The Changelings (Changelings #1)

by Christina Soontornvat

Overview

From Newberry Honor winning author Christina Soontornvat comes a magical adventure in which Izzy must rescue her sister from a fairy land as dangerous as it is magical.

All Izzy wants is for something interesting to happen in her sleepy little town. But her wish becomes all too real when a mysterious song floats through the woods and lures her little sister Hen into the forest...where she vanishes. A frantic search leads to a strange hole in the ground that Izzy enters. But on the other side, she discovers that the hole was not a hole, this place is not Earth, and Hen is not lost. She's been stolen away to the land of Faerie, and it's up to Izzy to bring her home.

But inside Faerie, trouble is brewing—and Izzy is in way over her head. A ragtag group of outlaw Changelings offer to help, but she must decide whether a boulder that comes to life, a girl who looks like a ghost, and a boy who is also a stag can help her save Hen before it's too late.

Praise for The Changelings:

"Fresh and imaginative—new inventions on every page. I loved every ingenious twist and turn right up to the wonderfully satisfying ending."—Katherine Catmull, author of The Radiant Road and Summer and Bird.

"The Changelings is charming! Perfect for readers who love stories full of magic, adventure, mystery and fairies, topped off with a satisfying and very happy ending. Soontornvat's debut sparkles and delights!"—Nikki Loftin, author of The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy

Perfect for anyone looking for books:

for a special 10 or 11 year old girl or boy.

that can be fun homeschool materials.

for readers who love a magical adventure!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492632610
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	09/06/2016
Series:	Changelings Duology , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
Lexile:	680L (what's this?)
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Christina Soontornvat is a two-time Newbery Honor winning author for A Wish in the Dark and All Thirteen. She has degrees in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.) and Science Education (M.S.), and worked in the science center field for eight years. Christina lives with her family in Austin, Texas. Visit her at soontornvat.com.

Christina Soontornvat is a two-time Newberry Honor winning author for A Wish in the Dark and All Thirteen. She has degrees in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.) and Science Education (M.S.), and worked in the science center field for eight years. Christina lives with her family in Austin, Texas. Visit her at soontornvat.com.

Editorial Reviews

"This well-paced novel full of likable characters will attract fantasy lovers, especially those interested in fairies. Readers will enjoy the balance among action scenes, quieter periods of character interaction, and rich descriptions of Faerie...The concept of the Changelings—and why they’re important to keeping Faerie and Earth connected—is explained in bits with an enticing air of mystery that will keep readers engaged, and an additional final surprise puts the remaining pieces in place." — School Library Journal

"The plot is fast paced with intervals of vivid description…an engaging story with unusual twists and a thought-provoking conclusion. " — School Library Connection

"A fantasy adventure with likable characters (and detestable ones), plenty of action, a bit of danger, and a happy ending. Incorporating a few elements of the Pied Piper legend, Soontornvat emphasizes the importance of family, whether it’s the one you’re born into, the one you find yourself in, or the one you create for yourself" — Booklist

From the Publisher

07/01/2016
Gr 4–6—The only interesting part of 12-year-old Izzy's new town is that her neighbor might be a witch. Izzy, who loves fantasy and fairy tales, would love a little magic in her life. When her younger sister, Hen, is lured into the forest by enchanted music, Izzy's dreams turn nightmarish. After frantically searching the forest, she finds herself in Faerie and must decide whether to trust a mismatched group of Changelings to save her sister, all while discovering there are greater forces and mysteries at play. This well-paced novel full of likable characters will attract fantasy lovers, especially those interested in fairies. Readers will enjoy the balance among action scenes, quieter periods of character interaction, and rich descriptions of Faerie. Izzy and her friends could be more fully developed but overall are interesting. The concept of the Changelings—and why they're important to keeping Faerie and Earth connected—is explained in bits with an enticing air of mystery that will keep readers engaged, and an additional final surprise puts the remaining pieces in place. VERDICT A great choice for fantasy fans or those looking for a relatively gentle but exciting tale.—Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser, La Crosse Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

2016-06-01
A fast-moving adventure reveals why 11-year-old Izzy has always felt like a bit of an outsider—but provides a sense of belonging too.Upset by her family's latest move, Izzy is tired of looking after her younger sister, Henrietta. But when Hen is lured away by a magical piper, Izzy goes in pursuit. She lands in the world of Faerie, where a motley group of outsiders joins the quest to rescue her sister. Both plot and characters feel familiar. There's the rescue effort; the not-entirely-enthusiastic companions (Lug, a large, furry, friendly creature; Selden, a surly, clever boy; and Dree, the suspicious ghost of a girl/fairy); and the villain, an evil queen with a thirst for eternal youth. Most characters are apparently white except for Selden, who has "deep brown skin and unruly black hair." Pursued by Unglers, creatively described and utterly unappealing predators, the four find their way into Avhalon with a little help from a fearful but friendly farmer/inventor. Unfortunately, while the plot moves along quickly and some details are entertaining, Izzy's character isn't particularly well-defined. The big reveal, when it comes, is hardly unexpected, and the rushed ending feels perfunctory. A pleasant diversion for fans of fairy tales, like Izzy, but not quite enough to capture the interest of a wider audience. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews