GUEST by Mary Downing Hahn

 

Guest by Mary Downing Hahn

Folklore, Fantasy, Horror (not too scary)

218 pages

Description

School Library Journal (September 1, 2019)

Gr 4-7-It's Mollie's fault when the Kinde Folke (a group of spiteful fairies who are neither delicate nor kind) kidnap her brother and leave Guest in his place-a sickly fairy halfling who does nothing but bite, pinch, eat...and tear her family apart. Eventually, a desperate Mollie treks to the Darklands with Guest in tow, determined to make the fairies give her brother back now that Guest is healthy again. Everyone they meet along the way has their own secret agenda, but worst of all is the Queen of the Kinde Folke. And Mollie's brother, once discovered, has no wish to leave his new family to return to a life of poverty with his old one. Can Mollie's bravery make up for her habit of speaking before she thinks? This tale by Hahn, notable for her "just right" scary stories for the upper elementary school crowd, is somewhat different than her usual offerings, veering more toward fantasy than horror. The creepy atmosphere and Mollie's determination offset her rather slow-moving journey to the Darklands, and the absence of neat endings lends a touch of reality. VERDICT A solid purchase for upper elementary school students who like a dark tale grounded in myth.-Elizabeth Friend, Wester Middle School, TX © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments

This is a great choice for grades 6-8, especially for those students looking for a short, engaging story. It offers a lot to think about and would be a great book for discussion, especially in terms of Mollie's growth. Hahn portrays Mollie growing into a kinder, less selfish girl as she grows more protective of the changeling who is shunned by all. I loved reading about Irish folklore. Highly recommend!