Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales

by Wendy S. Swore

Can two friends solve the mystery of Liam's "curse" by using their knowledge of fairy tales?

Something is wrong with Liam. He collapses during soccer practice, he can’t stay awake in class, and he’s starting to see a ghostly white fox that disappears into smoke. His parents and teachers accuse him of being lazy and staying up too late, but he knows it’s something worse.

No one believes him except for Alaina, a friend and self-proclaimed expert in fantasy and fairy tales. She’s seen this sort of thing before and believes Liam has been cursed with a powerful sleeping spell. Her journal is full of possible ways to break a curse. Liam is skeptical, but with his normal life slipping further away, he agrees to try her potential cures.  

As they search for answers in stories, Alaina shares that she also is dealing with something no one else can see: type 1 diabetes. It rears its head like an invisible dragon, and she carries her medical equipment as a knight’s lance and dragon-scale shield to battle it. 

As Liam’s mystery illness worsens, he will need Alaina’s friendship—and perhaps a bit of fairy magic—to find a way to understand the truth of what is happening and regain the pieces of himself that are lost.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Friendship, Mystery, Fiction, Magical Realism, Chapter Books

304 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Wendy S Swore farms on the Sho-Ban reservation where her corn maze and pumpkin patch is home to her five kids, two dogs, two geese, seven peacocks, eleven ducks, nineteen cats, and two hundred thirty seven chickens. She farms in the summers, writes in the winters, and would rather chew her leg off than eat something spicy.

Rep'd by Stacey Glick, Member SCBWI, Her debut novel, A Monster Like Me, comes out in March 2019.

Reviews

[Lena Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book by this amazing author. This is my first read by her, but I can guarantee you it will not be my last. I got the book because of my love of dragons and magic good call. I just loved this book it has a wonderful message told in such a honest and clever way.

Our main character Liam knows something is wrong he keeps falling asleep, but no one wants to believe him, except his best friend. Everyone else thinks he is staying up to late. But he knows something is not right. So follow the journey of discovery. If you have a sick child get the book and share the story as things unfold.

She knows how to empower a child. Thank you for allowing me to read this.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an excellent book! I loved the autoimmune disease representation. The power of friendship is real and I love watching Liam and Alaina support each other.

[Cathy | A Case Full of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A really sweet middle grade book about a girl managing her Type 1 Diabetes and her old friend turned reluctant school project partner who can't seem to stay awake or play soccer like he used to but can't figure out why.

I loved seeing Liam and Alaina rediscover their friendship and help each other through their struggles. Their friendship was so special. I also liked the chronic illness representation and discussions surrounding them.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the fairy tale theme woven throughout, both real fairy tales and ones the students created. It added a lovely flair of magic to the story.

I was buddy reading this with my nine-year-old, but in true me-fashion as soon as I hit the halfway point I couldn't stop reading. I'm excited to hear her thoughts once she's done.

*Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Wendy Swore for sending me an ARC and a finished copy of this book.*

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute gem of a Middle grade book! Great character development, a sprinkling of sort-of magic, and some beautifully-intertwined real-life health issues. I love how Swore subtly educates the reader about both type one diabetes and narcolepsy. I knew next to nothing about narcolepsy! But by the end of this book, I wanted to give her a hug and thank her for sharing so much of her own experience in this story. Very well done, highly recommend for your middle grade readers.

I appreciated that there were no hidden agendas—just kids learning how to interact with each other in the world of cell phones and social media, where we sadly know less and less of the struggles of the people living around us.

[Nicholas Cairns · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice concept bogged down by endless explanations, internal monologues, characters you meet once and never see again, and bashing you over the head with the moral message. This could have been a short story.

[C. D'Arc · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of soccer and one who studies fairytales, I loved the exploration of common and lesser-known stories. "Sleeping Spells & Dragon Scales" is perfectly written for middle readers who often stop believing in magic, as the characters look for magic in the mundane. The turning of real problems into fairytales shows how fairytales are really retellings of life.

Not only did I enjoy the power given to fairytales and friendship, but I really appreciated the all-too-real struggle with Type1 Diabetes or an unknown disability, the frustration of negative tests that claim "you're fine," the grief that comes from a chronic diagnosis, then the process of moving forward to continue living life despite it all.

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales offers a unique blend of fairy tales and reality.

