Windswept

by Margi Preus, Armando Veve (Illustrator)

From New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor–winning author Margi Preus, a gripping middle-grade fantasy about a girl who must save the children of her world from being Windswept .

In Tag’s world, children are disappearing. “Youngers” who venture Outside are windswept—vanishing in the swirling snow—Tag’s sisters among them. Many have tried to find the lost children; all have failed. And since the Other Times, the Powers That Be seem intent on keeping it that way.

Little remains from those snippets of songs, heaps of plastic trash, and a few banned texts—including a book of fairy tales.

An unlikely crew of Youngers join forces—Boots, who can climb anything, Ant, who will eat anything, Ren, who will say anything, and Tag, who doesn’t appear to have any talent whatsoever. With their dubious skills, the fairy tales, a possibly magic ribbon, and an unwillingness to accept “that’s impossible,” they set off to rescue their windswept siblings in this spellbinding fantasy.

Includes a Map and Black-and-White Illustrations by award-winning artist Armando Veve

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Fairy Tales, Fiction, Juvenile, Childrens

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Margi Preus is a children's writer. She is a 2011 Newbery Honor winner and won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Heart of a Samurai.

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I figure if when you finish something tears are running down your cheeks, you should probably give it 5 stars. Otherwise, what are 5 stars even for?

Just really lovely, and touching, and I loved it way more than I expected to. It's a quest novel and a fairy tale and a parable and has a brave, strong main character, and I'm tearing up again just writing about it. It's definitely a cautionary tale about climate change, and I see that some reviewers found it didactic, but I did not. I thought the focus on kindness and compassion was spot on, and I found all of Tag's ridiculous friends to be endearing and big hearted and I rooted for them all.

This will be my last book of 2022 and it was a perfect one to end the year on. Wonderful, and definitely the right book at the right time for me.

[Jules Pelarski · Rating 3 out of 5]

An adequately charming children's novel. Oh - I mean utterly!

Windswept by Margi Preus has much to recommend it. Quaint characters, unique premise, a quality of fairytale nostalgia. Furthermore, I must express my envy in that it is the sort of climate aware children's novel that I dream of writing, and for this purpose, aspires to modern classic status. Considering Preus' resume, I expected more of her in terms of achieving this aspiration.

Though it took me a moment to come around to the promising premise, Preus' kid-friendly description of a future where children are not allowed outside lest they be kidnapped by the wind won me over. Preus even makes a good argument for her meandering, fairytale style by describing how in fairy tales, "the right things just show up at the right time." But, as an adult, I was not placated by references to Bob Dylan and Moby Dick. Shortcut and his "dragon" bus Puff were straight up annoying - in a book with heavy handed preaching about climate disaster, why are we driving around in a car?

That aside, the preaching, for the most part, was well done. It explained the complicated concept of disaster inheritance to children better than any book I have seen thusfar. But on a story level, I point to the map in the front pages: the fact that the "sisters" referenced on this map were not Tag's sisters was thoroughly disappointing. The witches were quaint, as I said, and the story will be satisfying for 6-12s. But the actual rescue is wrapped up so quickly, and details like Boots spewing bugs (hello Harry Potter), the border patroll, and the eating contest were a bit too "twee" for this to earn its place on the shelf next to The Chronicles of Narnia, as ambitious as it is in theme.

Stylistically: I liked the frame, but the change in person and tense was a bit much, particularly when I enjoyed so much the forays into second person - if I were the editor, I'd let that shine, and not bog it down with its other stylistic jumps. I knew that it was Tag telling the story straight off, no need to try and confuse me with the "I." Further, I wonder how a young reader would cope with that on a comprehension level.

Finally, the bit of lore where humans are stealing troll children - what? And to linger on it at the ending? I liked Tag kind of coming around to the troll's way of life, but as a witch has already explained that trolls take a long time to reproduce and were hunted to extinction... that's all I need. The olders trading the younger's lives for money was a beautiful, simple statement. What is "we must save the troll children" trying to say?

I wish this book genuine success. If you're thinking of getting it for your child, go for it. But try Voyage of the Dawn Treader, too. 3.5 stars.

Much appreciate that I received an ARC from the indie bookstore where I work.

Find Windswept and other ARCs in my Fall release review roundup on youtube! Windswept earned one of the top spots. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktTdE...

[Leonard Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsurprisingly, there are things to like here. But people complain about The Ogress and the Orphans being overbearing in its messages. I thought the didactic allegory of this book weighed even more heavily than in Ogress.

[Kirsten Manley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. I hate starting a book, loving it, and then growing in disappointment as the conflict, climax, and resolution don’t live up to the introduction.

I really loved the premise of this book— dystopian/fairytale blend where children are being windswept in exchange for currency according to the dictates of the powers that be. Instead of the town council getting their just rewards and being painted as evil, pollution and climate control were blamed for the society’s problems. 😩

What felt like it could’ve been a classic ended up being a post-modern sermon on pollution and climate control in which evil and good blur together.

2.5 stars because the idea was so great and I’ve never read that mixes ancient and modern in this way.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A fascinating adventure, a parable of post climate change, a remix of amazing Norwegian fairy tales - oh my! I loved this one. So fun and engaging and yet there are deep mytho truths being shared about claiming space and agency in a terrifying world. Two thumbs up.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who love fairy tales, this book is quite a treat. Preus uses imagery from over 15 tales, mostly Norwegian, to write this adventurous journey including many where a girl is the one to save the day. The great importance of stories in our lives is a beautiful theme in this book (the writer's note at the end of the book about this is very touching). This is also a tale of warning for the senseless and unconscious destruction that humans cause due to greed and lack of empathy. It's also just plain fun to read and kids will love it.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle-grade and up. This book is really for anyone, any age, who loves fairy tales. Just an enchanting story.

[K. Woodman-Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Windswept! The characters were quirky and funny, and I especially liked Boots, who could climb anything. The pacing was good, and I loved some of the imagery from the storms to the trash to the mountainous caves in the end. I also found the relationship between the children and the adults in the book fascinating. A fun read!

I did receive this ARC for free at a conference, but it didn't affect my review of the book.

[Michelle Smith-Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tag-a-long, or Tag for short, has never known anything except the inside of her home and the good-natured fun of her older sisters surrounding her, until one day when the dreaded winds come and take away her sisters. The youngers, or children, are not allowed to go outside, and Tag watches as her sisters break the rules and decide to go outside only to then become windswept to who knows where. For several years after her sisters disappear, Tag tries to put the pieces together about what really happened to them. Her mother just won't give her honest answers, and Tag is even more convinced something is not quite right about the fear the people have of the youngers going outside when she finds a book of banned fairy tales and secret items in her attic. So Tag finds a way out of the attic window and over the wall out into the forest and begins a trip to find her sisters. She ends up meeting up with some other brave youngers and together they face off with the dreaded secrets that are along their path into the mountains where their siblings may have been windswept. Will Tag and her friends find their siblings before it is too late, and will they learn that sometimes the things we are told to fear are not really as dreadful as we may think they are in the end?

This is a wonderfully imaginative, modern fairy tale. The main character, a curious thirteen-year-old, learns to become a leader of the youngers. She finds her own strengths while most of her life she is a follower since she is the youngest child in her family. This book teaches children that finding what is true may require us to look just beyond our fears and misconceptions. The author also includes a reference list that contains the fairy tales that she borrows from throughout the story as well as an author's note about her childhood experiences and Norwegian fairy tales that influence her writing today. It was interesting to learn about the author's perspective because it makes the story even more unique.

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a dystopian society where children under 15 are homebound, a unique group of new friends ventures Outdoors to find their lost siblings. Well, they’re not so much lost as they are windswept. Windswept tells the story of Tag and her companions’ quest to achieve the impossible. What they aren’t expecting, however, is to encounter mythical beings and magic along the way. Each of the youngers brings a special gift to the group, and each of these beings has a valuable lesson to teach. Through a series of terrifying, exhilarating, and humorous trials, the youngers begin to uncover details about The Other Times and what is being hidden from them. Ultimately, Tag has a decision to make, one that determines the fate of her own family and of her new friends. In an effort to conquer the impossible, will Tag show up too late or never at all?

