The Witch's Boy [Paperback]

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A classic origin-quest tale . . . brimming with a well-drawn, colorful supporting cast, a strong sense of place, and an enchanted forest with a personality to rival some of the best depictions of magical woods. School Library Journal, starred review

When Ned and his identical twin tumble from their raft into a raging river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Across the forest that borders Neds village, ?ine, the daughter of the Bandit King, is haunted by her mothers last words: The wrong boy will save your life and you will save his. When the Bandit King comes to steal the magic Neds mother, a witch, is meant to protect, ?ine and Ned meet. Can they trust each other enough to cross a dangerous enchanted forest and stop the war about to boil over between their two kingdoms?

Barnhill skillfully interweaves the stories of Ned, ?ine, Sister Witch and the stones . . . The classic fantasy elements are all there, richly reimagined, with a vivid setting, a page-turning adventure of a plot, and compelling, timeless themes. Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Offer [The Witchs Boy] to Gaiman and Wynne-Jones fans, and to realistic fiction buffs who are open to brilliant coming-of-age stories sharing space with touches of magic. The Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books, starred review

Through the eyes of the brave and increasingly shrewd Ned and ?ine, young readers consider the complications of magic, the corrupting desire for power, and the conflicting natures of good and evil in this atmospheric and elegantly told literary fairy tale. The Horn Book Magazine

[The Witchs Boy] should open young readers eyes to something that is all around them in the very world we live in: the magic of words. The New York Times Book Review

This spellbinding fantasy begs for a cozyl³+