The Grace of Wild Things

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Grace of Wild Things is a beautifully written retelling of Anne of Green Gables by Heather Fawcett. Released 14th Feb 2023 by HarperCollins on their Balzer + Bray imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

Although marketed to a middle grade audience, this is truly an all-ages appropriate re-imagining of Anne of Green Gables with a young witch who runs away from her dreary existence at an orphanage and seeks out a dangerously curmudgeonly older witch to guide and teach her. After getting off to a rocky start, they come to an agreement and soon see their odd new found family facing deadly challenges from outside. 

The author is both prolific and adept at characterization, setting, world building, and narrative and this is an engaging and entertaining story. Young Grace is an appealingly plucky heroine and readers will be cheering her along in her quest. The promotional materials suggest this book for readers in the middle school audience (8-12 years) and while there's no directly graphic violence, there are a number of scary situations. Given the nature of the (ridiculous) challenges and bannings in the USA currently, acquisitions staff might want to read the book before adding it to collections. 

Four and a half stars. Well worth picking up, and not just for readers in the "target" audience. It's an enjoyable and worthy retelling of a classic story. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.