About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the complexities of a blended family, the weight of grief, or feels stifled by strict social expectations. It is a powerful choice for readers who need to see a protagonist maintain their inner truth while navigating an environment that feels restrictive or even hostile. The story follows Coriander, a girl living through the English Civil War, whose life is upended by the death of her mother and the arrival of a cruel, ultra-religious stepmother. As she discovers her mother's magical origins and travels to a fairy realm, the book explores themes of resilience and the struggle between cold dogmatism and vibrant imagination. It is best suited for mature middle-grade readers who enjoy historical fiction but also crave the escapism of high fantasy. Parents will appreciate how the story uses magic as a metaphor for personal agency and the preservation of memory during times of profound loss.
