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Guest: A Changeling Tale
From the master of spookiness, Mary Downing Hahn. When malicious sprites called the Kinde Folke snatch Mollie's baby brother and replace him with a hideous changeling, Mollie travels through eerie, perilous lands to save him. When her adorable baby brother is replaced by an ugly, ill-tempered changeling, Mollie is determined to find the so-called Kinde Folke who took baby Thomas, return the changeling she calls Guest, and make them give Thomas back. Natural and magical obstacles and her own reckless temperament make her journey arduous and full of dangers, and a plot rich in surprises and twists makes this book a must-read for Mary Downing Hahn's fans. Mary Downing Hahn is one of the most popular middle grade authors in the world, winner of numerous state awards as well as the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (for Stepping on the Cracks ) and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award (for Closed for the Season ).
218 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2019
180 people are currently reading
3556 people want to read
About the author
Mary Downing Hahn
72 books4,407 followersI grew up in a small shingled house down at the end of Guilford Road in College Park, Maryland. Our block was loaded with kids my age. We spent hours outdoors playing "Kick the Can" and "Mother, May I" as well as cowboy and outlaw games that usually ended in quarrels about who shot whom. In the summer, we went on day long expeditions into forbidden territory -- the woods on the other side of the train tracks, the creek that wound its way through College Park, and the experimental farm run by the University of Maryland.
In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.
Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.
When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.
In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.
By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.
Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.
In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.
Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.
When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.
In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.
By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.
Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews
November 25, 2019
"Up the airy mountain
Down the rushy glen
We dare not go a-hunting
For fear of little men."
Changeling tales have been around in European fairy tales just as long as any other trope of the genre that mystified its tellers and listeners with the unexplained physical or behavioral peculiarities not yet explained by science at the time. One of the most deeply rooted notions was the abduction of human infants by The Fair Folk replacing the child with one of their own for the unknowing parents to raise it, whilst their infant is taken to the Land of Fairie. Believed to be in particular danger of being replaced were boys and children with fair hair and therefore were often dressed as girls to deter the fey folk from snatching children. A commonly believed deterrent was also the use of metal items like horseshoes or bells placed above the cribs/doorways in the old times that have crossed over into other myths and can be found in most older homes today still.
There are also common sub tropes in changeling tales, such as Doppelgaenger stories, Rags to Riches and muggle tales, where the mother of the stolen child is also bestowed with the pregnancy of a fey creature with the outcome of a (possibly malevolent) fairy child.
Mary Downing Hahn's middle-grade story Guest followed the expected path of the changeling tale almost to a T with a sideline plot that keeps the story interesting and young readers hooked to it. Mollie has an adorable baby brother but they dare not speak of how cute he is in fear that he might be stolen/exchanged by (the not so kind) The Kinde Folke for one of their ugly creatures. Despite their best efforts though, he is replaced with an ugly changeling that behaves awful and is hard to love.
In hopes of their Thomas to be treated nicely wherever he is, they give their best to make the changeling happy. As time passes never trying to lose a foul word about the baby and playing with him constantly to make him happy, Mollie's mother nurses him till she withers away, and her father leaves the family because he can't stand the hideous changeling. Mollie feels like she has to take action. She takes the changeling and a small pack of provisions to find The Kinde Folke to return the ugly creature in exchange for Thomas.
A daringly brave move to go beyond the borders where dangers lurk, Mollie soon finds herself surrounded in deep dark forests, meets strangers that tell her to turn around and wanders into hair raising situations continues with a mission that might cost her life.
The unthinkable happens when desperation calls for her to rely on the ugly changeling and something of mutuality/friendship begins.
When she finally finds her Thomas, the unthinkable has happened...he does not know who she is and his heart is tainted by the not so kind The Kinde Folke. From here, Mollie's adventure continues no less dangerous with the dark magic of the forest, its vile creatures and a message of hope.
Will Mollie make it back to her family with her brother?
