Wayfarer

November 8, 2010
Anderson's second book to feature the faeries from the Oakenwyld pairs two characters that come from backgrounds that render them vulnerable in modern life: Linden, a faery girl from the Oak, and Timothy, the son of missionaries who has been sent from Uganda to England for schooling. After getting suspended for fighting, Timothy visits his cousin Paul and Paul's wife, Peri (both appeared in Spell Hunter; Peri was the faery, Knife). Timothy discovers that their property contains the gateway to Linden's world, which has been stripped of magic, and when Linden turns Timothy into a vehicle for her quest to restore her kingdom, the two find themselves adrift in London, the target of a ruthless enemy. Questions of faith and allegiance loom as large as physical dangers, and Anderson generally handles her material without preaching ("So you have to be able to see something to know it exists?" questions Linden when Timothy expresses doubt in God). In their own ways, Linden and Timothy are ordinary individuals facing challenges and expectations unique to their situations: readers will likely be swept up in the fantasy, yet believable characters offer verisimilitude. Ages 12–up.

August 1, 2010

Gr 6-9-Linden is a teenager living in a magical Oak with her fellow faeries. Their aging queen is the only one left with any magic to protect them from dangerous predators. Linden was raised by Peri, a faery-turned-human, and has a unique knowledge of the human world, making her the Oakenfolk's only hope for survival when their queen dies. Now she must navigate the outside world to save the Oakenfolk. Ignorant of the existence of faeries and magic, 15-year-old Timothy is homesick for Uganda where he grew up with missionary parents. He is staying with his cousin Paul and his wife, Peri, at Oakenwyld, the site of the magical Oak, after being suspended from his London boarding school. When he receives a less-than-warm welcome, Timothy decides to run away-right into the clutches of some evil faeries bent on stealing his musical gift. Linden pops out of his backpack just in time to rescue him. Now Timothy and Linden are being hunted by the fierce faeries under the reign of the evil empress and their only hope is finding the reclusive Children of Rhys, strong and magical faeries fabled to hold the key to freeing not only Linden's Oakenfolk but all the enslaved faeries as well. This albeit complicated premise comes together almost seamlessly in Anderson's tale; an intricate faery world colliding with an ordinary boy's struggle makes for a cutthroat quest adventure. Awkwardly out of place Christian doctrine may distract some readers, but, all in all, this is an enjoyable story that will appeal to fantasy fans.-Tara Kehoe, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2010
Grades 7-10 In this second installment in the Faery Rebels series, the Oaks faeries are dying out, and 15-year-old faery Linden embarks on a survival quest that takes her into the human world, including London and Wales, where she meets 15-year-old Timothy, the son of missionaries. Linden and Timothy tell their stories in alternating narratives, and their individual issues add substance and suspense to occasionally predictable story lines. Although the books religious elements, including Timothys questions about his Christian faith, may not resonate with everyone, most readers will appreciate the characters growing understanding of personal responsibility and the importance of compassion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)