Kelly Barnhill writes a fresh fantasy, mysterious and eerie. Jack is sent to live with relatives for what he believes is a short stay. But the odd relationship he seems to have with the rest of the world, is a haunting indication that there is something permanently unique about him. At first, his comments about being “invisible” sound like the usual interpretation of an adolescent introvert. But at his crazy aunt and uncles oddly animate house, he is noticed, for the first time ever. Not only do the town inhabitants notice him, but some of them take a somewhat unhealthy interest- namely the powerful mayor who just might wish him dead.
This twisted fairy tale is about greed, destiny and mostly, belonging. Jack is painfully out of place, a misfit who wishes desperately to have his family return his affection. He is a likable character, and as he unravels the mystery surrounding the town and himself, we eagerly wait for him to recognize his own role. I’m trying not to give too much away, but when Jack comes “into his own” I did feel somewhat thrown. As if the person we were first introduced to as protagonist is suddenly gone.
Thankfully there is still Frankie and Wendy, who I thoroughly enjoyed. The layers of story in this book are interwoven so seamlessly, including the mystery of mute, damaged Frankie and his tough sister.
The dreamlike quality of this book comes just as much from the writing, (disembodied narration from a dark and hidden “someone”) to the plot itself (a dark sacrifice in the town’s past, magical guardians, children who disappear and the town’s memories of them fade within days or even weeks).
There are too many plots devices that seem shallow or unexplored to truly make this as solid a book as it could have been. The characters are many and interesting, but not what I would call rich. And while the uniqueness of this fantasy is part of it’s appeal, I tend to think it’s just a little too “out there” for Newbery.
Newbery Contender? No.
