The Changelings Series, Book 1

June 15, 2016
A fast-moving adventure reveals why 11-year-old Izzy has always felt like a bit of an outsider--but provides a sense of belonging too.Upset by her family's latest move, Izzy is tired of looking after her younger sister, Henrietta. But when Hen is lured away by a magical piper, Izzy goes in pursuit. She lands in the world of Faerie, where a motley group of outsiders joins the quest to rescue her sister. Both plot and characters feel familiar. There's the rescue effort; the not-entirely-enthusiastic companions (Lug, a large, furry, friendly creature; Selden, a surly, clever boy; and Dree, the suspicious ghost of a girl/fairy); and the villain, an evil queen with a thirst for eternal youth. Most characters are apparently white except for Selden, who has "deep brown skin and unruly black hair." Pursued by Unglers, creatively described and utterly unappealing predators, the four find their way into Avhalon with a little help from a fearful but friendly farmer/inventor. Unfortunately, while the plot moves along quickly and some details are entertaining, Izzy's character isn't particularly well-defined. The big reveal, when it comes, is hardly unexpected, and the rushed ending feels perfunctory. A pleasant diversion for fans of fairy tales, like Izzy, but not quite enough to capture the interest of a wider audience. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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July 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-The only interesting part of 12-year-old Izzy's new town is that her neighbor might be a witch. Izzy, who loves fantasy and fairy tales, would love a little magic in her life. When her younger sister, Hen, is lured into the forest by enchanted music, Izzy's dreams turn nightmarish. After frantically searching the forest, she finds herself in Faerie and must decide whether to trust a mismatched group of Changelings to save her sister, all while discovering there are greater forces and mysteries at play. This well-paced novel full of likable characters will attract fantasy lovers, especially those interested in fairies. Readers will enjoy the balance among action scenes, quieter periods of character interaction, and rich descriptions of Faerie. Izzy and her friends could be more fully developed but overall are interesting. The concept of the Changelings-and why they're important to keeping Faerie and Earth connected-is explained in bits with an enticing air of mystery that will keep readers engaged, and an additional final surprise puts the remaining pieces in place. VERDICT A great choice for fantasy fans or those looking for a relatively gentle but exciting tale.-Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser, La Crosse Public Library, WI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2017
When her younger sister, Hen, follows mysterious music into the woods, eleven-year-old Izzy--well versed in fairy tales--chases after her. Looking for Hen, Izzy finds herself in the land of Faerie in the company of three Changelings (shape-shifting fairies) being hunted by an evil queen. Plenty of action, plot twists, and solid world-building make this a good choice for fantasy fans.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)