Storybound

Una is "Written In" to the land of Story, where children train as characters. She and friends Peter and Sam (a cat) investigate her mysterious arrival and unearth the administration's lies about missing Muses and a king no one remembers. Storybook themes and a game heroine may win Inkheart fans.

A paean to fairy tales that is a great fairy tale in its own right. Marissa Burt has created a complete, immersive world with its own original mythology and rules. An orphan who has been ignored by everyone, Una is thrust into a setting where she can’t help but stick out. What’s more, her prominence puts her in danger. Una’s complete lack of self pity and her genuine curiosity about her new home exemplify her plucky, likable nature. Close third-person narration focuses on different characters, each of whom possesses unique information about Una and Story. The gradual revelation of details sets up plot twists and builds suspense. In Story, everyone—from keepers of tales to villains-in-training—is involved in storytelling. This self-referential aspect of the book makes it perfect for aspiring writers to think about how plot and characters are created.