The Boy Who Lost Fairyland
Author(s): Catherynne M. Valente
When a young troll named Hawthorn is stolen from Fairyland by the Red Wind, he becomes a changeling-a human boy-in the strange city of Chicago, a place no less bizarre and magical than Fairyland. Left with a human family, Hawthorn struggles with his troll nature and his changeling fate, while attending school and learning about human kindnesses-and un-kindnesses.
In a starred review, Kirkus noted, "Every page of this book contains at least one stunning sentence. Valente's descriptions of the human world make it sound like an exotic place, even when she just lists things to see: "diamonds and dinosaur bones and Canadian geese and the Cathedral of Notre Dame and ballpoint pens." Readers may wish the words were food, so they could eat them up. And they may keep reading this series for just as long as people have been arguing about Oz."
Time magazine has praised Catherynne M. Valente's Fairyland books as "one of the most extraordinary works of fantasy, for adults or children, published so far this century." In this fourth installment of her saga, Valente's wisdom and wit will charm readers of all ages.
Review(s):
“Valente's Fairyland is as bizarre and beautiful as ever, with a Wonderland-like un-logic that will keep readers both delighted and slightly off-balance.” —The Horn Book
“A glorious balancing act between modernism and the Victorian Fairy Tale, done with heart and wisdom.” —Neil Gaiman, Newbery Award-winning author of The Graveyard Book
“September is a clever, fun, stronghearted addition to the ranks of bold, adventurous girls. Valente's subversive storytelling is sheer magic.” —Tamora Pierce, author of The Immortals series
“A mad, toothsome romp of a fairy tale--full of oddments, whimsy, and joy.” —Holly Black, author of the Spiderwick Chronicles
“When I say that this book reminds me simultaneously of E. Nesbit, James Thurber, and the late Eva Ibbotson, I don't mean to take anything awy from its astonishing originality. It's a charmer from the first page, managing the remarkable parlay of being at once ridiculously funny and surprisingly suspenseful. Catherynne Valente is a find, at any age!” —Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn
American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults (2012), Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award Maser List (2011), Long-listed ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2012), Long-listed Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award ML (2011)
ISBN: 9781250023490