Winterfolk

by Janel Kolby

This gorgeous and lyrical debut novel is perfect for fans of Nova Ren Suma, Laura Ruby, and Nina LaCour.

Rain doesn't wish on stars anymore.

For as long as she can remember, her home has been among the Winterfolk, a group of homeless people living outside Seattle. Being homeless has taught Rain how to be invisible.

But when she discovers that the city plans to sweep out the Winterfolk's camp, her world is shattered. Determined to face the world like she's never had to before, she convinces her friend King to take her to Seattle.

The city is full of strange sights, sounds, people-and memories. When Rain and King are separated, she must fend for herself, and realizes that she's not invisible after all. And if she's going to save herself, King, and the Winterfolk, she'll need to find a star big enough to make all of her wishes come true.

• ISBN10: 0062487663
• ISBN13: 9780062487667
• Publish Date: 6 February 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

I have read quite a few YA books, and I must admit, I do not believe I have read any, which gave me such a detailed look into the life of a homeless teen. This was quite interesting, in that Rain had lived isolated from the outside world in a sort of compound.

Her sheltered existence showed in her observations and the narration as she sometimes seemed childlike. When King took her into to the city for her birthday, her inability to interact with strangers and her discomfort with the world at large was obvious. I will say, Rain grew some through the experience, and there was even (what I think) an "event" to punctuate her maturation.

I will also say, that this book is beautifully written. Kolby is a true wordsmith, and there was this gorgeous ethereal quality to her writing. My problem with the book was that there seemed to be so many holes. I felt like I was being held responsible for making those leaps, but I would have liked to have been told some things explicitly. And the ending. Well, let's just say....



I kept flipping back and forth, thinking I missed something, but nope. It was that abrupt and vague.

Overall: An interesting look at the challenges facing homeless youth, but too many unresolved plot threads left me frustrated.