?
Rate this book
Into the Glades
New York Times bestselling author Laura Sebastian makes her middle grade debut with an emotional fantasy adventure about four friends who journey through a magical, Everglades-inspired swampland to break a curse tied to the death of a loved one.
Best friends Cordelia and Larkin have always called the Glades—a peaceful swamp full of magical creatures—home. But when Oziris, Cordelia’s father and the leader of their village, dies unexpectedly, a dark curse sweeps over the land.
The girls know that the curse must be tied to Oziris’s death, and they’re determined to break its hold on their home and bring Oziris back to life. Together, Cordelia, Larkin, and their two little brothers set off into the wild Glades in search of an elusive and enigmatic witch who is rumored to have the power to reverse death.
The Glades are no longer a familiar and friendly place, though, and danger lurks around every corner. But on their journey, the children discover that the most difficult challenge isn’t wild marsh-maids or bogilisks or dragon-gators—it’s the grief threatening to consume them.
Best friends Cordelia and Larkin have always called the Glades—a peaceful swamp full of magical creatures—home. But when Oziris, Cordelia’s father and the leader of their village, dies unexpectedly, a dark curse sweeps over the land.
The girls know that the curse must be tied to Oziris’s death, and they’re determined to break its hold on their home and bring Oziris back to life. Together, Cordelia, Larkin, and their two little brothers set off into the wild Glades in search of an elusive and enigmatic witch who is rumored to have the power to reverse death.
The Glades are no longer a familiar and friendly place, though, and danger lurks around every corner. But on their journey, the children discover that the most difficult challenge isn’t wild marsh-maids or bogilisks or dragon-gators—it’s the grief threatening to consume them.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2022
14 people are currently reading
1024 people want to read
About the author
Laura Sebastian
14 books4,206 followersLaura Sebastian grew up in South Florida and attended Savannah College of Art and Design. She now lives and writes in London, England, with her two dogs, Neville and Circe. Laura is the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series: Ash Princess, Lady Smoke, and Ember Queen, as well as the Castles in Their Bones series: Castles in Their Bones, Stardust in Their Veins, and Poison In Their Hearts; Half Sick of Shadows, her first novel for adults; and Into the Glades, for middle-grade readers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 8, 2023
This was a delightful romp through an enchanted swamp.
November 18, 2022
after the unexpected death of cordelia’s father and the leader of their village, cordelia, larkin, zephyr, and dash venture through the swamp to find a witch who can resurrect oziris. the once peaceful Glades is now revolting. the magical creatures are no longer friendly and a rot is spreading. throughout their journey, cordelia’s grief for losing her father was heartbreaking. she didn’t know who she is without her father. she didn’t know how to live without him. ultimately, the four children will work to heal the glades as well as their own hearts.
Read
November 8, 2022While Into the Glades is a cute, middle grade adventure, unfortunately this just did not particularly stand out from the crowd to me.
I would have loved to see a little bit more character development.
I would have loved to see a little bit more character development.
December 17, 2024
"We all have magic in us - even if it never rises to the surface, it's in everyone, and everywhere."
TW: death of a parent, grief.
Basically a magical swamp version of The Village (2004) with bad pacing, a focus on grief, and way too much of the plot devoted to magical snot.
That's really all you need to know.
I've enjoyed Laura Sebastian's other books, but I don't think her middle grade writing is for me.
TW: death of a parent, grief.
Basically a magical swamp version of The Village (2004) with bad pacing, a focus on grief, and way too much of the plot devoted to magical snot.
That's really all you need to know.
I've enjoyed Laura Sebastian's other books, but I don't think her middle grade writing is for me.
October 29, 2022
This was a cute MG read. So creative, all the creatures! A good discussion on grief. Cordelia was hard to handle sometimes because she was grieving, but luckily we had Larkin as a main character as well to balance her out. I always appreciate a good standalone!
December 23, 2023
This was a great book! I liked how Cordelia evolved throughout the book and how her friends and her were able to heal the glades from the loss of Oziris.
Overall, some of the parts in a middle were a little boring and didn’t really add to the plot but the beginning and end were very good!
Overall, some of the parts in a middle were a little boring and didn’t really add to the plot but the beginning and end were very good!
October 14, 2022
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Press, the author, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will release October 25, 2022.