Opinion:
You’re never too old to dive deep into the world of fantasy, and Newbery Honor winner, Margi Preus, delivers a beautiful, modern classic with Windswept. The well-developed characters and attention to detail bring the many fantastical kingdoms of the book to life, while cautioning against the realities of human behavior toward Earth. Borrowing from her Norwegian roots, Preus’ fractured fairy tale incorporates centuries-old stories to depict magic and whimsy, as well as the consequences of waste, greed, and selfishness. Written as a story within a story, the narrator and their audience gathered around a campfire add to the originality and overall mystery of the plot. Windswept’s omnipresent themes of friendship and perseverance give the reader many opportunities to take away important life lessons. As a classroom read aloud or for independent reading, middle grade readers and young adults are sure to be “windswept” by this captivating story of loss, adventure, and redemption.

[Meredith Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Windswept is a stunning fairy tale that embodies profound truths. Tag-Along, (also sometimes called Hyacinth), has never been Outside. WSince her older sisters were "windswept," she has been forbidden to leave her home. However, when a mysterious invitation arrives, Tag must decide whether to leave the safe confines of her hone to attend a mysterious meeting. What follows is an action-packed, mesmerizing tale where villains are not necessarily who you think they are. Youngers just might have unique talents to help them find lost siblings.

I love how Preus defies genre conventions. THe rich, fairy tale elements are combined with futuristic ponderings. If you want to read a book that contains many thought-provoking issues, Windswept is a read not to miss. Also, the book is just plain fun. My favorite scenes involved the "impossible" taks the Youngers had to face, particularly the task of milking goats using sieves and the task to catch the West Wind using items such as a saucepan, mugs and a thimble. If you enjoy fairy tales, this book is filled with excellent references to familiar, (and not so familiar), stories.
Preus employs immersive writing. I love the description of Outside that Tag sees through her knothole, particularly the descriptions of the three trees, (Soprano, Alto and Tenor), that she can hear as well as see. I also love how the different scents and feelings Tag experiences are described as layer cakes. The story is fast-paced and impossible to put down. I truly hope it receives Newbery recognition.
My favorite magical object in the story was the tablecloth.

Happy reading, and God bless you all.I also loved the references to folk music and how a certain object in the story was named Puff.

[Lonna Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd amalgam of fairy tale bits, Norweigian stories, bizarre magic, two sets of three sisters (one set casts magical spells,) and trolls that are a metaphor for the worst in humans: overpowering greed, unrelenting appetites, & malicious anger. Also, it's a quest. It all starts with Hyacinth (nickname Tagalong as the youngest of 3 sisters) who escapes her home to find her siblings who have been "windswept," and have been missing for nearly 7 years in some faraway troll kingdom/dimension. Nearly extinct, the trolls are trying to replace themselves with these kidnapped "youngers" amidst piles of plastic and garbage. Meanwhile, the "olders" have made the planet fairly uninhabitable (Sound familiar?) and have secretly been allowing the Wind to take their young in order to survive. Sheesh! So, it all falls to young Finn, Boots, Anton, Bluetooth the dog, and Tag to rescue their enchanted siblings. They encounter 3 witchlike sisters along the way and Shortcut, who has a hippie school bus named Dragon. It seems impossible. But, as their families need them, and their world needs them to find a way, they do, using censored fairy tale books and other forbidden tomes to increase their knowledge. Censorship is as old as time, yet persists. As Wilhelm Grimm said, "You can fool yourself into thinking that what can be removed from books can also be removed from real life. " Fortunately, each intrepid child on the quest has individual strengths that help the group overcome the seemingly insurmountable challenges. The Scandinavian tales and fairy stories references in the back make for interesting reading, but to me, the book is a fantastical slog.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Tag. Her real name is Hyacinth but she's the youngest sister - a bit of a Tagalong - and thus, Tag. She lives here on earth at some point in the future - many generations - where things have gone badly but there are still people. And trolls. And maybe fairies. And a bit of magic. The village where Tag lives seems a bit 17th or 18th century, maybe. But children - or youngers as they are called - are not allowed outside because the wind will sweep them away. This happened to Tag's three older sisters seven years ago. Tag had stayed inside while her sisters had managed to sneak outside to play - and then the wind came and simply took them. And Tag was left to wonder where all of the Windswept youngers had gone. Until one day - someone convinces Tag to go on a quest to find the Windswept. (It didn't take much convincing!) Tag joins Finn, Boots, Ant and Ren - plus BlueTooth the dog - on a memorable journey through the forest to the mountains.
The story reads like a fairy tale and is, in fact, a weaving together of many different fairy tales - some familiar and some lesser known Norwegian tales. I was thrilled to see a bit of the Kind/Unkind Girl trope included. One of our young heroes is a bit too much of a realist who can't keep his skepticism in check and ends up with worms pouring out of his mouth instead of words.
I think this would make an excellent classroom or family read-aloud.

