Starred review from June 6, 2016
Xan, a kindhearted witch, lives in the woods with an erudite swamp monster, Glerk, and a lovable “Perfectly Tiny Dragon,” Fyrian. Every year she finds a new home for a baby the sorrowful people of the Protectorate leave in the woods on the Day of Sacrifice. One year, she accidentally “enmagicks” a baby with moonlight, so the three decide to raise her as their own, their Luna. But Luna’s magic is strong, and before her 13th birthday, events unfold that will change everything she has known. Barnhill (The Witch’s Boy) crafts another captivating fantasy, this time in the vein of Into the Woods. Via intricately woven chapters that follow Luna, her unusual family, the devious Grand Elder of the Protectorate, his honorable nephew and niece, the mysterious Sister Ignatia, and a sympathetic “madwoman” in a tower, Barnhill delivers an escalating plot filled with foreshadowing, well-developed characters, and a fully realized setting, all highlighting her lyrical storytelling. As the characters search for family, protect secrets, and seek truth, they realize that anything can happen in the woods—when magic is involved. Ages 10–up. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.
Starred review from June 1, 2016
An elderly witch, a magical girl, a brave carpenter, a wise monster, a tiny dragon, paper birds, and a madwoman converge to thwart a magician who feeds on sorrow.Every year Elders of the Protectorate leave a baby in the forest, warning everyone an evil Witch demands this sacrifice. In reality, every year, a kind witch named Xan rescues the babies and find families for them. One year Xan saves a baby girl with a crescent birthmark who accidentally feeds on moonlight and becomes "enmagicked." Magic babies can be tricky, so Xan adopts little Luna herself and lovingly raises her, with help from an ancient swamp monster and a chatty, wee dragon. Luna's magical powers emerge as her 13th birthday approaches. Meanwhile, Luna's deranged real mother enters the forest to find her daughter. Simultaneously, a young carpenter from the Protectorate enters the forest to kill the Witch and end the sacrifices. Xan also enters the forest to rescue the next sacrificed child, and Luna, the monster, and the dragon enter the forest to protect Xan. In the dramatic denouement, a volcano erupts, the real villain attempts to destroy all, and love prevails. Replete with traditional motifs, this nontraditional fairy tale boasts sinister and endearing characters, magical elements, strong storytelling, and unleashed forces. Luna has black eyes, curly, black hair, and "amber" skin. Guaranteed to enchant, enthrall, and enmagick. (Fantasy. 10-14)
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Starred review from July 1, 2016
Gr 4-6-Once a year in the Protectorate there is a Day of Sacrifice. The youngest baby is taken by the Elders and left in the forest to die, thus appeasing the witch who threatens to destroy the village if not obeyed. Unbeknownst to the people, Xan, the witch of the forest, is kind and compassionate. When she discovers the first baby left as a sacrifice, she has no idea why it has been abandoned. She rescues the infants, feeds each one starlight, and delivers the shining infants to parents in the Outside Cities who love and care for them. On one occasion, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight along with starlight, filling her with glowing magic. Xan is smitten with the beautiful baby girl, who has a crescent moon birthmark on her forehead, and chooses to raise her as her own child. Twists and turns emerge as the identity of the true evil witch becomes apparent. The swiftly paced, highly imaginative plot draws a myriad of threads together to form a web of characters, magic, and integrated lives. Spiritual overtones encompass much of the storytelling with love as the glue that holds it all together. VERDICT An expertly woven and enchanting offering for readers who love classic fairy tales.-D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2016
Gr 4-6-In a vividly created fantastical realm, a baby is left in the forest, according to an annual tradition of sacrifice. Discovered by a kind witch, who mistakenly feeds the child moonlight, the girl grows up with a potent power she must learn to control. This swiftly paced and highly imaginative title expertly weaves myriad threads into a memorable story that will easily enchant readers.
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2017
Every year, the Protectorate elders leave a baby in the woods to appease a witch no one has seen. In fact, the witch rescues and finds homes for the babies; she even adopts one, the particularly magical Luna. Barnhill's fantasy has a slightly ungainly plot, but in theme and emotion, it is focused: love--familial, maternal, filial, friendly--is its engine and moral.
(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
September 1, 2016
Every year, the people of the Protectorate steel themselves for the Day of Sacrifice, when the elders take the city's youngest baby and leave it in the woods to appease the witch -- a witch no one has seen, but whose reputation has become a means to control the populace. In fact, a witch does live in the forest, and she rescues and finds homes for the babies; she even adopts one, the particularly magical Luna, whom she brings home to live with her own family that already includes a beloved bog monster and a dragon. Meanwhile, the true and malevolent Witch of Sacrifice Day, hiding behind the identity of a respected person in the city, secretly feeds off the grief of the bereaved parents until, thanks to adolescent Luna's emerging magic, the sorrow-burdened Protectorate begins to rebel. Barnhill's fantasy has a slightly ungainly plot, with backstory, coincidence, insight-dumps, and shifting points of view maneuvering its hinges of logic into place. But in theme and emotion, it is focused: love -- familial, maternal, filial, and friendly -- is its engine and moral, with Luna's connections with her adoptive grandmother and unknown birth mother a poignant force. With all story elements and characters interrelated through infinite love (the story's theology), there's plenty for readers to puzzle out here. deirdre f. baker
(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Starred review from July 1, 2016
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* Every year, the elders of the Protectorate sacrifice a baby to appease an evil witchthough, in truth, it's a facade to subdue the populace. Xan, the witch in question, actually rescues each baby and finds families for them. One time, however, Xan accidentally feeds moonlight to the baby, which fills her with magic. Xan thereupon adopts her, names her Luna, and raises her with the help of a swamp monster and a tiny dragon. Luna's magic grows exponentially and causes such havoc that Xan casts a spell to suppress it until Luna turns 13. But the spell misfires, clouding Luna's mind whenever magic is mentioned, making proper training impossible. As the fateful birthday approaches, Xan fears dying before she can teach Luna everything she needs to know. Meanwhile, in the Protectorate, a young couple dares to challenge the status quo, a madwoman trapped in a tower escapes by way of paper birds, and a truly evil witch is revealed. Barnhill's latest, told in omniscient point of view, is rich with multiple plotlines that culminate in a suspenseful climax, characters of inspiring integrity (as well as characters without any), a world with elements of both whimsy and treachery, and prose that melds into poetry. A sure bet for anyone who enjoys a truly fantastic story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)