First lines: “Willa crept through the darkened forest, following the faint scent of chimney smoke on the midnight air. The silver strands of the clouds passing in front of the moon cloaked her movements in shadow, and she made little sound stepping across the cold, wet leaves she felt beneath her bare feet. “

When I was younger, I was surrounded by books where the natural world was a key feature, almost a character itself, inextricably linked to the overall enjoyment of the story. Beatty brings that same connection in this pastoral fantasy similar to the natural-imbued worlds of Julie of the Wolves, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Hatchet, and the Secret Garden. To be honest, I can’t think of recent kids books that focus so predominantly on the environmental setting (comment below if you have one to offer), giving this story an added breath of fresh air to more modern literature for children. Not to mention the story itself!

A mesmerizing tale of an emerging leader, the last of her kind, who is reconnecting with the strength of her peoples’ past while slowly pulling away from the iron fisted padaran, a god-like figure leading her people to the brink of extinction through deception and fear. A truly gorgeous work of art and I hope there are more to come.

“It felt as if she could keep opening her heart to the magic in the world, and the magic in the world would keep filling it.”