About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle schooler is struggling with the heavy burden of responsibility or the confusing, non-linear process of grieving a family member. It is particularly helpful for children who feel like outsiders or who are prone to taking on the emotional weight of their parents' happiness. Set in medieval France, the story follows fifteen-year-old Sylvie, a girl with burgeoning magical abilities who sets out on a quest to find a teacher after a well-intentioned spell to cure her mother's depression goes terribly wrong. While the setting is historical and fantasy-based, the core of the book is a deeply grounded exploration of self-confidence, the ethics of power, and the realization that we cannot 'fix' other people's pain. It is a sophisticated, evocative read for ages 10 to 14 that balances the wonder of magic with the hard realities of growing up and setting healthy boundaries with those we love.