Cordelia and Larkin live in the Glades, a swamp-like landscape inhabited by magical creatures and a community led by Cordelia’s father, Oziris. When he dies suddenly, their home and the creatures within it become dangerous and threatening, and the two girls and their younger brothers must navigate this newly wild world as they seek out a witch to bring Oziris back to life.
This is a fun little middle grade adventure through an Everglades-inspired magical swamp, chock full of interestingly mashed-up creatures (dragon-gators, anyone?) and magic. While it seems that the initial conflict might be centered on certain characters’ lack and/or possession of magic, that is not the case, though that does come into play as a factor in Larkin and Cordelia’s friendship over the course of the story. I really liked the girls’ individual arcs as well and how they intersected with the main plot of ridding the Glades of this curse brought on by (spoiler alert) grief.
I didn’t connect very deeply with the characters—this is rather short, and while there’s a bit going on below the surface of each, most are primarily defined by a single characteristic (Cordelia by her temper, Larkin by her lack of magic, etc)—but that wasn’t a big issue for me. Sometimes I’m just looking for an exciting story and don’t need a whole lot else.
And this certainly has a lot of excitement! Aside from the treatment of grief here, which is done in a lighter but effective way, I also like this very cool setting, and results in a couple of harrowing but ultimately not worrying encounters with the different creatures as the kids journey through the Glades—like riding a dragon-gator, enduring the siren song of marsh-maids, and more. However, I found myself wanting a little more on all fronts by the time I reached the end, but it’s still a quick, engaging read.
Cordelia and Larkin live in the Glades, a swamp-like landscape inhabited by magical creatures and a community led by Cordelia’s father, Oziris. When he dies suddenly, their home and the creatures within it become dangerous and threatening, and the two girls and their younger brothers must navigate this newly wild world as they seek out a witch to bring Oziris back to life.
This is a fun little middle grade adventure through an Everglades-inspired magical swamp, chock full of interestingly mashed-up creatures (dragon-gators, anyone?) and magic. While it seems that the initial conflict might be centered on certain characters’ lack and/or possession of magic, that is not the case, though that does come into play as a factor in Larkin and Cordelia’s friendship over the course of the story. I really liked the girls’ individual arcs as well and how they intersected with the main plot of ridding the Glades of this curse brought on by (spoiler alert) grief.
I didn’t connect very deeply with the characters—this is rather short, and while there’s a bit going on below the surface of each, most are primarily defined by a single characteristic (Cordelia by her temper, Larkin by her lack of magic, etc)—but that wasn’t a big issue for me. Sometimes I’m just looking for an exciting story and don’t need a whole lot else.
And this certainly has a lot of excitement! Aside from the treatment of grief here, which is done in a lighter but effective way, I also like this very cool setting, and results in a couple of harrowing but ultimately not worrying encounters with the different creatures as the kids journey through the Glades—like riding a dragon-gator, enduring the siren song of marsh-maids, and more. However, I found myself wanting a little more on all fronts by the time I reached the end, but it’s still a quick, engaging read.
July 21, 2025
Synopsis:
After the death of their father and mentor unleashes a curse on their homeland, four friends must venture across an enchanted swamp in search of a witch who can bring back the dead, confronting fantastical creatures and their own emotional turmoil along the way.
After the death of their father and mentor unleashes a curse on their homeland, four friends must venture across an enchanted swamp in search of a witch who can bring back the dead, confronting fantastical creatures and their own emotional turmoil along the way.
August 5, 2024
2024 Summer Reading Challenge- Read a Jr. Book
extra star for dragon-gators and frogres
extra star for dragon-gators and frogres
July 8, 2023
"We all have magic in us - even if it never rises to the surface, it's in everyone, and everywhere."
Into the Glades follow best friends Larkin and Cordelia. They love their lives in the swamp with all of its magic. That is until Cordelia's dad suddenly dies, and everything seems to change. The swamp becomes a dangerous place to be. So Larkin, Cordelia, and their brothers go out on a journey to bring back their dad and save the swamp.
I have read from Sebastian before and really liked her books. So I was actually a bit shocked by how badly written I found this one. This is her first middle-grade novel, and I am sorry to say that I could definitely feel that in the way it was written. It tries to be whimsical in its descriptions of this swamp-fantasy land, but the writing does not suit that style at all: Everything is over-explained. Things that were revealed to us in chapter four were recapped in chapter five. It felt like Sebastian was speaking down to her readers, and it was pretty unbearable, as it just felt like she thought kids were stupid and wouldn't get the story, if they weren't beaten over the heads with facts again and again.
