The Silver Gate

The Silver Gate #1

by Kristin Bailey

In shepherd boy Elric’s tiny village, people think children like his younger sister, Wynn, are changelings-left by fairies and doomed to curse all around them. As a baby, Wynn was born with developmental delays, and according to the rules, she was supposed to be abandoned in the woods.

Instead Elric’s mother saved his sister and hid her away for eleven years. They live in secret and fear of being discovered, yet their home is full of love, laughter, and singing. Wynn and Elric’s favorite song is about the Silver Gate, a beautiful fairy realm where all children are welcome.

But when their long-absent father returns to sell Wynn to the Lord’s castle as a maid, Elric realizes that folk songs and fantasies can’t protect them from the outside world. They have to run away. Still Wynn believes there’s only one place they’ll ever be safe, and it lies beyond the Silver Gate.

The road to freedom is long and treacherous. If they have any hope for survival, Elric and Wynn must learn to depend on each other above everything else-and discover the magic that always reveals itself when it seems like all is lost.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Disability, Magical Realism

311 pages, Hardcover

First published January 10, 2017

About the author

Kristin Bailey grew up in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley in California. As a kid she enjoyed visiting the beach, camping and skiing with her two brothers.

Now she is a military wife and mother of two young children. She is also terrible about spoiling her pets. She has one fluffy mutt, two cats who think they own the world, and a fish tank with a quartet of fat fish, and two secretive striped ninja-assassin snails.

In the course of her adventures, she has worked as a zookeeper, balloon artist, and substitute teacher. Now she enjoys writing books for teens who enjoy mystery and adventure as much as she does.

Kristin loves hearing from readers but asks that all Goodreads messages stay on the subject of books. E-ARCs are available through Edelweiss.

Reviews

[Constantine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: Very Good

Genre: Fantasy + Middle Grade

This is the story of two siblings, Elric and Wynn. Elric is living with his father in the village while Wynn lives with her mother in an abandoned cottage in the woods. The story is set in medieval times and very atmospheric in nature. It is more about magical realism than actual fantasy. In this village, the people there believe that changelings are left by fairies, those fairies take the real babies and exchange them with those changelings who tend to curse all people around them. So what the people do is take those babies and leave them in the woods so the village won’t be cursed. Wynn is a changeling according to them and her mother had to rescue her after the father decided to leave her in the woods hence both the mother and her baby were abandoned!

The idea of the story sounded very intriguing to me that is why I picked up the book. The author explains in her notes that Wynn was born with Rubinstein-Tyabi syndrome. This is a rare genetic condition with a severity that can differ from a person to another. So mixing this with the medieval era along with magical realism gave a unique touch to the story and many times it was sad to see how Wynn was being treated. When the mother passes away Elric decides to take care of his sister by saving her from the father and taking her away with her hen Mildred. The conflict between the two children happens with Wynn singing the folk songs her mother taught her about the Fairy Queen who is beyond the Silver Gate and insisting that they should find the gate and save the Queen while Elric tries his best to remain in their sad reality and do their best to survive. Who is right and who is wrong you have to read to find out. I enjoyed reading this story especially the siblings’ relationship and how strong it was despite the differences. The chicken Mildred was a nice touch to the story too.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual note: 3.5.
Reseña en español: https://vikingalectora.wordpress.com/...

The Silver Gate is a story about overcoming obstacles, about trying to find the light in the darkest moments and it is actually a very intense and heart wrenching book.

We follow Elric and Wynn, a brother and sister who live in a small town. While Elric has a normal life, Wynn has to remain hidden with her mother. Wynn was born with a medical condition that has caused her to develop differently, and therefore she's considered to be a changeling by the townsfolk. In case you've never heard this term before, a changeling is a child of the fairies; fairies were believed to kidnap human babies and replace them with their own. Changelings were supposed to bring bad luck to a town, so most of the times these "different" babies were left out in the wilderness, hoping that the fairies would take them back.