The story follows two friends, Liam and Alaina, who both face health challenges, Liam's unknown at first. Using a school project on Fairy Tales, they explore possible solutions to Liam's issues. Alaina thinks that the idea of fairy tales and magic might hold real-life remedies for Liam's condition. Buried in books and stories, they have hope that maybe this could be the key to his recovery. Reflecting on her firsthand and courageous experience with Type 1 Diabetes, Alaina believes she can support Liam during this tough period. Many moments of heartache are spread throughout the book on their quest and their friendship goes through tremendous ups and downs.

Through its heartwarming narrative, this middle-grade novel teaches a valuable lesson on finding strength while dealing with adversity. Wendy S. Swore once again delivers a charming and thoughtful read for young audiences.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Liam has been friends with Alaina for a long time. When they were in second grade, Alaina's dog, Festus, ran off and got in trouble in the park, and Alaina has always maintained that he crashed into a fairy area and caused a curse to be placed on the two. She was diagnosed with diabetes, and the two were never as close. Fast forward to middle school, and Liam is injured falling off his bike. Alaina sees him; nothing hits him, he just collapses. The two have to work on a school fairy tale project together where they have to write their own tale to help make sense of the world. Liam struggles with his health, and collapses several times. He plays soccer, and has had concussions before. His parents take him to the doctor, but believe that he is so tired because he stays up too late. Alaina knows what it is like to have people not take your health seriously; a substitute teacher tries to take away her diabetic monitor after he tells the students they can't have any devices out, and she almost passes out. Liam comes to her aid, her mother gets an alert on her phone, and the substitute does not come back. Liam starts to have trouble in school, and eventually tells his parents exactly how he feels. They take him back to the doctor, determined to get answers, especially after he falls asleep at soccer practice and his "friend" Jeremy takes a video of him that goes viral. People tease him and give him a hard time, but his diagnosis of narcolepsy is a small help. Alaina believes that the problems are caused by the fairy curse; she is also heavily into playing Dungeons and Dragons. When the two go on a field trip for a Marine Biologry program, they get caught out on a trail and both have health emergencies. Can they manage to save each other?
Strengths: This had a lot of good information about diabetes; I understand the mother's reluctance to send Alaina on a school trip, since I have had diabetic students in my care on the cross country team and Washington, D.C. trips and am always hypervigilant with them! My best friend in middle school suffered from undiagnosed narcolepsy for years; I was in charge of sitting behind her in class and waking her up if I saw her drift off, but it never occurred to anyone to take her to the doctor for this! The scenes at the school concerning the fairy tale project arae absolutely spot on; we used to have an almost identical project for out sixth grade lanaguage arts classes. The D&D representation is appreciated, and the fantasy and realistic elements blend well together.
Weaknesses: While this is a clever pairing of health issues and fantasy, I would rather see a realistic story about students with these health challenges, akin to Davis' Food Fight.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like books such as Malinenko's This Appearing House or Reynold's Izzy at the End of the World that discuss health matters in an allegorical fashion or this author's The Wish and the Peacock or A Monster Like Me.

[Monica H at The Readathon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed Wendy S. Swore’s previous middle-grader books. She’s written A Monster Like Me, The Wish and the Peacock, and Strong Like the Sea. You may read my reviews of each of these books by clicking on their images at the bottom of this page. Swore has a wonderful way of telling a story and making it a safe place to explore difficult topics and ideas. Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales, her newest book, is no different.

Liam and Alaina have been friends for a long time. They have become more distant in recent years but have a rich history of friendship. Liam loves soccer. He lives for soccer. Up until recently, he’s been the star of the team—the leader. Something is happening, though, and he does not feel like himself. He gets so tired and has trouble connecting with the ball. Liam feels a lot of pressure to perform in school and on the field and feels like he is failing at both.

Alaina has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Although she’s known for a while, she is still learning her limits and learning how to correctly take care of herself. Alaina loves fairy tales! She sees them everywhere. When she and Liam are paired together for a school project, she takes the lead and works with Liam to complete the project and to help him find answers to his questions.

I love these characters! They are so cute. Liam is determined, strong, stubborn, a hard worker, and tries so hard to do his best. You can feel his emotion oozing through the pages. He tries so hard, but is a little too stubborn, which causes problems. Alaina is so sweet. She loves fairy tales and believes in their reality and magic. I think she explains a lot of life through fairy tales. She is helpful, smart, loving, and determined. When she wants something, she doesn’t stop until she has it.