And if that wasn't bad enough, I also found the story to be both very repetitive and confusing in its events. I would read and reread sentences to figure out who was saying or doing what. Suddenly, characters would have gone missing, and I felt like I had had a black out while reading. While the world is fascinating - and quite atmospheric so I give Sebastian props for that - there were also small things that would just take me out of the story. Sebastian invents all of these new animals to inhabit the world. But then she would also just reference rattlesnakes or dinosaurs like they would also be a part of this fantasy-world that so far felt completely removed from our own. It is a small thing, but it just bugged me.
I actually thought that I was going to give this 1 star only, but I have to acknowledge that Sebastian did a very, very good job in portraying grief and how to deal - or not deal - with loss. There were some genuinely moving paragraphs that filled my eyes with tears. And I thought it was very clever how the swamp was mirroring the children's grief, as we slowly worked ourselves through all of their emotions. So I have to give major props for that.
So of course, this wasn't all bad, and I do want to stress that I am not the target demographic, so what didn't work for me may work for an actual child. But this isn't going on my list of favourite Sebastian novels.
Into the Glades follow best friends Larkin and Cordelia. They love their lives in the swamp with all of its magic. That is until Cordelia's dad suddenly dies, and everything seems to change. The swamp becomes a dangerous place to be. So Larkin, Cordelia, and their brothers go out on a journey to bring back their dad and save the swamp.
I have read from Sebastian before and really liked her books. So I was actually a bit shocked by how badly written I found this one. This is her first middle-grade novel, and I am sorry to say that I could definitely feel that in the way it was written. It tries to be whimsical in its descriptions of this swamp-fantasy land, but the writing does not suit that style at all: Everything is over-explained. Things that were revealed to us in chapter four were recapped in chapter five. It felt like Sebastian was speaking down to her readers, and it was pretty unbearable, as it just felt like she thought kids were stupid and wouldn't get the story, if they weren't beaten over the heads with facts again and again.
And if that wasn't bad enough, I also found the story to be both very repetitive and confusing in its events. I would read and reread sentences to figure out who was saying or doing what. Suddenly, characters would have gone missing, and I felt like I had had a black out while reading. While the world is fascinating - and quite atmospheric so I give Sebastian props for that - there were also small things that would just take me out of the story. Sebastian invents all of these new animals to inhabit the world. But then she would also just reference rattlesnakes or dinosaurs like they would also be a part of this fantasy-world that so far felt completely removed from our own. It is a small thing, but it just bugged me.
I actually thought that I was going to give this 1 star only, but I have to acknowledge that Sebastian did a very, very good job in portraying grief and how to deal - or not deal - with loss. There were some genuinely moving paragraphs that filled my eyes with tears. And I thought it was very clever how the swamp was mirroring the children's grief, as we slowly worked ourselves through all of their emotions. So I have to give major props for that.
So of course, this wasn't all bad, and I do want to stress that I am not the target demographic, so what didn't work for me may work for an actual child. But this isn't going on my list of favourite Sebastian novels.
January 24, 2023
What a magical story full of friendship, family, amazing messages, & so much imagination & heart. Loved this! Best friends Cordelia & Larkin have always called the Glades—a peaceful swamp full of magical creatures—home. But when Oziris, Cordelia’s father & the leader of their village, dies unexpectedly, a dark curse sweeps over the land. The girls know that the curse must be tied to Oziris’s death, & they’re determined to break its hold on their home & bring Oziris back to life. Together, Cordelia, Larkin, & their 2 little brothers set off into the wild Glades in search of an elusive & enigmatic witch who is rumored to have the power to reverse death. The Glades are no longer a familiar & friendly place, though, & danger lurks around every corner. But on their journey, the children discover that the most difficult challenge isn’t wild marsh-maids or bogilisks or dragon-gators—it’s the grief threatening to consume them. This Everglades-inspired magical swampland is so phenomenal. So atmospheric, & the curse adds to that even more, & the meaning behind it all, these 4 friends/family on their quest..it’s all so good. All the inhabitants we see that live there are so fascinating. And the tree, & everything that happens there?? Loved! Everything the learn on their journey-about their home, their family, & especially themselves is amazing. Amazing character growth/development. Big focus on family at the heart of this, & an big underlying message of grief at the core, & how it’s all woven together into the magical aspects of the story is truly beautiful. A moving, & deep story that shows how we live on in the lives we touched, the stories/knowledge we share, & it shows after we’re gone through those people. Bodies may die, but the love never leaves. Beautiful read. BEAUTIFUL cover by the amazing Vivienne To as well!💜
January 21, 2023
This book had incredible potential, but the execution fell very flat for me. One of the main characters was incredibly unlikable (even before she experienced the death of a close loved one), and I didn't ever feel like she had any kind of growth. The story was so fast and went from one thing to the next so suddenly that it was like reading whiplash. I wish the whole thing had been a little bit more developed and deeper.
Also, magic boogers are funny once, maybe twice. But they got really old and eye rolly very fast. Sigh.
Also, magic boogers are funny once, maybe twice. But they got really old and eye rolly very fast. Sigh.
July 18, 2023
This review is for the Audiobook version, narrated by Rachel L. Jacobs,
ISBN 9780593611746, Published 25 October 2022, by Books on Tape, Listening Library
(not in Goodreads catalogue at time of review)
Set in a place similar to the Everglades in Florida, this is the story of a family growing up in a lush swamp.. where the crocodiles are dragons and the mosquitos are pixies. Two best friends are starting to get to an age where they fear they might start going in different directions, and they both realise that there is a bit more distance forming between them. Their lives have been intertwined, as their parents and younger brothers are all friends, but Larkin is expecting to receive the gift of magic like her mother before her, and Cordelia wonders if she will ever be able to compete...
Unexpectedly there is a terrible loss in the family. One of the girls' parents dies and life is complicated still further by attacks of magical creatures upon their remote town. The children form a plan to try and heal the curse that they feel upon the Glades, and they journey to seek help in their quest. As they make their way across the swamp by raft, they encounter many dangers, one of which is the strain upon their friendship.
I felt like the book ran a little slow, but could be good for 12 year old readers. Anything with communing with dragons gets a little plus in my book, and some of the humour in it is silly.. but the core of the book is really about processing grief and working on friendships through conscious effort. It's not really preachy about it though.
The whole thing felt like a good idea in concept, but was just, ok.. it wasn't a waste of time to read, but could have been better, and parts of it dragged and were very mundane.
ISBN 9780593611746, Published 25 October 2022, by Books on Tape, Listening Library
(not in Goodreads catalogue at time of review)
Set in a place similar to the Everglades in Florida, this is the story of a family growing up in a lush swamp.. where the crocodiles are dragons and the mosquitos are pixies. Two best friends are starting to get to an age where they fear they might start going in different directions, and they both realise that there is a bit more distance forming between them. Their lives have been intertwined, as their parents and younger brothers are all friends, but Larkin is expecting to receive the gift of magic like her mother before her, and Cordelia wonders if she will ever be able to compete...
Unexpectedly there is a terrible loss in the family. One of the girls' parents dies and life is complicated still further by attacks of magical creatures upon their remote town. The children form a plan to try and heal the curse that they feel upon the Glades, and they journey to seek help in their quest. As they make their way across the swamp by raft, they encounter many dangers, one of which is the strain upon their friendship.
I felt like the book ran a little slow, but could be good for 12 year old readers. Anything with communing with dragons gets a little plus in my book, and some of the humour in it is silly.. but the core of the book is really about processing grief and working on friendships through conscious effort. It's not really preachy about it though.
The whole thing felt like a good idea in concept, but was just, ok.. it wasn't a waste of time to read, but could have been better, and parts of it dragged and were very mundane.
August 24, 2023
I feel like this book was much more ambitious than it actually achieved. It is a middle-grade book but treats the audience more like first-graders. The language and character development are very juvenile, even for MG. I think this had a lot of potential, but it just never quite achieved it. We don't get to know Cordelia well enough to care deeply for her and empathize with her. More often than not, she comes off as annoying. There's also lots of telling rather than showing emotions. The magic boogers power was just kind of weird and overused. I picked up this book because I often enjoy middle-grade reads and liked Laura Sebastian's YA work, but I think I'll give any further MG books by this author a pass.
Read
May 9, 2023Dnfed at page 94
Not the authors fault, I guess it's time to accept that despite the fact that I enjoy some MG books this age gap is not for me as I keep expecting more profundity and more fleshing out in general
Not the authors fault, I guess it's time to accept that despite the fact that I enjoy some MG books this age gap is not for me as I keep expecting more profundity and more fleshing out in general
May 10, 2023
4 1/2 stars
RTC on blog.
RTC on blog.
December 7, 2023
What’s with all these back to back to back mid books.
November 14, 2022
Thank you to Penguin Random House for the finished copy in exchange for my honest review.
Four friends go on the adventure of a lifetime to try and bring back Cordelia’s dad and to try and save the glades that they live in that are sick. The only person that the children think can fix it has died, and they want to find a way to bring him back. Not only because he still has so much to teach them, but so he can fix the glades as well.
Overall this book was an enjoyable read. The main characters is dealing with grief and wanting their dad to come back. All while also trying to save where they live that is also grieving. The glades having emotions as well and the animals coming to life was enchanting and shows the mystery of the glades and how the stories Cordelia’s father told the children come to life.
Into the Glades is a good book that shows how grieving happens differently for everyone, but that isn’t a bad thing. If anything it shows everyone’s uniqueness when it comes to dealing with emotions and how those emotions need to be felt, bottling them up isn’t good.
I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!
Four friends go on the adventure of a lifetime to try and bring back Cordelia’s dad and to try and save the glades that they live in that are sick. The only person that the children think can fix it has died, and they want to find a way to bring him back. Not only because he still has so much to teach them, but so he can fix the glades as well.
Overall this book was an enjoyable read. The main characters is dealing with grief and wanting their dad to come back. All while also trying to save where they live that is also grieving. The glades having emotions as well and the animals coming to life was enchanting and shows the mystery of the glades and how the stories Cordelia’s father told the children come to life.
Into the Glades is a good book that shows how grieving happens differently for everyone, but that isn’t a bad thing. If anything it shows everyone’s uniqueness when it comes to dealing with emotions and how those emotions need to be felt, bottling them up isn’t good.
I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!
October 25, 2022
I don’t think there can ever be too many books that deal with grief, because grief is such an individual experience, and what may resonate with one reader may not with another. The great thing about Into the Glades is that there’s something in it for readers who have yet to experience grief, too.
Into the Glades is told from the alternating points of view of Cordelia and Larkin. The girls have been friends for as long as they can remember, but the curse puts a strain on their relationship. Together, with their respective brothers, they learn that only by working together will they be able to save the Glades.
Cordelia, Larkin, Zephyr and Dash are each unique, bright individuals. Their different strengths and weaknesses play well off each other. The two girls, as the protagonists, are the better developed of the quartet, but the brothers add some humor and heart that really fills things out.
The other main character of Into the Glades is the Glades itself. Author Laura Sebastian full immerses readers in this Everglades-inspired world. It feels both familiar and magical and literally has a heart of its own.
Into the Glades is a thoughtful adventure that explores different kinds of magic and how that magic can manifest itself in the most amazing ways.
Into the Glades is told from the alternating points of view of Cordelia and Larkin. The girls have been friends for as long as they can remember, but the curse puts a strain on their relationship. Together, with their respective brothers, they learn that only by working together will they be able to save the Glades.
Cordelia, Larkin, Zephyr and Dash are each unique, bright individuals. Their different strengths and weaknesses play well off each other. The two girls, as the protagonists, are the better developed of the quartet, but the brothers add some humor and heart that really fills things out.
The other main character of Into the Glades is the Glades itself. Author Laura Sebastian full immerses readers in this Everglades-inspired world. It feels both familiar and magical and literally has a heart of its own.
Into the Glades is a thoughtful adventure that explores different kinds of magic and how that magic can manifest itself in the most amazing ways.
October 14, 2022
As the girls and their brother’s journey through the Glades, Sebastian weaves how each character deals with grief individually from simmering anger to calm acceptance. Cecilia and Larkin are also tested throughout their journey as they come to see that their unique characteristics and magic ability may push them away from one another. In the end, they have to accept the changes that the other may go through to withstand their bond of friendship. There is a parallelism of healing throughout the story as the kids begin to heal the Glade with its magical creatures and themselves as the journey continues through the Glade’s many obstacles. The story takes on a darker tone as soon as the father is revealed to have suddenly died, but Sebastian balances the darkness well with subtle humor and lightheartedness from the brothers. Those factors are important to their characters as they provide emotional support for Cecilia and Larkin away from the rest of their grieving family members. The characters and location of the story are inspired by the author’s childhood, making it a personal story where readers can immerse themselves in her experience. Into the Glades is a fantasy adventure that brings to life real issues surrounding loss and grief along with accepting change and enjoying each moment, giving young readers a hopeful outlook on life.
December 29, 2022
A surprisingly moving book, Into the Glades is about loss, grief, and magic of many kinds - the most powerful of all being (yes) love.
12-year old Cordelia's dad Oziris dies suddenly, and so she wants to find the witch who she thinks can bring him back to life. So she, her younger brother, best friend, and HER younger brother, all set off on this quest.
The book is set in a lush fictional everglades, with delightful dragongators and phoenixflies and very real magic. In the course of their adventures through these obstacles, they learn about how to deal with their grief and let go.
I didn't expect to find it as charming, but I thought the author did a wonderful job expressing how we leave memories and bits of us behind with every person whose lives we touch, so we never truly lose the ones we love. The powers and skills the kids need to get through their adventure all draw on things they learnt from Oziris. And there are some pretty touching moments at the end too, where they discuss some things they learnt from him.
Overall, I do think the book would have fared a bit better if it had only focused on Cordelia instead of trying to shift perspective between her and the best friend. The younger brothers were copies of each other. But these aren't a big deal - if I was the intended audience, a 9-12 year old kid, I probably wouldn't have noticed any shortfalls.
Overall an excellent 4.5/5 rounded up to 5/5. So glad I ended my year on this book. Totally recommend.
12-year old Cordelia's dad Oziris dies suddenly, and so she wants to find the witch who she thinks can bring him back to life. So she, her younger brother, best friend, and HER younger brother, all set off on this quest.
The book is set in a lush fictional everglades, with delightful dragongators and phoenixflies and very real magic. In the course of their adventures through these obstacles, they learn about how to deal with their grief and let go.
I didn't expect to find it as charming, but I thought the author did a wonderful job expressing how we leave memories and bits of us behind with every person whose lives we touch, so we never truly lose the ones we love. The powers and skills the kids need to get through their adventure all draw on things they learnt from Oziris. And there are some pretty touching moments at the end too, where they discuss some things they learnt from him.
Overall, I do think the book would have fared a bit better if it had only focused on Cordelia instead of trying to shift perspective between her and the best friend. The younger brothers were copies of each other. But these aren't a big deal - if I was the intended audience, a 9-12 year old kid, I probably wouldn't have noticed any shortfalls.
Overall an excellent 4.5/5 rounded up to 5/5. So glad I ended my year on this book. Totally recommend.
January 22, 2024
trigger warning
When her father dies, our protagonist overhears a conversation she was not meant to know about, which gets her the idea that the swamp witch could bring him back. She gathers her brother and friends to set out on an adventure.
Short and sweet adventure. Very straightforward, set in the Everglades. Or an environment similiar enough that I can't tell them apart. Creatures like mermaids get their swampy twist, grief is explored. How it is different for every person, and even if you think someone is not impacted by it, if you look deeper you may find that they totally are.
Is especially liked that we have two sets of siblings who spend all their time together so they really feel like one big family. Slight found family vibes while still having blood relations on board.
And one of them has a pet dragon-gator? perfect.
When her father dies, our protagonist overhears a conversation she was not meant to know about, which gets her the idea that the swamp witch could bring him back. She gathers her brother and friends to set out on an adventure.
Short and sweet adventure. Very straightforward, set in the Everglades. Or an environment similiar enough that I can't tell them apart. Creatures like mermaids get their swampy twist, grief is explored. How it is different for every person, and even if you think someone is not impacted by it, if you look deeper you may find that they totally are.
Is especially liked that we have two sets of siblings who spend all their time together so they really feel like one big family. Slight found family vibes while still having blood relations on board.
And one of them has a pet dragon-gator? perfect.
December 19, 2023
I love a lot of things about reading middle grade, it's fun, the books are usually easy to read in a way that makes them super entertaining, but every once in a while I read something that makes me remember the true reason I read so much of it.
This book hit me hard. Cordelia's grief sits like a rock in the plot of this book and Sebastian does such an incredible job of explaining the way it feels to lose a father. There is a comfort in this book that I have never been able to find in any of the books I've read that deal with this topic. This book says "I see you, I see how strong you are, it's okay to feel that hurt though." It's been almost 10 years since my dad passed, and this book made me bawl like a baby in a way I haven't done in so long. I cannot recommend this book enough.
This book hit me hard. Cordelia's grief sits like a rock in the plot of this book and Sebastian does such an incredible job of explaining the way it feels to lose a father. There is a comfort in this book that I have never been able to find in any of the books I've read that deal with this topic. This book says "I see you, I see how strong you are, it's okay to feel that hurt though." It's been almost 10 years since my dad passed, and this book made me bawl like a baby in a way I haven't done in so long. I cannot recommend this book enough.
