Winterling

Gr 4–8—In this fantasy adventure, young Fer feels that she doesn't belong in her world. When she rescues a magical boy who can turn into a dog and hears the beckoning of the Way, a path into another realm, she decides to try to discover what might have happened to her parents, who have been "gone from this world" since she was a baby. Despite her grandmother's fears, she enters a land that is ruled by a powerful and dangerous huntress, the Mór, and populated with strange creatures and humans that can morph into animals. Along her journey, Fer discovers her healing powers and inner strength; she also learns about her parents and her family's connection to this enchanted, perilous place. The story has a steady pace and solid character development. The description-rich writing provides an excellent sense of the how the characters experience their surroundings, and the setting of this unnatural realm is intricately woven into the plot. An appealing and empowering tale.—Molly M. Collins, Burlington Public Library, MA