A tale to gasp and hold your breath at times. This middle-grade adventure is filled with folklore and magic true to the old ways of telling tales imbibing a dark atmospheric world of wonder and flutter in the hearts of listeners/readers reminiscent of childhood. The writing style is very traditionally kept and the author's voice is beautifully transient of the old wisdom in fairy tales. Without a doubt, it can hold its place next to the best of writings from folklores of earlier times.
Not so much refurbished, but brought to life is the changeling tale in Guest and not to be missed by those lovers of the genre or those that just want to experience the wonders and fears of childhood again.
Highly recommend it. Happy Reading :)
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
Down the rushy glen
We dare not go a-hunting
For fear of little men."
Changeling tales have been around in European fairy tales just as long as any other trope of the genre that mystified its tellers and listeners with the unexplained physical or behavioral peculiarities not yet explained by science at the time. One of the most deeply rooted notions was the abduction of human infants by The Fair Folk replacing the child with one of their own for the unknowing parents to raise it, whilst their infant is taken to the Land of Fairie. Believed to be in particular danger of being replaced were boys and children with fair hair and therefore were often dressed as girls to deter the fey folk from snatching children. A commonly believed deterrent was also the use of metal items like horseshoes or bells placed above the cribs/doorways in the old times that have crossed over into other myths and can be found in most older homes today still.
There are also common sub tropes in changeling tales, such as Doppelgaenger stories, Rags to Riches and muggle tales, where the mother of the stolen child is also bestowed with the pregnancy of a fey creature with the outcome of a (possibly malevolent) fairy child.
Mary Downing Hahn's middle-grade story Guest followed the expected path of the changeling tale almost to a T with a sideline plot that keeps the story interesting and young readers hooked to it. Mollie has an adorable baby brother but they dare not speak of how cute he is in fear that he might be stolen/exchanged by (the not so kind) The Kinde Folke for one of their ugly creatures. Despite their best efforts though, he is replaced with an ugly changeling that behaves awful and is hard to love.
In hopes of their Thomas to be treated nicely wherever he is, they give their best to make the changeling happy. As time passes never trying to lose a foul word about the baby and playing with him constantly to make him happy, Mollie's mother nurses him till she withers away, and her father leaves the family because he can't stand the hideous changeling. Mollie feels like she has to take action. She takes the changeling and a small pack of provisions to find The Kinde Folke to return the ugly creature in exchange for Thomas.
A daringly brave move to go beyond the borders where dangers lurk, Mollie soon finds herself surrounded in deep dark forests, meets strangers that tell her to turn around and wanders into hair raising situations continues with a mission that might cost her life.
The unthinkable happens when desperation calls for her to rely on the ugly changeling and something of mutuality/friendship begins.
When she finally finds her Thomas, the unthinkable has happened...he does not know who she is and his heart is tainted by the not so kind The Kinde Folke. From here, Mollie's adventure continues no less dangerous with the dark magic of the forest, its vile creatures and a message of hope.
Will Mollie make it back to her family with her brother?
A tale to gasp and hold your breath at times. This middle-grade adventure is filled with folklore and magic true to the old ways of telling tales imbibing a dark atmospheric world of wonder and flutter in the hearts of listeners/readers reminiscent of childhood. The writing style is very traditionally kept and the author's voice is beautifully transient of the old wisdom in fairy tales. Without a doubt, it can hold its place next to the best of writings from folklores of earlier times.
Not so much refurbished, but brought to life is the changeling tale in Guest and not to be missed by those lovers of the genre or those that just want to experience the wonders and fears of childhood again.
Highly recommend it. Happy Reading :)
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
November 25, 2019
My biggest gripe with the story was that it was repetitive. Our main character was constantly making the same mistakes every few pages. By doing that, those scenes lost whatever tension they could have. And I think it was detrimental to what I think was supposed to the climax, but wasn't fully developed. It seemed like too many time was spent on everything leading up to it. I went through the story fast and liked parts of it, but I definitely had higher expectations that were't met.
