Tale of the Flying Forest feels like returning home: I could have been eight years old again, snuggled under a blanket while completely losing myself in this fantastical world and imagining myself in the heroine’s shoes. It’s magical, cozy, hopeful, and deeply Jewish.

Anne Applebaum feels totally alone after her mother dies and her father doesn’t know how to connect with her. All she has are memories of her mother, her Jewish faith, and a worn copy of The World to Come, all about the flying forest of Bei Ilai. 

She’s always felt a faraway tug, and one day a talking raven lets her know that she has an actual other half - a twin brother named Rainer - whose heart has been broken and scattered across the very real Bei Ilai. Anne must travel into the magical world and become one of the heroes whose stories and bravery once brought her so much comfort. But there are villains and monsters and curses to overcome, and the most dangerous creature of them all was once a hero himself.

The slightly-whimsical (friendly, but distanced) narration is perfectly captivating and made it easy to immerse myself in this fairytale. And the scattered illustrations are delightful, bringing a few emotional moments to life before my eyes. 

Anne is a wonderful protagonist. She’s not perfect - she has moments of doubt and moments of lashing out - but she’s so compassionate and determined. Once she finds out her brother exists, she never backs down on her quest to bring him home. And she never takes the selfish route, either: she’s always keeping her community and home in mind.

Villains and heroes sometimes intersect here, and though the main antagonist is ultimately unredeemable, we’re shown the ways in which cruelty develops and how everyone wants to love and be loved. Although the characters are clearly friends or foes, it’s never completely black and white.

The Jewishness of this story is unapologetic and so wonderful to read about. There are real Jewish prayers that become magical songs, and elements of inspiration from the Torah (as well as Jewish mysticism) sprinkled throughout. Anne’s faith is a source of strength and magic, and that was so comforting and hopeful. You’ll also recognize reshapings of some popular fairy tales and folklore elements. 

There is darkness in Anne’s story, especially in her grief and in her struggle to connect with her father after her mother leaves a huge hole in their home. There’s also suffering in Bei Illai that Anne has to reckon with (and help heal). I think any child who has experienced loss will see a piece of their sadness and personal journey with grief reflected here. I definitely teared up a few times. 

But oh - the magic of this world, and the love and friendship and family! It was beautiful, and ultimately this is a bright and hopeful story. It’s about reshaping the world to be a bit better. And leaving a trail of goodness behind you. The concept of tikkun olam is one of my favorites in Judaism, and it was such a strong theme here. 

The characters and creatures were endearing, the message was heartwarming, and the story feels like an old friend. I very strongly recommend!

CW: murder, death (parent), grief, child abuse, war, injury, violence

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(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)