Wynn's mom refused to abandon her and that's why they had to hide. Life goes on like this until the mother dies (this is not a spoiler it happens on the very first pages of the book, I swear). And from this moment on, Elric and Wynn will have to flee the town. They start a long journey to find the Silver Gate (the entrance to the fairy realm) - even when Elric doesn't believe that such a place actually exists and he just wants to take his sister somewhere safe.

THIS IS SUCH A TRAGIC STORY. Anything that could go wrong actually goes wrong! You know how original fairytales were actually cruel and sad and not very Disney like? Well, reading The Silver Gate actually felt like that. At times I had to put it down because it was making me suffer so much! I couldn't help but feeling sorry for Elric for having to take on such a huge responsibility while being so young and at the same time I couldn't be mad at Wynn because she was actually fighting for something that she believed in with all her heart.

I do believe that many of the readers will have a hard time liking these characters... it took me a while to do so. However I also believe that the book has a positive lesson about having faith and staying true to your dreams which might redeem it. It was also really nice to see how the relationship between brother and sister evolved and how they learned so much from each other. The suffering was too much for me, however. If you like to see characters struggle this is definetely the book for you.

[Willow Rosenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely little story. I loved how Elric and Wynn grew over the course of the story and they learned to better understand each other - to let their differences bring them closer together and not push them apart. They both did some things that were not nice, especially Elric, but that only made them human and real.
The only thing I lacked in this story was a little bit more of an ending and maybe a bit more of a driven storyline because through a lot of the book they didn't know where they were going.
But overall it was a great middke grade story focusing on sibling love instead of romantic love and I look forward to the next book.

[Billie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elric was not a very likable character. He treated his sister, Wynn, with impatience and a lack of understanding. (The author's note at the beginning of the book explains that Wynn has developmental challenges due to Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome.) And, although Ms. Bailey tries very hard not to make it so, Wynn comes across as a "magical idiot". The ending could have been amazing had Bailey left it ambiguous, but, instead, she gave it a Happily Ever After and a forced set-up for a sequel.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I give props to the author for having a main character with special needs, especially since it takes place in medieval times. I appreciate how she included a note about how Wynn is just one person with the specific special need and is not characteristic of all people with that disability. That is super important to understand.

With that being said, I did not find myself really getting into the story. I loved Wynn, but really hated Elric. I realize that siblings fight and get frustrated with each other, but he was really horrid to her at certain points, and I really could not side with him since Wynn was not doing anything wrong.

I found the ending really predictable and while some readers might like it, it just did not work for me personally.

[Chloë Mali · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
I think this was a good look at the changeling myth and children with disabilities! Wynn was a sweetheart, and it was interesting to read a character with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. This is an apparently a duology, so I'm really curious about the second book.
The one thing I didn't like about this book was Elric himself. I hope he'll have more of a character arc in book two, but he was frustrating to me because he did not treat his little sister very well and didn't seem to ever understand why some of his actions hurt her.

[Krysta · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unlikable protagonist, slow pacing, and "magic" that seems to be only coincidence make this a dull read. The sequel refers to Elwin and his sister "fighting" Grendel at the gate to Faerie, but really they seem to be in a storm. And Elwin trudges on. Is that really fantastic or is this more of a nature survival tale? I don't object to survival stories. I simply need more magic and a little more action in my fantasy adventures. The action that did happen was unfortunately too over-done to be interesting. EVERYONE in a medieval-esque world ends up in a village on market day where they run into drunken villains. We need to switch it up a little, I think.

[Branwen Sedai *of the Brown Ajah* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that this book featured a fantasy story where the brother looks after his sister who has disabilities, but he was kind of a dick to her like 80% of the time, so it just didn't do it for me. 😟

[Elin Rottier · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I was getting into this book, I was coming across scenes that were actually kinda hard to read from an emotional standpoint, which is not something that you find often in middle grade. This book deals with a pretty serious subject, disabilities (multiple types) in the medieval period, in such an amazing way. Elric and Wynn, main characters and brother and sister, have great character development throughout the novel. I loved the twist of fantasy throughout the story and at the very end, and the medieval facts were very in line with what I have learned in my European history classes. Highly recommend this book! Forgot to add, Wynn has a pet chicken named Mildred who is very fun 😁

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! It had a very interesting storyline and I am excited to read the other books in the series.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Elric discovers his father sold his sister Wynn to the Lord's castle as a lowly maid after their mother's death, Elric convinces Wynn to run away with him under the pretense of a game: to search for the Silver Fate, a place made up in the fairytales their mother told them. But as they continue their journey across the land in hopes of finding refuge in a convent or village, the siblings begin to realize just how difficult life can be on their own. But Wynn believes in the Silver Gate, she believes in the magic, and it's up to Elric to open his eyes and see it too.

"I will not expose this abbey to an unfit soul." The abbess turned her hard glare back to Wynn, as if she could crush her with the power of her words. "We have taken a vow of poverty. What resources we have must be devoted to God and the good women who come here from noble families to pursue their devotion and study. We must not waste."

I was only 60 pages into this when the siblings' relationship made me cry. It's so beautiful, heartfelt, and strong. Elric is of course frustrated with his younger sister just like any older sibling would be -- but he has such a deep love for her that it just ripped me apart. Add on another important layer to this story: Wynn has Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. One in every 125,000 births have this. These individuals have learning disabilities and physical defects that mark them as "other." Toss in this novel's setting -- Celtic in origin, Middle Ages -- and society rejects these individuals as halfwits or changelings. So to see this sibling relationship, and feel it every step and struggle throughout their journey...oh gosh. Tears. Everywhere.

"I can't believe," he admitted in a soft voice as he stroked his thumb over the surface of the stone. "If I believed in fairies, that would mean they switched you for another baby. It would mean you're not my sister."

Wynn is the true hero of this story. She urges her brother and the reader to believe -- mind, body, and soul -- in the power of the imagination, in magic, in make-believe. She may not be able to build a fire, she doesn't pack the right things, it's hard for her to remember things if she doesn't ruminate on them over and over, and she may not speak very well, but her mind and creativity is her saving refuge. Her insistence that the Silver Gate is more than the stuff of bedtime stories and folk songs shows just how powerful magic can be. What a beautiful, smart girl.

And what a beautiful, smart, rich, heart-wrenching story of love, sacrifice, and imagination!

[Abbey Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a VERY pleasant surprise for me! I was drawn to it based on the plotline of one of the main characters having a disability in a time when folks weren't well educated on disabilities. That concept was very intelligently played out in this story, and the brother and sister's ability to never give up on one another was encouraging and inspiring. I was so excited when I finished it and saw there was a second!

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book felt like a chore. While the characters felt realistic the plot was much to grim, and while it is medieval fantasy (the Middle Ages not the most fun-loving) the uninspired writing didn’t do much to build a world that felt compelling enough to inhabit the mind for the duration of the work. The plot was simply a story of survival and “What if” they reach the Silver Gate. It was a very simple story in that regard and more focused on the brother-sister relationship. While that relationship felt real and was compelling, the story and world left much to be desired, especially because the writing was so flat. Apparently there’s a second book in this series... I doubt I will be entertaining it.

[Deanna Giardino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accessibility Review

Summarize the plot briefly:

Two siblings try to escape the terrible future of indentured servitude that awaits them in their home village, spurred on by the villagers’ belief that the younger sibling Wynn is a cursed Changeling who will bring bad luck to everyone around her. The villagers believe she is a Changeling because she has developmental delays.

Issues related to accessibility (Consider the following):

The print is slightly larger than the average chapter book. The font has some serifs. The text is horizontal and reads left to right. There is good spacing between words and between lines. There are no images.

There are seven important characters in the book, with a handful of other characters of some importance. There are not an overwhelming number of characters to keep track of. The story is very engaging and progresses at a good pace without rushing.

The book is a hardcover book with medium thick matte paper pages.

If the book includes a character with an impairment:

Roles:

Wynn, the character with the impairment, is one of two narrators. She narrates eight out of twenty-nine chapters. The other narrator is her brother, Elric, who does not have an impairment. He narrates twenty-one out of twenty-nine chapters. The imbalance in the number of chapters narrated by each character could be seen as problematic, though it could also be argued that Wynn’s gradual increase in narrative voice is a plot device used to convey character development and to bring the reader to the conclusion that Wynn’s voice is distinct and important at the same time that Elric is brought to this conclusion.

Both main characters drive the plot through their actions, though each character makes decisions in markedly different ways. This divide in action is a main aspect of the plot, and creates a dynamic story with two perspectives that is engaging to readers. Wynn’s actions are not shown as superhuman or extraordinary. She is a lifelike character who does sometimes make mistakes. There is a balance of Wynn’s contributions to the story and Elric’s contributions to the story.

The book’s resolution is not technically realistic. The book is a fantasy novel. Within the scope of the fantasy genre, however, the resolution is still on target. The story’s central theme is involved in a positive way in the conclusion.

Language:

A main part of the book’s plot is that Wynn is ostracized by the other characters in the book. There is bullying, danger, and threats directed towards Wynn and her family because she is labeled as “other.” In a way this is resolved by the end of the book. Wynn is still in a category of “other,” and the people who originally attempted to hurt her do not change their minds, but she is accepted by a new group who does not treat her as “other” and she is able to cut off contact with the people who labeled her as “other.” There is also the perspective of her brother, Elric, who originally labeled her as “other” but then gradually grew to realize that his sister is not “other” by the end of the book.

Characterization:

The author explains that Wynn has a rare condition called Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. People with this condition are affected differently, though common characteristics as described by the National Institutes of Health include developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and short thumbs and toes. This description appears to match Wynn’s characterization accurately and without stereotype.

Wynn shows growth throughout the story. Her character develops confidence in her autonomy as she heals from her mother’s death. Wynn learns to advocate for herself instead of blindly trusting her brother’s opinions.

I believe that a child who shares Wynn’s impairment would benefit from reading this book. Representation is important, so having a positive representation of a rare syndrome is beneficial to children. Even children without Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome who still relate to Wynn’s character in other ways would likely feel empowered by her character development.

Purpose:

Part of the story’s message is to show the audience that children with intellectual disabilities are not a burden for people without disabilities to carry. Children like Wynn have inherent value as capable people. While this story is partially intended to teach children without disabilities about children with disabilities, this story goes beyond the stereotypical narrative of children with intellectual disabilities in the sense that the value that Wynn adds is not just emotional value. Wynn is a capable character. She performs rescues, acts on her convictions, and is a well-rounded character.

Examples of adaptations to make the book accessible:

The book could be made accessible to blind or print disabled readers in an audiobook format, large print format, or by using a magnifier or magnifying device.

[Ava Lammersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever encountered magic? I have currently finished the book The Silver Gate about the hardships between this mystical family. Wynn, the main character and the daughter of the family, although being 11- she has never experienced the outside world. Her mom and Wynn stay in a shack far away from the serfs village, where no one could ever foresee what kind of power Wynn beholds. Being mentally, and physically challenged- while being able to see magical omens is hard, her father believes it isn't the best choice to keep someone like her. Even though, Wynn’s parents come to an agreement that her mom is allowed to keep her. After a stormy night though, and the father comes home to see that the mother has died, he knows something must change. He plans to sell her, although this is very hard for Elric- her brother- since he loves her very dearly. This book, was an exhilarating adventure to read about, going through medieval-ish landscapes that were fraught with danger kept me turning the page. The action in the book is profoundly well thought- from the danger within the elements, even the superstitious- vicious inhabitants that made their way into the book that makes this book so intensely good to read.
In the book, Bailey describes Wynn’s very realistic genetic syndrome rather than at the end of the book- which was different but made me fall in love with the character more, knowing who she is and a little more about her made me feel closer to whom I am reading about- which made me feel more trusting towards this character and understanding, which I really liked. During the book they go back in forth between perspectives of Elric and Wynn which was a different experience that I have only seen in a few others books, which was really cool!
Overall, this novel has a genre of fantasy and is a great read for anyone- and especially would appeal to elementary and middle school kids who love dark fantasy with an untraditional happy ending. Readers who loved The Land of Stories would love this- and I can't wait to read more of her books !

[Melinda Brasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book helps shine light on the cruel consequences of excluding people because they're different—or because you believe their differences to be greater than your commonalities.

The setting was quite realistic and well drawn. Because of that, the fantasy at the end seemed strange. The entire ending felt rushed and convenient, and mostly chance, like it wasn't the characters affecting the plot but just reacting to what happened around them. That isn't always bad in a story, but here fate (or the supernatural) just seemed to have too big of a role and didn't allow for enough real character growth.

I also wish that characters in fantasy books didn't always have to save the world (which they didn't do here, but will probably have to do in the future). This book could have been much stronger if it were just about the relationship between Wynn and her older brother Elric and about Wynn overcoming her challenges and finding her strengths.

I also felt that Wynn's condition was told and not very well shown. The parts in her POV could have been more distinct and really shown, for example, the troubles she had with understanding or remembering. She didn't really seem to have any of these problems except when we were told she did. However, there were a couple of really well done parts, like where Elric makes assumptions about what Wynn will say and then she says something completely different, forcing him to realize he wasn't really listening.

The landmarks along the way were pretty cool. Since most of the story was a journey, if you don't like too much journeying in a book, you might want to try something else. However, Wynn and Elric met with some interesting obstacles.

Some parts were quite exciting, especially the flight from home.

And I loved the chicken.

More accurate rating: 3.5

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

When, their mother suddenly dies, fourteen year old Elric is forced to make a tough decision. He can either let his sister be sold into servitude, doomed to a life of cruelty, or he can whisk her away, defying his father, and the laws that govern his society. He decides on the later. He loves his sister after all, and knows that others won't accept her because of her developmental challenge. Elric can't understand why the world fails to understand his sister, but he himself also doesn't truly understand her. He sees her as happy, kind individual, but he doesn't try to see things from her perspective. This leads to misunderstandings and frustration for both. Neither Elric or Wynn can be really blamed for this; they are young, they didn't live together, and their world has no notion of educating for special needs. Even though we see all the ways in which this young man could have handled the situation better, we are still endeared to him because of his willingness to throw everything away to protect his sister, and because he learns from his mistakes. Wynn is just as well developed. In her chapters, she expresses her concerns, her beliefs, and a unique view of the world. She may be a little lost, but she is not helpless; she remembers what her mother taught her, and actively contributes to the journey.
The fantastical lingers at the edges of this story, hidden in seemingly fortunate occurrences, the actions of a chicken, and a song which guides the kids to the faerie realm. For most of the book, the author leaves us guessing who is right; this plays into the theme of perspective. While the setting and story are fantastical, Bailey bases the Silver Gate in a real-world reality. Her characters are crafted with poise and sensitivity, and her message that there is nothing wrong with those who have developmental challenges, is encouraging one to see in a children's novel.

[Justine Gianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really lovely middle-grade book! Although it was a little bit too quick-paced for my liking, it is one that I would love to recommend to children ages 8-12.

One of our main characters, Wynn, is born with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, as stated in the author's note. One of the main reasons on why I would recommend this to younger readers is because the disability representation is amazing, and the struggles and prejudices that society tends to impose on people who are different is tackled in such a way that is understandable for younger readers. I really liked Elric's character arc, and how he learned to understand Wynn as a person. Their relationship was tumultuous, but there were such cute sibling moments between them in this book!

I was genuinely impressed by how good the tone of this novel was. Though there was that childlike texture needed in middle-grade fiction, it was very dark, fantastical, and fairytale-like which went hand-in-hand with the medieval setting. This was effortlessly maintained throughout the book, which makes for an atmospheric read.

A lot of the scenes were surprisingly intensely emotional and heartwarming, and it's such a good tale filled with journeys, self-realisations, and acceptance.

The only note I have is that I wish the mystical world was explored more, for it would have been an interesting additive. But as this is a duology, I'm assuming there will be more world-building in the sequel Into the Nightfell Wood.

Overall, if you are searching for a great book to gift to a middle-schooler, this is the perfect atmospheric fantasy novel with such. good. disability rep and tender, magical moments between siblings.

[Jennifer Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elric and Wynn are running for their lives. Elric believes there is a safe village in the North where he can hide Wynn's differences and live out their days in peace. Wynn believes they are going to find the Silver Gate and enter the Fairy Queen's realm. When faced with harsh elements and a nearing dark presence, belief is all they have left to hold on to.

Though this is a novel for youth, and was fairly simple, I found the story gradually get more complicated the further I read. I am pleased there will be more books in this series and more depth to the story.

I have never read a book where a main character has Down syndrome. I assumed while reading that that's what makes Wynn different, a "changeling," and despised by just about everyone except Elric and their mother. She is presented as thoughtful and capable. Through the interaction and relationship between the siblings, the author challenges DS stereotypes while still acknowledging their real life struggles.

I really enjoyed this story. Their dangers, hopes, frustrations, and concerns were realistic. Their relationship felt genuine and both characters grew in their understanding and acceptance of themselves and each other.

[Geni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I wasn’t sure what to think of it for the first several chapters, about midway through I began to be enchanted by the story and their journey. Bailey’s descriptions and the subtle magic throughout the book are vivid and captivating. I found myself growing fond of Wynn and her POV. The differences between the POVS of Wynn, who sees magic in everything, and her brother, a grim pragmatist who is slow to understand his sister keep the book varied and unique. Yes, the ending is sappy but the climax is fantastic! The Silver Gate turned out be refreshing and uniquely empathetic. Elric felt real and, even in his lowest and frustrating moments, I found him redeemed by how he always ended up caring and protective of his sister. The pacing is good, too, and I found that for every grim and hard moment there were just as many that were warm or beautiful.

A good read with no objectionable content and a fantastic chicken - recommended to anyone who loves poultry, beautiful journeys or is in need of a refreshing sprinkling of magic!

[RG Halleck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bailey may be the most courageous writer I've stumbled across in ten years. As if dual third-person POV isn't challenging enough, one of the main duo, Wynn, is born with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. To capture the voice of a child is fraught with blind-spots but at least you can try to recall your own history. Bailey's layering of hopes, mourning, fears, and most importantly, self-understanding of a developmentally delayed character is inspiring.

And then Bailey sets the adventure in feudal times, which come with an unapologetic bigotry and ignorance that today's middle grade readers have never encountered. Most stories with similar settings hint to the reader that the landed gentry is fair, noble, kind, etc. If they're cruel, the righteous royalty will soon return. And worse, the protagonists can be a part of it. But Bailey's Wynn and Elric were born serfs, born hopeless. There's no yearning to join the oppressors. After everyday tragedy strikes, the situation of Wynn and Elric can only get worse.

I'm not doing the book justice. Read the back jacket and then read the book.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a cute story that started off slow but grew into something amazing. Great characters and a good message of be who you are, love unconditionally, and just because someone is different doesn't mean there is something wrong with them, they still love and feel.
It's about two siblings. Elric takes his sister away to save her after her mother dies because otherwise she would be sold as a servant. She was born "special" as they put it and is considered a curse on the town due to this. They go off in search of a new home but find something else even better.
It's well written, and the end leaves it open for another or if this is all you read just a great stand alone. Good book for all ages I think as there is no hard violence or sex or anything like that.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite the impeccable prose and rich world building, I can't see recommending this book to a child. The world it builds is so unforgiving of differences, and Wynn so utterly disregarded by her brother for so so much of the book. Though they are eventually granted safe haven in the land of the fairies, the entire journey is full of the brother telling Wynn what she can and can't do, and even so at the end it is he who is knighted when Wynn should be the hero. Wynn is crowned a princess, but it still feels unfair. On the one hand, representation is important. On the other hand, this representation feels too problematic to be a pure positive. I'm left feeling pretty conflicted about this story.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this quickly while home sick. The plot is built around a girl named Wynn with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome. She was born in the Middle Ages and townsfolk considered her a cursed changeling. Her mother chose to keep her hidden & raise her. There is much about the book I enjoyed - particularly the chapters told from Wynn's perspective. The book has some character growth for her immature older brother, Elric, torn between his love for his sister and his frustration and impatience in all that it takes to care for her. The book could have used more of a substantial plot to carry it forward, and the ending felt trite and abrupt. Elric is unlikeable throughout much of the book, but in a way that feels realistic for a 14 year old boy who has never had much responsibility before.

[Lisa Kizer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because I got book 2 in the series to read for ARR. The cover is beautiful and intriguing. However, I was disappointed. The author's note at the beginning of the book says that Wynn has Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome. So I was expecting the story about how she proved her community's fear wrong. Instead it is about her brother taking her away on a journey. She's looking for the fairy community that supposedly left her behind and her brother is looking to put her in a safe place. About 2/3 the way through the book I kept hearing the Grateful Dead sing "what a strange trip it has been."

[briezzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was Amazing! I love Wynn so much and how no matter what she never gave up and kept being herself. The book is fun and lighthearted for most of it, but there are parts where it’s very emotional and I cried. I also love how much Elric loves his sister and is trying to do what is right by her even if sometimes it’s hard or he gets it wrong. This was a very well written and it deserves so much more love. The only problem I had was how Elric treated his sister sometimes. Then I had to remember he is just an 11 year old boy and what he’s going through must be really hard. Taken care of his special needs sister and trying to stay alive can be hard.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what happened to disabled children in the Middle Ages? No. I hadn't either until I read this book. I had heard of Changelings, but I thought they were part of stories. I didn't realize that story was told to explain about birth defects and a disabilities. "This isn't a human child. The human child was stolen by the fairies and exchanged with this one - we have no obligation to care for it. We'll leave it in the forest so the fairies will take it back."

So glad that did not happen here.

[Quinn Swartzendruber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the main character Elric could often be cruel to his sister, I don’t know if that’s what bothered me the most. I think again, it was the gloominess the story maintained throughout. I expect stories to have drama and tragedies, but a persistent feeling of dread is a bit much. The ending didn’t help. But I guess it will be a series so there’s that. I did like the Wynn character quite a bit. She definitely kept me wanting to finish the book.

[Yesenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that it is a different kind of fairy tale. It is one where we don’t have the typical princess who needs saving by a handsome prince. It is about a brother trying to save his sister, who is an outcast because she is different. To protect his sister he must take them on a journey and leave his life behind. Both Elric and Wynn grew so much as the story went on and I enjoyed that. A good middle grade fantasy. I will be reading the second book in the series ASAP. 🙂👍🏽

[Emma Orders a Mocha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle, easy-read following a brother and a sister through a journey influenced by the need to undergo disconnection from their father, and ending with reconnection with each other.

Sweet themes of sibling-ship, sacrifice and patience, the story is told through the lens of adventure.

A good read for age category 8-11. For adults, this is a good one to bump up those easy-reading hours with some simplified language.