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales is such a cute book! I enjoyed it. I love how Wendy S. Swore seamlessly weaves these hard issues into a fun and relatable story. It’s great to introduce these difficult topics into a story where they can be learned about and safely explored. Along with the two medical issues, this story also delves into reaching out for help, not being embarrassed about medical issues, being kind to others with medical issues, and the grief that comes with learning you have a medical issue you will have for the remainder of your life.

Content Rating: PG
-Profanity: None
-Intimacy: None
-Violence: None
Age Recommendation: Middle-Graders and Up

You may read my full review on my book blog: thereadathon.com.

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales is a clever, thought provoking middle grade fiction infused with fairytale and fantasy references. It’s the story of two friends whose relationship grows after each experiences huge challenges making them believe they’ve been cursed. This imaginative at times emotional story really brought to life the realities of those who suffer from chronic illnesses and impressed me with its ability to both educate and entertain. It’s the first book I’ve read by Wendy S. Swore and definitely won’t be my last.

Liam and Alaina have been friends since they were small. When they were in second grade though, a terrible incident happened involving Alaina’s dog, a fairy’s house, thorns, and a broken mirror. Since that time, Alaina believes she’s been cursed after developing Type 1 Diabetes. When Liam begins experiencing strange symptoms causing him to fall asleep all the time, Alaina thinks he’s been cursed too. Tasked by their middle grade English teacher to write their own personal fairytales, Alaina and Liam work together to find the answers to breaking Liam’s sleeping curse through studying fairytales.

I loved the way the author introduced readers to serious chronic illnesses in a thoughtful, gentle way. Those who suffer from chronic autoimmune conditions like Type 1 Diabetes will most likely appreciate the representation and relate to the main characters. The frustrations and emotions in dealing with these conditions were so realistic and will hopefully help kids who don’t suffer from these diseases have greater understanding and compassion for their friends who do.

Liam and Alaina both experience difficultly when trying to explain their conditions to others. For instance, Alaina has to educate a classmate who thinks her Type 1 Diabetes was caused by eating too much sugar. Liam especially has a hard time because it’s unclear what his diagnosis is until near the end. He experiences misunderstandings and even bullying by his soccer team when the explanation for his symptoms goes undiagnosed at first. Both Liam and Alaina grow throughout the story and learn to help and standup for each other. I loved the way their conditions were compared to invisible dragons they must fight. I also loved all the references to fairytales and fantasy books.

Highly recommend to middle grade readers especially those dealing with chronic medical conditions. Looking forward to reading more by this author. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Wendy Swore’s own experience with her Type 1 Diabetic (T1D) child contributed greatly to this middle grade book about two 6th graders reconnecting after a break in their several years ago when the two experienced a possible encounter with the fae while exploring a trail near their home. Alaina and Liam never really spent more time together after the two smashed a mirror in what appeared to be a hidden fairy circle. What Liam didn’t know until a class assignment exploring the world of fairies and fairy tales paired them together, is that shortly after their shared experience, Alaina was diagnosed with T1D and spent the last two years learning to manage the ups and downs of her blood sugar and the constant attention it takes to maintain good control. Now Liam has something wrong with him, too. His abilities on the soccer pitch seem to be evaporating and his focus there and in the classroom seems to be lost in a fog of sleepiness and inattention. Is it possible that the two were cursed when they broke the fairies’ mirror and never replaced it or is it just the nature of life? Combining their search for a diagnosis for Liam and evidence to prove or disprove the existence of all things fantastic results in a book that is equal parts fun and a serious look at two health issues that most readers will not be very familiar with. Hopefully, those readers will enjoy the references to Dungeons and Dragons, Renaissance Fairs, soccer, the usual school drama as well as acquire a bit of empathy for others and a realization that sometimes a disease does not overtly show itself but that doesn’t mean that it there.

As a T1D for more than 50 years, I have read several books that have misrepresented the disease to varying degrees. While Alaina’s experiences do not exactly mirror my own, Swore notes several times that this is the way Alaina determines her insulin needs, checks her blood sugar, etc., leaving room for those who manage their disease in a slightly different way. But in the big things, I saw myself in what Alaina went through. Liam’s narcolepsy with cataplexy was unfamiliar to me, but I hope her handling of that condition was as sound as her coverage of Type 1 Diabetes.

Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Target age: grades 4-6

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liam and Alaina were friends when they were small, but they hadn't spent much time together since. A school project pulls them together as Liam battles with a mysterious illness and Alaina opens up to him about her love of fairy tales and her struggles in dealing with diabetes.

Sleeping Scales and Dragon Scales shares fairy tale elements within a real-world setting. It explores the frustration of not understanding something new that's out of your control and figuring out how to deal with the misunderstandings and misconceptions that come with it. I love that this book explores the attitudes and frustrations that come with a new illness and teaches kids to be patient and have empathy for others. It explores not judging others when you don't know the full scope of what they're going through. It's also a great book for parents and explores themes of communication and really delving into a child's feelings to figure out what is going on. The children in this book also have to learn to communicate their thoughts with their parents. The themes in this book cover a wide range of areas to really help understand the emotions and feelings of going through some pretty tough situations from many different sides. The characters really come alive in this book as you see their struggles and how they try to navigate them. Overall, this is book was really well-written. The author takes her time to really share different perspectives and cover some serious topics in a thoughtful and inciteful way.

This book was really interesting for me to read. I have a kid that struggles with speech, asthma and food allergies. My son has dealt with other people judging him and my over protectiveness. This book helped me to have some perspective. I really think it's an important read for kids and adults to read. Everyone is going through something and its especially hard on kids when they're trying to navigate an illness while dealing with parents, coaches, and friends. It's a much-needed book.

Please note that I received a free copy to review from the publisher, but this is my honest and heartfelt opinion.

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales
By Wendy S. Swore

With a title like this one imagines a fantasy story with maybe some laughs. But this book is more an idea of fantasy instead. There is a serious aspect to it that is actually the main story. Liam and Alaina are really good friends, but when Liam starts having sleeping spells and seeing things that aren't there Alaina is the only friend who believes him.

She knows what it's like to have strange symptoms and feel like your body is just weird. Alaina has type 1 diabetes and has been living with it for several years. And she has a theory about how to help Liam.

Alaina believes the two of them have upset the fairies, accidentally. But she believes they have to try breaking Liam's curse before it is too late. And they'll use her research and knowledge of fairies and fairy tales to do this.

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales is a contemporary set chapter book that uses Magical Realism perfectly as Lian and Alaina work together to try to understand and figure out what is wrong with. Because something must be wrong even if the doctors say he is fine.

This book is perfect in explaining the troubling aspects of having an unknown and chronic condition. We are introduced to the struggle to explain what is difficult to explain and even harder the cruel comments and accusations of lying. How do you convince others that something is wrong when the experts say you're fine? And how long do you keep going on before you give up?

I think this is a book that all middle-grade readers should read. It is an eye-opening read about diabetes, narcolepsy, and cataplexy. I know the words sound scary and the reality of living with these conditions on a daily basis is just as scary. I think this book presented this in an excellent manner allowing the reader to experience the unknown - the feelings, the pain, and even fear.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the overall premise of this book to be interesting, but the execution of it wasn't quite as good as I hoped. Not being at all familiar with sleep disorders, this book was eye-opening for me in that regard. The diabetes info was more familar to me, but I still found it worthwhile. The fairy tale elements dragged the book down for me; I often found myself wanting to skim some of the book, especially the parts with Alaina's descriptions and plans for breaking "curses." I also found myself wondering whether the intended audience would be familiar with some of the references in the book--like, I don't know what a hagstone is or what the Cthulhu is, and I doubt either of my 11-year-old twins do, either. I have watched The Princess Bride so I caught those references, but my kids haven't, so they wouldn't. (I also felt like everything with the ferrets could have been left out, as the book was a bit wordy.)
I also found myself really ticked off with Liam's parents; it was so frustrating that they let him struggle for so long without pushing harder for answers (even if they thought he was "just" depression and anxious, they should have tried to help with that, not give him stupid lectures like "I understand the depression and anxiety makes you want to sleep, and we'l worth through this together, but your team is counting on you. You can't just not show up." Seriously?? Way to give the message that depression and anxiety aren't serious disorders but things you can just shake off at will!)

So, for me as a reader, it's was good but not great. I'll still pass it onto my kids for them to try, but based on what I know about their reading preferences, I'd say it'll also just be a good-not-great book for them as well.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[TheReadingCornerforAll Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleeping Spells & Dragon Scales tapped into a vein of magical realism which I’m sure fans of Bridge to Terabithia will be called to. In this middle grade novel, readers dive into the dual perspectives of Liam and Alaina. Author Wendy S. Swore, allows readers to have interactions with these character in a manner which is mindful, dignifying, and meaningful by introducing us to Alaina who has an chronic autoimmune condition known as type 1 diabetes and Liam who is suffering from an invisible “curse” which is causing him to suddenly fall asleep and mysteriously begins to see a ghostly white fox appear before him. While both characters are battling with visible and invisible forces surrounding them, the pressure to help Liam’s increasing symptoms grows stronger as the tethers of their friendship and belief in the unknown are tested.

As a reader, I greatly appreciate it when authors are able to impart elements of consciousness. Sleeping Spells & Dragon Scales gave me the opportunity to not only learn about chronic autoimmune condition but also understand the gravity of the individual experiences youths such as Liam and Alaina undergo on a daily basis. Author Wendy S. Swore was able to create a very genuine narrative and weave an authentic story with a resounding voice that earned Sleeping Spells & Dragon Scales a spot on my top 20 reads list for 2024. Middle grade works like Sleeping Spells & Dragon Scales solidify the value of diversifying reads to respect the experiences of those around us. This modern fairy tale of it’s own right was able to create a story from two different perspectives where Liam and Alaina merged their own real and fictional worlds where the end result allowed readers to gain insight into their endeavors and explored channels of social compassion and empathy.

[Riella Cristobal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first from Ms. Swore and it was so much fun! I grew up on MG fantasy and I still love reading it. I definitely related to Alaina in that way! This story is a lovely contemporary fiction with hints of fantasy.
It was such an engaging story! I loved the hints of mystery and the way that fairytales were incorporated into the story. It felt very grounded in reality, with the school and sports elements. Both Liam and Alaina were dealing with their personal struggles and goals, as well as their friendships, family life, and school.
Liam and Alaina were both so interesting to follow! I loved having both of their POVs, it really gave the story a full picture feel. Liam was really struggling with what feels like a sleeping curse. I felt for him and the way author described his struggles offered a view that developed over the book. At the same time, Alaina was navigating her own struggles, her own invisible dragon of type 1 diabetes. That was very cool for me to read about as someone with family members who have diabetes. I love the representation and how her battle against it was presented with grace, but also truthfully about the difficulties.
I loved watching them both face their challenges and learn about themselves. I appreciated how they also found support in their family and from other friends. The themes of strength in your weaknesses and finding wisdom from even things like fairytales and fantasy were lovely. It did take me a bit to get invested in, I would definitely recommend this to young readers and those young at heart!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

[Lizz Axnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much but docked a star because I felt it went on just a little too long. And I felt the resolution was lacking with the way the story was headed.

This is about two best friends who go an adventure when they are in the second grade and wind up breaking a mirror in what is thought to be a fairy forest. They grow apart as the years go by but are reunited when they are assigned to do a project on fairy tales together for their English class. Alaina, an avid D&D fan and hopeful future knight, has never outgrown her love of fairy tales and magic. She has never stopped believing in fairies and generally tries to see the best in the world. Liam, a star soccer player, has his feet planted firmly on the ground and his head in the game. Until he is tired all the time and turns to jello trying to kick the soccer ball.

I appreciated the in depth fairy tale suggestions (one of my passions) and the kids' writing their own tales to find the magic in their lives. The book also takes on type 1 diabetes and another mystery illness that has befallen Liam. I'm sure kids in those circumstances will appreciate seeing themselves on the page. Alaina is a true hero in grappling with something so big and so tough and still determined to live her life. She is to be admired and adored.

My thanks to Shadow Mountain and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a middle-reader, there weren’t a lot of books about type 1 diabetes (then called juvenile diabetes). I know that because my older brother Jake was diagnosed with it when he was 4. Doctor and hospital visits were a way of life at our house, and I would have given anything to read more about the condition in a way that spoke to me. In fact, the first book I remember really addressing it was The Truth About Stacey, the third book in the Babysitters Club series.

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales is just one of a number of more recent offerings that really dive deep into the T1D, and it does so with honesty and heart.

*Spoiler Alert* The other condition central to the story is narcolepsy, which author Wendy S. Swore also approaches with great care.

While the bits about fairies and their different magic is entertaining and creates the framework for Swore’s book, it’s the way she conveys the fear and frustration and winning moments that come with “invisible” diseases. She gives those who suffer with them a voice, and that’s what really stands out.

Of course, there are also themes of family, friendship, empathy, and lack of understanding weaved throughout that lend to Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales broader appeal. It’s not a particularly fast read, but a compelling one nonetheless.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
Believing in fairies made Fairy Door Trail an obvious hangout for Alaina, and her best friend—and skeptic—Liam didn’t mind tagging along. One day, they stumbled into what could have been a fairy circle and most likely, accidentally offended a fairy. Since that day, Alaina and Liam drifted apart, and Alaina has had to deal with being cursed. But now Liam is showing signs of being cursed, too, and he needs Alaina’s help.
Swore’s writing sits in the beautiful space between reality and fantasy. Both characters and readers know that fantasy and fairy tale creatures are not real, but they still want to believe they might be. There is magic in believing and in recognizing the fantastical parts of reality. In the book, Alaina and Liam’s English teacher gives an assignment for the students to write their lives as fairy tales, and it has made me look at my life a little differently—with a little more hope and a little more recognition for my main character and heroine status.
Alaina is implied Latina and has an autoimmune disorder, Liam has a chronic neurological disorder, and Doctor Titus is Kenyan. The mature content rating is for mentions of kissing and for near-death experiences. The violence rating is for some mild fantasy violence imagery.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book for review.

This contemporary middle grade novel follows two friends who are suffering from chronic illness. One is a fantasy and fairytale loving girl who has learned to manage her type 1 diabetes and the other is a soccer playing boy who is having a hard time staying awake and can’t figure out what’s wrong. Through the lens of fairytales and stories they work together to break the “curse” and discover themselves.

I think that kids with invisible illnesses will feel very seen by this book. And kids that don’t have them will have a great opportunity for meaningful insight and understanding through the form of an engaging story. I marked several lines that impacted me and I was really moved by a lot of the moments.

I have an awesome niece with type 1 diabetes who is a few years younger than the main character and I was definitely thinking about her throughout this book. It felt very in line with what I have heard from her and I know the representation in this novel was heavily influenced by input from the author’s own niece and had a lot of care to make everything authentic.

[Marcus Wolfshire]

Liam and Aliana are kids with unique health issues. Falling asleep at random times beyond his control leads to many frustrating moments for Liam in both his school work and soccer. For Aliana, low blood sugar in the form of diabetes forces her to be mindful of sugar levels on a daily basis.
Their assignment pairs them to evaluate and rewrite a fairy tale that reflects their lives. Liam is skeptical and believes there is no link with his random sleeping episodes. Aliana believes the opposite that Fairy Tales may have some truth in them. Through their assignment, they learn about one another's illness and its link to the world of Fairy Tales.

This well written story alternates between Liam and Aliana. We feel Liams frustration of knowing something isn't right with his random sleepiness but not having a diagnosis. Aliana is well aware of being on top of her sugar count. In her own right, she is a warrior living life to the fullest. The dialogue flows nicely between characters and chapters.

A recommended read.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that this book involved characters with medical issues and then used fairy-tales to subtly teach how important it is to use our imagination to help us get through life’s challenges. The story alternates between the 2 main character – Liam and Aliana. Aliana has a passion for fairy-tales and believing in magic. She struggles with her diabetes, but never lets her medical issues bring down her courage and ability to see how fairy-tales can be used to show us things about the real world. Liam on the other hand believes fairy-tales are just made-up nonsense and wants everyone to stop worrying so much about his health even though deep down he can tell his body is struggling with something but he doesn’t want to admit it, especially if it means giving up soccer. An excellent middle grade novel for all ages as the story teaches about finding courage in friendship with empathy, and sheds light on medical issues.

Thanks NetGalley for a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Tales Untangled · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Children's Fiction, Fantasy
Audience: Middle-Grade (elementary school children)

From the title, I was expecting more magic. But I recognize that the author, Swore, writes heartfelt fiction about real issues.

To me, this book focuses more on the illness and the developing friendship (or reconnection of old friends) than magic. It was a little slow for me because I kept waiting for bigger magic.

Things I liked:

- The forge—Making swords
- How diabetes is handled
- The pets!
- Friendship
- Support of family
- Cozy, warm feelings
- Interaction with fairy tale research

I think fans of Swore's previous novels are going to love this! Kids that like realistic fiction will also enjoy it. IF someone is expecting a lot of magic, this isn't really that book.

Happy reading!

[Binxie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a good idea but was poorly organized and executed. The idea of kids writing fairy tales that include details of their challenges is good. Alaina is living with diabetes, taking a very mature attitude towards it, being responsible, and figuring out how to navigate challenges. Liam, a classmate she once was best friends with, is over her love of fairies and magic. They are teamed up to work on the fairy tale project and that works so well. Other elements didn't advance or enhance the story. It seemed the author threw in random ideas like the dad being a blacksmith who made items for Renaissance fairs and games of dungeons and dragons. They didn't add anything to the story but words. This book needed to be tighter and more focused. Liam's soccer story seemed forced in an attempt to appeal to boys. I think this would have worked if the author didn't try to do so many things. I don't see a lot of satisfied readers.

[Ems Loves to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classroom read aloud: my kids loved this. It was engaging and fun, but also serious. Wendy Swire took a hard topic (autoimmune diseases) and wove it with story elements that made it accessible to kids. My students know that I have a rare autoimmune disease (Axial Spondyloarthritis - my body is trying to fuse my joints together, so that’s fun), so they were very interested in what was happening with Liam and Alaina. We had some really good conversations, and my sweet kiddos came to the conclusion that we just need to be nice to everyone because they might be going through things. It’s exactly what I hoped they’d take away.

This book was very well done and a great way to start talking about tough things. Many thanks to Wendy and Shadow Moubrain for sending me an early copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Marinda (rindasreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never be able to say enough good things about this book. As someone who lives daily with an invisible illness, my heart connected to Liam and Alaina. I remember those feelings of overwhelm and dread in the first days of my illness, and the power that came with learning how to deal with my disease. Wendy S. Swore addresses these big emotions in such a relatable way, and I can't wait to pass this book along to my kids, their teachers, and neighborhood friends. I loved the fairy tale tie in and how finding strength in fairy tales can help us learn to believe in ourselves and make sense of the hard things in life.

Overall, this book is beautifully written and is something that will appeal to middle grade students and adults alike.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy to review. All opinions are my own.

[Delina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great book for teens who struggle with out of the norm medical issues. I loved the addiction of a 'fairy tale' curse being upon the teens that brought them bad luck but didn't take away the factual message of disease. One of the main characters has type 1 diabetes and her struggles to grow up and accept this fact is nicely documented without being over dramatic. The other main character has a 'mysterious' illness that no one can figure out or actually believe. He is eventually diagnosed and the two end up helping save each other when the need arises. It is a wonderful, coming of age friendship book between a girl and boy while shedding light on two diseases. A great addition to any classroom or middle schooler library!

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love finding a middle grade book that I can read to my son, and that we both enjoy. All of Wendy Swore's books have been that way. We both enjoyed reading this book together. And I feel like we both learned something from this one.

I loved that this book is told from the perspectives of both Alaina and Liam. They both have things that they are dealing with. I loved the way they were working together to make it through their challenges. They were such a great team on their school work and on their personal challenges.

I loved getting to read about the challenges these two dealt with and learning a little bit more about they why and what they each needed to make it through.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, this book was so good. Swore’s books are always full of powerful messages. This book especially had strong, smart kids with challenges in their lives and how they learned to face them.
I loved how present the adults were. Liam and Alaina’s parents were wonderful and especially Mrs. Crowley. Her assignment for writing their own fairytales was awesome. And I loved how she challenged them.
Liam and Alaina have hard things and even with lingering questions, I loved how they shined and grew.
“Luckiest thing in the world to have a friend beside you who knew what to do to help you.”
I received a Netgalley copy and paperback from the publisher. All views are my own.

[Katie Storer · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

Wendy S. Swope is an amazing author. I think I’ve given all her books 5 stars. Additionally, the narrator did a fabulous job presenting this story.

What happens when a school-aged child is diagnosed with a chronic illness? And how can we help and/or support them with loving/understanding hearts?

This story includes kids with diabetes and narcolepsy. I never dreamed a child could develop narcolepsy. I recommend that you read this book. First, because it is entertaining. Second, because it makes me wonder what I would have done if my friends developed a chronic disease.

I have found most of this author’s books on Audible. I highly recommend you check them out.