[Misti · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Tag's world, children must not step outside for fear of being swept away by the wind, never to be seen again. Tag's sisters were taken when she was very young, and now she lives in a house without laughter, where even the windows are boarded up and a knothole is her only connection to the outside world. When a strange boy slips her a note though the knothole inviting her to a secret meeting, she wants to attend -- but how will she manage to leave the house? With a tiny bit of magical help, she finds a way, and joins a group of other children intent on finding and rescuing their windswept siblings and friends. But the quest won't be easy, and as people keep telling them, they'll get there too late or not at all. Still, sometimes you have to keep going in the face of the impossible...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: fairy tale retellings are my jam. This one is delightful, drawing on several Nordic tales as well as a few from other traditions. It's also set in a post-apocalyptic future of a world very like ours, so there are artifacts of the previous civilization (mostly plastics) and a strong, occasionally preachy environmental message. The ending wraps up pretty neatly, as you might expect from a fairy tale retelling for kids. I enjoyed the whole quest and the people and creatures they met along the way. I'd recommend this to kids who love it when authors play with fairy tales, and adults who enjoy reading this sort of juvenile fantasy.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tag has spent her entire life indoors, hiding from the mysterious Wind that sweeps up "youngers" and leaves valuable silver leaves behind. The Powers That Be (humorously, that's exactly what they're called) are greedy enough for the riches of the silver leaves that their searches for the missing youngers is never very enthusiastic. A possibly magical ribbon, a small group of other youngers and three strange sisters they meet along the way help Tag with the impossible task of rescuing the missing children. Lots of echoes of many different fairy tales; the author even includes a list of them in a bibliography in the back. This could be categorized as dystopian, as plastic remnants of the Other World litter the landscape, and part of the reason the trolls are so mad at humanity that they steal their children is that humans carelessly and almost willfully destroyed the landscape. So perhaps this is also a call for children to accomplish the impossible task of saving our Earth.

[B.C. Dittemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

As per usual with Preus’ work, the writing is exceptional and engaging, and the book itself is beautiful. There are a lot of great ideas here and some very sly references, and weaving of pop culture and fairy tales. The concept of placing fairy tales into a future time is fresh and smart. To see what could happen to these stories in a world affected by climate change and the controlling Powers-that-be that have banned anything thought-provoking.

While the message here is not concealed in layers of subtext, I never felt it was heavy-handed considering the age range of the intended reader. In fact, I think Preus did a good job in this regard. If I have any true complaints, it’s that the end seemed very rushed.

Still, I’d recommend this book. And my daughter and I are hoping that Preus is considering a sequel.

[Towntaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Flickering moments of "that's interesting" but lots of dull padding and over-preciousness. Another book that could benefit from more editing. There was a surprise ending, a quest, a mystery, some ecological cautionary themes. I normally enjoy fractured fairy tale type stories and I did appreciate the author's source notes, such as they were (she made a weird comment about not being able to give accurate sources, which I wonder how she'd accept if someone pulled from her work and didn't give a citation?). But in this case, there was too much going on between the vocabulary lessons and the fairy tale references and ecology moralizing and quest and mystery and shifting narrators and the characters were not strong enough to carry me through.
https://twitter.com/towntaker/status/...

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great tale based on tales!

Notes:

p. 143: laughed at ISD 709 inscribed on the "bus/dragon": "Inter Stellar Dragon"

also "Blue Tooth"...named for older times

p. 239:
"So many books!"
"Not nearly enough"
"Aren't you afraid?"
"Afraid of books?"
"Afraid to have so many books."
"No"..."I should be afraid to be without books. How would you know anything?"
"But aren't you afraid of the Powers-That-Be?"
"I'm more afraid of being ignorant."