October 23, 2022
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.
I enjoy fantasy books but it can sometimes be a difficult genre for middle grade readers due to the length and often vocabulary, but this feels like a great introduction to MG fantasy. Lots of great world building and adventure and I think readers will connect with the variety of magic in the book (I mean...magic boogers!!) I do have several students who have had a parent pass away in the last couple of years so if I shared this book with them I'd offer a gentle warning because the storyline could be a trigger for some readers, but I think the book does a good job addressing the many feelings of grief that come after loss.
I enjoy fantasy books but it can sometimes be a difficult genre for middle grade readers due to the length and often vocabulary, but this feels like a great introduction to MG fantasy. Lots of great world building and adventure and I think readers will connect with the variety of magic in the book (I mean...magic boogers!!) I do have several students who have had a parent pass away in the last couple of years so if I shared this book with them I'd offer a gentle warning because the storyline could be a trigger for some readers, but I think the book does a good job addressing the many feelings of grief that come after loss.
June 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was such a fun MG read that initially focuses on one of the characters lack of magic. When the death of a much beloved presence within the group occurs the children decide to embark on an adventure to try to bring him back. Throughout their journey, the children come across obstacles that they have no choice but to try to overcome. At the core of this story is how Cordelia handles the passing of her father. I think grief was handled really well here. Whilst it was dealt with in a lighter way, it still showcased the different stages of grief and how they affect each person differently.
This was such a fun MG read that initially focuses on one of the characters lack of magic. When the death of a much beloved presence within the group occurs the children decide to embark on an adventure to try to bring him back. Throughout their journey, the children come across obstacles that they have no choice but to try to overcome. At the core of this story is how Cordelia handles the passing of her father. I think grief was handled really well here. Whilst it was dealt with in a lighter way, it still showcased the different stages of grief and how they affect each person differently.
May 9, 2022
Into the Glades is an excellent book for your middle-grade readers who are into adventures and magic. The relationships between Cordelia, Larkin, Dash, & Zephyr make for an interesting read as they embark on a journey to try and bring Cordelia & Dash's father back from the dead. This book deals with the pain of grief in a way that is very relatable for young people and shows that, while healing is possible, we will never forget those we've loved and lost.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Random House Children's Books Publicity Department in exchange for a fair review.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Random House Children's Books Publicity Department in exchange for a fair review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2022
This was not quite bad enough to warrant a single star, but it was a very close call. Let's put it this way: the characters are so interchangable that even the author and publishers mix them up multiple times. (This is easily noticeable because, for instance, suddenly the boy without magic will be talking about how he'll use his magic.)
In terms of plot, it was fine. Cordelia's development at the climax then gets ignored for the rest of the book which is annoying. The story is so generally bleh though that I couldn't bring myself to care as much as I would with a better book.
In terms of plot, it was fine. Cordelia's development at the climax then gets ignored for the rest of the book which is annoying. The story is so generally bleh though that I couldn't bring myself to care as much as I would with a better book.
January 4, 2023
Themes of parental death/grieving and climate harm/nurture are significant in this book, but at its core, it's a story of four curious and determined kids, two girls and their younger brothers, on a purposeful adventure. Reading it as a mom whose kids have a dead dad (who died 3.5 years ago, not as fresh as the loss in the book) was rough at first, but I got drawn into the adventure and magic of it all as I read on. Also, I appreciated the note at the end describing the real life circumstances that birthed the book.
October 24, 2023
An enchanting middle-grade fantasy about two girls finding their magic as they find themselves. It has all the fun of a fantasy-coming of age story. The families are devastated by the death of their father and leader in the glade. The Glade mourns the loss. Ultimately, it is a book about mourning. It's a little convoluted at times. But kids will love the magic boogers and Larkin's found ability to communicate with the beasts who are suffering. Cordelia's anger at the loss of her father explained as a hurricane will make sense to young readers.
September 27, 2022
Into the Glades follows siblings and best friends Cordelia and Dash & Larkin and Zephyr as they set off on an adventure in hopes to resurrect Cordelia and Dash's father. Along the way, they encounter several obstacles that they solve by working as a team, and by doing so they grow to understand the layers of The Glades. I loved the magical world this book was set in as well as the underlying themes of grief and growing up that was explored. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews