PhoebeJaneWrites

Many books tell the tales of children who have stumbled into magical worlds, whether it be through mirrors, wardrobes, tornadoes or other magical doorways. The reader is brought along on the journey and follow the child(ren) as they move through the stages of fear, confusion and fun. These stories usually end either one of two ways. Either the child learns to accept their place in this new world or they eventually make their way back home. But what then? What happens to the children who have gone through these mythical adventures only to find themselves back at home dealing with puberty, school and parents who don’t understand?

That’s where Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children steps in and where Nancy ends up when her parents decide she needs to be treated for the trauma she endured during her kidnapping. Parents send their children who are believed to be runaways or victims of abduction. It is advertised as a boarding school that helps these teenagers deal with the trauma they have endured. However, that is not the case. Eleanor West is a woman who as a girl traveled to another land and has created a haven for those who have difficult adjusting to their adventures.

Classes are taught in the history of worlds, a “compass” with directions such as Wicked and Nonsense is charted and the students are encouraged to talk about the worlds they visited. Eleanor even encourages them to have hope that they may some day find their doors once again and return to the worlds they once visited.

However, this is not just another coming of age tale. Murders start occurring at the school and Nancy and her new friends are trying to survive while looking for their respective doors.

I really liked this book. It tackles issues such as gender identity, stereotypes and truths in a way that did not bang the reader over the head. My only complaint is that in this “whodunnit” it was relatively easy to figure out the perpetrator and yet it took a few more chapters for the reveal.

Overall, I recommend this book for those who are fans of Fantasy and YA, although, I must say this is not a children’s book. Topics such as sex and masturbation are mentioned and the murders are described in detail.

My rating: 3.75 out of 5

Happy Reading!

Phoebe Jane