I enjoyed the mention of plants, invasive and not, and the subtly addressing of PLASTICS...and how they are EVERYWHERE.

As so often happens when reading children's literature, I wonder how much is picked up because I'm an adult reading...wonder what a 4th grader would think.

[Scott Coulter]

For the 2023 #vtReadingChallenge, this is book #9 for the category "A Book for Children".
Thanks to the good folks at Redeemed Reader for the recommendation; this was a fun, fairytale-inspired story aimed at 10 to 14yr old readers. I suppose it's somewhat inevitable (and also somewhat true and somewhat worthwhile) that stories aimed at kids that age seem to very often be about how the how the adults have ruined the world and it's up to children to save the day (and themselves). This book, at least, gave voice to respect for older things and older ideas, along with the need to do better in the future, so I guess I'm thankful for some balance.

[Wina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for this enchanting fantasy/dystopia for ages 10-14. I feel that the age range was selected for difficulty of concepts and occasional difficult vocabulary. Themes of environmentalism and materialism are the main message, with a side of book banning and school curriculum restrictions. This story incorporates many fairy tales that are referenced in the excellent author's notes at the end. The story is interrupted periodically with a tale by the campfire--you don't know who it is or why it's there, but that comes clear in the end. I loved the characters, the format, the font and illustrations/decorations.

[MikaReadsFantasy]

This is a tale about tales. It’s a post apocalyptic fairytale about children being swept away by the wind and adults being too selfish to safe them. So a group of unlikely young hero’s take it into their own hands.

It’s very imaginative and the topics are surprisingly contemporary. It’s fast paced but at times the audiobook was a bit hard to follow since there are multiple layers to the story. The plot and message felt a bit heavy handed and convoluted.
Especially in the second half the book sadly lost me.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairy tale revisions are everywhere lately but Margi Preus does it just right here with this enchanting tale that somehow combines Norwegian and other European folktales, a dystopian heads-up and a compelling adventure. The characters unfold and blossom as the story progresses in this beautifully spun story that will be ideal for reading aloud.

Beautiful book design too with delightful black and white illustrations by Armando Veve make this a perfect gift for young readers everywhere.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fantasy with a bit of dystopia mixed in. I liked the message about impossible tasks. I didn’t think it was heavy handed as other reviewers complained. I really enjoyed the journey and that you weren’t quite sure how it would all end up until the end. I listened to the audiobook. I did find myself not being able to keep all the characters straight when listening. I think this would make a great read aloud.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with the gorgeous cover and loved this well plotted and fascinating fantasy story with elements of Scandinavian folklore.
It's well told, quirky and likeable characters, a plot that flows and kept me hooked.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has several starred reviews I'm assuming because of the social commentary; however, I don't see students sticking with the book. At times it seemed written for a younger reader, but with the inferences deep themes, only older readers will get. Will not purchase.
The audio was great though.

[Brandi Rae Fong]

I'm not sure I really cared about the characters or their journey...I finished it to see where the windswept kids went (and I almost skipped to the end just to find out).

However, I liked the fairy tale and the (kind of heavy handed) environmental aspects and kids may like this more than I did. Quite possibly I was just in a mood.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story set in a future where humans are dealing with the outcome of their own pillaging of the Earth. As a result, the old ones of fairy tale lore are active again and creating mischief. This is, at its core, a retelling of all the fairy tales where a quest must be undertaken to save what matters most. It is thoroughly enjoyable.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it is about climate change and fantasy folktale. I love the mystery and suspense, and the final was unexpected. I think this book has many facts to offer and it is very interesting. So glad to have read this book and I have suggested this to my teacher to be added to class library.

[nx74defiant · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a distant future children need to stay inside or else the wind will sweep them away. Tag joins a group of children to go in search of their missing siblings - the windswept. The meet three sisters, face magical curses and ogres. Cute fairy tale like adventure. Tag learns she is much for then just a tag-along.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about a person named Tag who lives far in the future where the wind sweeps away "youngers" so most youngers (under 15-year olds) are kept inside, safe from the wind.

There are terrible things about this future, but some interesting ones as well.