Changeling (review)
2006; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 60; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2006.0607
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Themes in Literature Analysis
ResumoReviewed by: Changeling April Spisak Sherman, Delia Changeling. Viking, 2006 [304 p] ISBN 0-670-05967-6$16.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 4-6 Neef is a changeling, a human baby stolen by fairies. She lives in "New York Between," an invisible parallel city, and she was raised under the protection of her godmother (a white rat) and the Green Lady of Central Park, the spirit that guards all of the myriad elves, fairies, trolls, and other magical Folk that live in the area. After breaking a Fairy Law, Neef is expelled, and she must complete a heroic quest with three tasks in order to regain entry to her community. Before she even begins the absurd and humorous tasks, however, she's startled to encounter her own double. Dubbing the identical girl "Changeling" (saying their shared real name can be dangerous around the Folk), Neef adds a new item to her quest list: returning [End Page 34] Changeling to her real New York home and family. In a thoughtful twist, Sherman describes Changeling's behavior in the terms of Asperger's Syndrome, providing an otherworldly explanation, the forcing of fairy instincts into human expectations, for the disorder. Both girls are well-developed and distinctive characters, and the gradual strengthening of their powerful connection will make readers wish that they could remain together. Sherman, who has developed the world of New York Between and its impressive international magical cast in previous short stories, gleefully drops literary characters such as Eloise, Shakespearean fairies, and Grahame's Water Rat into this urban fantasy, adding to its hectic charm. Silly, profound, and lightning paced all at once, this novel will please adventure fans and fantasy readers alike. Copyright © 2006 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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