July 27, 2019
"Guest" by Mary Downing Hahn is a middle-grade fantasy adventure inspired by Irish folklore.
I was charmed by the main character, Mollie Cloverall—a brave, spirited young girl who also has her flaws. In fact, it's partially her jealousy that allows her baby brother Thomas to be replaced by a mean and ugly changeling.
Her parents don't handle the tragedy well at all. Her father leaves his family and her mother falls into illness and depression. Mollie, however, takes a different approach and is determined to get her brother back.
She bravely embarks on a dangerous quest and grows along the way. I loved the characters in this book, especially Guest, even though I felt that some of them could have been elaborated on.
This is one of those stories that I wish I had read as a child because I know it would have inspired my young mind. Even as an adult this story has lots to give and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy, fairy tales, and strong female characters.
I was charmed by the main character, Mollie Cloverall—a brave, spirited young girl who also has her flaws. In fact, it's partially her jealousy that allows her baby brother Thomas to be replaced by a mean and ugly changeling.
Her parents don't handle the tragedy well at all. Her father leaves his family and her mother falls into illness and depression. Mollie, however, takes a different approach and is determined to get her brother back.
She bravely embarks on a dangerous quest and grows along the way. I loved the characters in this book, especially Guest, even though I felt that some of them could have been elaborated on.
This is one of those stories that I wish I had read as a child because I know it would have inspired my young mind. Even as an adult this story has lots to give and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy, fairy tales, and strong female characters.
June 20, 2019
It's a really enjoyable read and once I started I couldn't put it down! I finished it in one sitting. I did have a problem with some characters and their decisions, but I just fell in love with Guest and that made it a 4 star rating instead of a 3 star.
I really did not expect to get invested into this book like I did.
I really did not expect to get invested into this book like I did.
January 15, 2020
This is my least favorite MDH book. It's a fantasy book about a changeling baby left by the Kinde folk in exchange for Mollie's sweet, adorable baby brother. I've never been much of a fan of Hahn's work personally, although I do acquire her books for my school library because they are perfect for older elementary kids moving into scary books. I've also never been much of a fan of changeling stories, but if I had to pick one it would be 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison. MDH should stick to ghost stories.
Mollie's family knows about the kinde folk snatching babies, so they make sure someone is always watching baby Thomas. When Mollie falls asleep outside with Thomas, she awakens to find him gone. An irritable, ugly changeling baby has been left in his place. He's extremely demanding and exhausting, so Mollie decides she is going to take the changeling back and get her brother. It's a long journey to the Kinde Forest. Luckily, Mollie gets a little help from a "traveler" who provides her with food. He is unusually nice to the changeling for reasons that are explained later in the story. Once Mollie reaches the Kinde realm, she gets more help from a Kinde girl, but her brother has changed in unexpected ways and getting him back won't be easy.
The plot and characters are poorly developed. I never got excited about any of it and just wanted the book to be over. There's nothing remotely spooky about this one, even though the cover suggests otherwise. MDH books are essential for every emerging horror fan, but my recommendation is to pass on this one.
Mollie's family knows about the kinde folk snatching babies, so they make sure someone is always watching baby Thomas. When Mollie falls asleep outside with Thomas, she awakens to find him gone. An irritable, ugly changeling baby has been left in his place. He's extremely demanding and exhausting, so Mollie decides she is going to take the changeling back and get her brother. It's a long journey to the Kinde Forest. Luckily, Mollie gets a little help from a "traveler" who provides her with food. He is unusually nice to the changeling for reasons that are explained later in the story. Once Mollie reaches the Kinde realm, she gets more help from a Kinde girl, but her brother has changed in unexpected ways and getting him back won't be easy.
The plot and characters are poorly developed. I never got excited about any of it and just wanted the book to be over. There's nothing remotely spooky about this one, even though the cover suggests otherwise. MDH books are essential for every emerging horror fan, but my recommendation is to pass on this one.
August 6, 2022
I'm a fan of Hahn's books. Guest is a slightly spooky but not overly dark tale for middle grade readers. As an adult, I was frustrated by the main character's decisions, but I'm sure her choices make sense to younger readers. It was fun to read about Irish folklore, and I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to gently venture into slightly scarier reads.
May 22, 2021
Different from any book I read but it was really interesting and kept me wondering I actually enjoyed it
November 28, 2025
I loved it. This was an amazing book
August 25, 2019
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this title for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
I am not always a huge MDH fan, but let me tell you, her books FLY off of my middle school collections shelves. I have multiple copies of most of her books on the shelves and they are in constant rotation with students turning one in and grabbing another. So when I saw that MDH had a new book coming out, one that wasn't going to fit in with her traditional "horror" fare, I was intrigued. While she also has other types of books, it is her ghost stories that my students crave the most. This one, a story of a changeling, and the "fair folk" had me intrigued. Overall it was a solid middle grade fantasy about the faeries and what happens when they leave a changeling behind.
Molly knows she is supposed to watch out for her brother Thomas. No on in her family can speak kindly of him, talk about his sweet temperament or his beautiful face for fear the Kinde Folk will come for him and leave one of their own sickly creatures in his place. But, one day, she turns her back and he is gone, a small and evil-seeming baby in his place. For a year they try to keep the new baby happy, hoping that by doing so the Kinde Folk will treat Thomas in kind. But nothing seems to make him happy and the family is falling apart. Determined to get Thomas back, she takes Guest (as they call the new baby) and sets out for the Dark Lands to find the Kinde Folk and make a trade. Along the way Molly has to realize what it means to care for someone, what it means to be family, and how appearances aren't always what they seem.
Highly recommend, especially for those readers who are interested in tales about dark magic and places, but aren't ready yet for something like The Cruel Prince . Recommended for grades 5-8.
I am not always a huge MDH fan, but let me tell you, her books FLY off of my middle school collections shelves. I have multiple copies of most of her books on the shelves and they are in constant rotation with students turning one in and grabbing another. So when I saw that MDH had a new book coming out, one that wasn't going to fit in with her traditional "horror" fare, I was intrigued. While she also has other types of books, it is her ghost stories that my students crave the most. This one, a story of a changeling, and the "fair folk" had me intrigued. Overall it was a solid middle grade fantasy about the faeries and what happens when they leave a changeling behind.
Molly knows she is supposed to watch out for her brother Thomas. No on in her family can speak kindly of him, talk about his sweet temperament or his beautiful face for fear the Kinde Folk will come for him and leave one of their own sickly creatures in his place. But, one day, she turns her back and he is gone, a small and evil-seeming baby in his place. For a year they try to keep the new baby happy, hoping that by doing so the Kinde Folk will treat Thomas in kind. But nothing seems to make him happy and the family is falling apart. Determined to get Thomas back, she takes Guest (as they call the new baby) and sets out for the Dark Lands to find the Kinde Folk and make a trade. Along the way Molly has to realize what it means to care for someone, what it means to be family, and how appearances aren't always what they seem.
Highly recommend, especially for those readers who are interested in tales about dark magic and places, but aren't ready yet for something like The Cruel Prince . Recommended for grades 5-8.
May 27, 2019
Readers of Mary Downing Hahn's previous middle grade novels will likely put "Guest" into a category alongside "Took" and very far away from titles like "Wait Til Helen Comes," "All the Lovely Bad Ones," and "Deep and Dark and Dangerous." The plot of this newest Hahn work comes straight out of Celtic lore and has plenty of action, fantastic creatures, and dark magic. The main character, Mollie, is not altogether likable at the straight, but as she seeks to restore her family to a happier state and must suffer at the hands of the evil Kinde Folke (the Sidhe in Celtic tales), she becomes strong and generous. Hahn weaves a tale that will have readers from age 10 to 15 wondering at creatures like the Pooka, and changelings, and maybe a little bit fearful of any snooping crows or ravens that happen to perch nearby. And, if those readers will allow their favorite ghost writer to stray a bit from that genre, they will most assuredly enjoy this one just as much as they do her scary tales. Recommended for 4th grade and up without any reservations regarding profanity, violence or sexual content. Thanks for the dARC, NetGalley.
December 9, 2020
Mollie's baby brother has been taken by the Kinde Folke and replaced with a changeling. It's all her fault. She took the locket meant to protect him.
Mollie's family is in pieces. Her father left as he would not stay under the same roof as a changeling. And her mother being weakened by taking care of the changeling in hopes that her son may be returned.
Mollie knows she has to do something. She has to try to get her brother back.
In the beginning, I didn't find Mollie too likable. She's sort of a brat. I don't think her family or Granny Hedgepath were that likable either.
But that changes.
The character growth of Mollie and the changeling Guest is wonderful. I love how close they became and cared for each other. I think that was my favorite part of the whole book. How much they both changed.
It was repetitive. Mollie kept getting herself in trouble when she had been told again and again not to trust anyone in the Dark Lands.
Despite the repetitiveness, I thought it was a good story. It was enjoyable. I really loved Mollie and Guest by the end.
Mollie's family is in pieces. Her father left as he would not stay under the same roof as a changeling. And her mother being weakened by taking care of the changeling in hopes that her son may be returned.
Mollie knows she has to do something. She has to try to get her brother back.
In the beginning, I didn't find Mollie too likable. She's sort of a brat. I don't think her family or Granny Hedgepath were that likable either.
But that changes.
The character growth of Mollie and the changeling Guest is wonderful. I love how close they became and cared for each other. I think that was my favorite part of the whole book. How much they both changed.
It was repetitive. Mollie kept getting herself in trouble when she had been told again and again not to trust anyone in the Dark Lands.
Despite the repetitiveness, I thought it was a good story. It was enjoyable. I really loved Mollie and Guest by the end.
June 24, 2019
Mollie knew she shouldn't say anything positive about her baby brother, lest the Kinde Folk hear and swap him for one of theirs. She knows that the locket around his neck is meant to protect him. But it won't hurt to wear the pretty necklace herself, just for a few minutes? He's such a good baby!
The changeling child--whom they call Guest, since he's NOT staying--is a hellion. Mollie's dad left and her mom is a mess, trying to care for this hated creature and distraught over her own boy. It's up to Mollie to go to the Kinde Folk and retrieve her real brother, but the queen won't give him up easily.
This is a different kind of story from what Hahn usually writes, and I think the story is stronger for it--the ideas and the writing sound fresher than they have in her other recent books.
ARC from publisher at ALA. Thanks!
The changeling child--whom they call Guest, since he's NOT staying--is a hellion. Mollie's dad left and her mom is a mess, trying to care for this hated creature and distraught over her own boy. It's up to Mollie to go to the Kinde Folk and retrieve her real brother, but the queen won't give him up easily.
This is a different kind of story from what Hahn usually writes, and I think the story is stronger for it--the ideas and the writing sound fresher than they have in her other recent books.
ARC from publisher at ALA. Thanks!
September 3, 2019
If you are a fan of folk lore tales than you need to check out this book. It is about a changeling. I have read several books on this subject but I have to say this is in my top three favorites. What I loved the most about this book is how author, Mary stayed close to the real legends of stories about changelings and other folk lore. Some of the other books that I have read on this subject were a bit more "fictional".
Mollie's compassion towards Guest was kind. It showed that love can be found in even the "ugliest" of things. In addition, Guest's ability to adapt and learn to be good made him more than just a changeling. It brought me the reader closer to him.
I could not stop reading this book. I was transported on the journey with Mollie as she went in search of her stolen brother. I look forward to reading more books from this author.
Mollie's compassion towards Guest was kind. It showed that love can be found in even the "ugliest" of things. In addition, Guest's ability to adapt and learn to be good made him more than just a changeling. It brought me the reader closer to him.
I could not stop reading this book. I was transported on the journey with Mollie as she went in search of her stolen brother. I look forward to reading more books from this author.
September 28, 2019
"I received a review copy from Amazon Vine and voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect the opinion of the book or the content of the review."
First time reading this author and she can definitely write a story. The description was very vivid and it felt like I was along side the characters which I enjoyed. The main character, Mollie, annoyed me since she kept making the same mistakes over and over after she was warned. I know she is a kid but come on. You have to smarten up. I like the message of not judging someone because they are different and to treat people with kindness. I think kids will enjoy this book a lot especially since Halloween is coming and it has a spooky vibe.
First time reading this author and she can definitely write a story. The description was very vivid and it felt like I was along side the characters which I enjoyed. The main character, Mollie, annoyed me since she kept making the same mistakes over and over after she was warned. I know she is a kid but come on. You have to smarten up. I like the message of not judging someone because they are different and to treat people with kindness. I think kids will enjoy this book a lot especially since Halloween is coming and it has a spooky vibe.
August 17, 2020
Different from her ghost stories, but still a suspenseful read for upper elementary students. Guest, as a character, will endear himself to you!
June 25, 2023
For clarity I got this book from a giveaway.
This felt like a good fairy tale through and through. I was hooked from the start, and it was a quick read. Mary Downing Hahn is one of those authors that are so nostalgic for me. Her and Betty Ren Wright had completely captured my imagination at a time in my childhood when I hated being scared but loved the supernatural and a good ghost story. It's nice to know that even after all this time Hahn still does it for me.
This felt like a good fairy tale through and through. I was hooked from the start, and it was a quick read. Mary Downing Hahn is one of those authors that are so nostalgic for me. Her and Betty Ren Wright had completely captured my imagination at a time in my childhood when I hated being scared but loved the supernatural and a good ghost story. It's nice to know that even after all this time Hahn still does it for me.
May 17, 2025
I’ve read “Wait Til Helen Comes” by Mary Downing Hanh and I’m familiar with her ghost stories, but this one was new to me and I got excited thinking of another story of the fae. In this story the Kinde Ones are dangerous, tricky, and brutal. Mollie shows great courage and fortitude as she puts everything on the line to save Thomas. I felt like all the characters developed nicely, especially the changeling, Guest.
March 21, 2022
Meh, not as spooky as I thought :/ BUT I really like the stuff about the characters and how things were changing and swapping for example Thomas was a “good child“ and guest was BITING HITTING CRYING then they swapped now guest is fine and Thomas is very bad! Overall interesting, just not as spooky as expected (although 1 part was spooky)
October 12, 2025
This book 📙 made me want to learn about changelings and the bad people are the kind folk.
June 5, 2022
Justice was not served to my liking. Mollie’s dad sucks. Everyone is kind of a jerk to some extent. Except Guest who is perfect and precious and deserves better.
August 8, 2019
Mollie's baby brother Thomas has been stolen and switched with a changeling in his place and it's all her fault. If Mollie hadn't of taken the locket for herself that was meant to protect Thomas, none of this would of happened.
With her father gone in the event of what has happened and the changeling weakening her mother, Mollie takes the changeling determined to give the creature back and get her brother back.
But, not all goes as planned. There's twists and trickery in the Dark Lands and getting her brother back may not be as easy as she'd hoped.
I enjoyed the characters and the story. I was curious of Madog and what he was and how he fit into the story.
As for Guest, he grew on me and I found him to be my favorite character. As for Mollie, I somewhat felt for her, but at other times I was cringing at her choices and how the same choices had gotten her in trouble even when Guest had warned her time and time again.
Although I enjoyed this story, I did feel it was a little rushed, as I would of loved a little more detail into the characters and the events. Other than that, it was a good story.
I will definitely be checking out more from this author.
With her father gone in the event of what has happened and the changeling weakening her mother, Mollie takes the changeling determined to give the creature back and get her brother back.
But, not all goes as planned. There's twists and trickery in the Dark Lands and getting her brother back may not be as easy as she'd hoped.
I enjoyed the characters and the story. I was curious of Madog and what he was and how he fit into the story.
As for Guest, he grew on me and I found him to be my favorite character. As for Mollie, I somewhat felt for her, but at other times I was cringing at her choices and how the same choices had gotten her in trouble even when Guest had warned her time and time again.
Although I enjoyed this story, I did feel it was a little rushed, as I would of loved a little more detail into the characters and the events. Other than that, it was a good story.
I will definitely be checking out more from this author.
December 25, 2019
I think that even though I recommend Ms. Hahn's books to kids all the time and she has a wide fan base at our school...I'm not a member of the fan club. (sorry - I know she's like an icon in children's ghost stories.) This is the third book of hers I've read in the last 6 months and in all of them - this one included - I find myself distracted from the storyline by 2 pretty major things:
1 - the kids in the stories are mean, rude, bratty, etc. I don't like them, even the ones that I'm supposed to root for.
2 - the stories end in ways that leave me wondering what the point was... with no real resolution. Maybe that's so the reader can imagine or guess how things ended up, but I find it kind of depressing.
While I will probably read more of Ms. Hahn's books as part of my role in an elementary library, I imagine it will be a bit of a chore.
On a positive note, I did really enjoy the narrator of the audio version, her accent is quite enjoyable to listen to!
1 - the kids in the stories are mean, rude, bratty, etc. I don't like them, even the ones that I'm supposed to root for.
2 - the stories end in ways that leave me wondering what the point was... with no real resolution. Maybe that's so the reader can imagine or guess how things ended up, but I find it kind of depressing.
While I will probably read more of Ms. Hahn's books as part of my role in an elementary library, I imagine it will be a bit of a chore.
On a positive note, I did really enjoy the narrator of the audio version, her accent is quite enjoyable to listen to!
August 4, 2021
Even though I am young, this book is a great horror fantasy story about a girl who has a brother, Thomas, witch as everyone says he is ugly gets taken away by the shows living next to their farm. Instead of Tomas the shadows replaced him with a challenging. As the old woman living in the farm says it you treat the chalenging well the shadows will do the same. Read the book and find out what happens with the chalenging and Thomas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2019
This book made it to a new shelf, Best This Year Shelf.
Should be 6 stars shelf ...
I LOVED this book so much, I'm not deleting it from my reader.
I'm gonna read it again some day for sure.
In the end I shed a tear, gonna miss Guest, I love him so much.
Loved the whole place, the woods, the magic in it...
What a wonderful, magical story.
Best book I've read this year.
Should be 6 stars shelf ...
I LOVED this book so much, I'm not deleting it from my reader.
I'm gonna read it again some day for sure.
In the end I shed a tear, gonna miss Guest, I love him so much.
Loved the whole place, the woods, the magic in it...
What a wonderful, magical story.
Best book I've read this year.
February 3, 2020
This is a pretty interesting (irish folklore) “middle grade/YA” book! My biggest problem with it is that I feel like everything worked itself out TOO nicely...I did still enjoy it though and read it all in one day. :)
And as C.S. Lewis said, “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.”
And as C.S. Lewis said, “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.”
February 2, 2021
Great story based on Irish folklore. Mollie's baby brother was taken by the Kinde folk and in exchange they left an ugly changeling for Mollie's family to raise. Molly hates the biting, screaming changeling and embarks on a journey to go to the Darklands to return the changeling and bring her brother home.
October 24, 2019
Not quite as scary as some of her ghost stories, but I liked the peek into folklore.
April 18, 2021
I've always been enchanted by Irish Folklore and this novel encompassed it exceptionally. An exciting read for all ages!
December 20, 2021
This book is so interesting, I'm on chapter 15, I got the book from a book fair in school,
and it was on a special price 2$! I'm excited to see what will happen next.
and it was on a special price 2$! I'm excited to see what will happen next.
May 2, 2020
“So, no matter how scared I was, I had to make things right. Me, Mollie Cloverall, all by myself, I would rescue my baby brother.”
This small book caught my eye with its title and so I definitely purchased it from our Scholastic Book Fair and think it will be an easy sell to any reader--who doesn’t want to know about changeling babies? Alright so this story begins with a somewhat resentful older sister taking her beautiful little brother outside while she works and details all the rules of babies in their town..you are never to talk about their beauty or sweet disposition because that makes the Kinde Folke covet them and take them to switch with their own weaker, uglier children..
“We never ever whispered sweet things to him for fear the Kinde Folke would come for him” (Pg. 4)
They even protected Thomas the pretty little baby boy with a locket made of iron however foolish and jealous Mollie wanted to wear the necklace and leaves him unprotected --predictably he is taken by the changelings and exchanged for a fussy, ugly, mean little boy they name Guest. Guest’s presence in the house changes everything and Mollie’s father moves out as to not be anywhere around the abomination and everyday the life drains out of Mollie’s mom who has to feed and care for this baby who is not hers hoping that if he is treated well they will return her son Thomas..
Fed up with what is going on and missing her little brother Mollie decides to go searching for the Kinde Folke with Guest in an effort to exchange the boys and make things right...Traveling with Guest is far from easy though she does realize with the help of another strange man Madog and his son Aidan...Mollie learns that can walk and talk and is not merely as helpless as he appeared at their house and actually he’s not so bad..
The Kinde Folke start coming out in tricks and schemes to turn Mollie away however she does make her way to the Dark Lands and is confronted by their evil queen and a severely aged and spoiled Thomas who is now a prince and has no interest in returning home..
Will stop there as I can’t lie this book is surprising in many ways and is in no way typical or super sweet..this is hardcore mean magic life..I liked the unpredictability of it for sure and as its based on Irish folklore it had its moments of suspense and an eerie atomsphere..I liked this one-thanks Scholastic!
This small book caught my eye with its title and so I definitely purchased it from our Scholastic Book Fair and think it will be an easy sell to any reader--who doesn’t want to know about changeling babies? Alright so this story begins with a somewhat resentful older sister taking her beautiful little brother outside while she works and details all the rules of babies in their town..you are never to talk about their beauty or sweet disposition because that makes the Kinde Folke covet them and take them to switch with their own weaker, uglier children..
“We never ever whispered sweet things to him for fear the Kinde Folke would come for him” (Pg. 4)
They even protected Thomas the pretty little baby boy with a locket made of iron however foolish and jealous Mollie wanted to wear the necklace and leaves him unprotected --predictably he is taken by the changelings and exchanged for a fussy, ugly, mean little boy they name Guest. Guest’s presence in the house changes everything and Mollie’s father moves out as to not be anywhere around the abomination and everyday the life drains out of Mollie’s mom who has to feed and care for this baby who is not hers hoping that if he is treated well they will return her son Thomas..
Fed up with what is going on and missing her little brother Mollie decides to go searching for the Kinde Folke with Guest in an effort to exchange the boys and make things right...Traveling with Guest is far from easy though she does realize with the help of another strange man Madog and his son Aidan...Mollie learns that can walk and talk and is not merely as helpless as he appeared at their house and actually he’s not so bad..
The Kinde Folke start coming out in tricks and schemes to turn Mollie away however she does make her way to the Dark Lands and is confronted by their evil queen and a severely aged and spoiled Thomas who is now a prince and has no interest in returning home..
Will stop there as I can’t lie this book is surprising in many ways and is in no way typical or super sweet..this is hardcore mean magic life..I liked the unpredictability of it for sure and as its based on Irish folklore it had its moments of suspense and an eerie atomsphere..I liked this one-thanks Scholastic!
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