Author: Hayley Chewins
Age: Middle Grade
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery
Expected Publication Date: October 13, 2020
Publisher: Candlewick
Source: Hardcover
Purchase: Hardcover | Kindle | B&N | Book Depository
Synopsis:
A riveting middle-grade fantasy about sibling bonds, enchanted houses, and encroaching wildness, lyrically told in eerily beautiful proseThe grass grew taller than the house itself, surrounding it on all sides. It stuffed the keyholes and scraped against the roof. It shook the walls and made paintings shiver.Seven years ago, the Ballastian sisters' parents left them in the magical Straygarden Place, a house surrounded by tall silver grass and floating trees. They left behind a warning saying never to leave the house or go into the grass. "Wait for us," the note read. "Sleep darkly." Ever since then, the house itself has taken care of Winnow, Mayhap, and Pavonine--feeding them, clothing them, even keeping them company--while the girls have waited and grown up and played a guessing game: Think of an animal, think of a place. Think of a person, think of a face. Until one day, when the eldest, fourteen-year-old Winnow, does the unthinkable and goes outside into the grass, and everything twelve-year-old Mayhap thought she knew about her home, her family, and even herself starts to unravel. With luscious, vivid prose, poet and author Hayley Chewins transports readers to a house where beloved little dogs crawl into their owners' minds to sleep, sick girls turn silver, and anything can be stolen--even laughter and silence.
My Rating:
My Thoughts:
This is such a lush, poetic and atmospheric read. I truly enjoyed the writing and how soft, yet dark it was. I felt pulled into the story from the first word to the last. This is definitely a perfect read for fall. I love that even though it's geared towards younger readers, me being an adult, I was able to fully enjoy this book.
The sisterhood and friendship themes touched on and discussed in this book were so well written. The magic system was so fun to read about. The characters each were all so intriguing. The house was such an eerie place that kept me wanting to know more.
I'm interested in reading more from Hayley Chewins and will re-read this book again.
About the Author:
Hayley Chewins is an author and writing coach. She grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, in a house so full of books that she learnt to read by accident. She’s fond of telling people that she writes books about magical girls with secrets—even if that’s not an actual genre. Her books are literary fantasy, surreal fairy tales, or weird magic. (Or: all of the above.)
About the Author:
Her debut, The Turnaway Girls, was a Kirkus Best Book of 2018 and made the American Library Association’s Amelia Bloomer List of Best Feminist Books for Young Readers. Her second book, The Sisters of Straygarden Place, is forthcoming from Candlewick Press on October 13th, 2020, and has already been called “superb, spooky, and unforgettable” in a recent starred review.
Hayley lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her soulmate/husband/fellow coffee addict, Liale, and their toy poodle, Darfer.
She is represented by Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, otherwise known as The Most Amazing Agent Ever.
Giveaway
- Giveaway is open to International
- Must be 13+ to Enter
- 5 Winners will receive a Copy of The Sisters of Straygarden Place by Hayley Chewins.
- Ends October 5, 2020
Tour Schedule
Week One
SEPTEMBER 14th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW
SEPTEMBER 15th TUESDAY BookHounds YA REVIEW & INTERVIEW
SEPTEMBER 16th WEDNESDAY TMBA Corbett Tries to Write EXCERPT
SEPTEMBER 16th WEDNESDAY Bookriot Esdah REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 17th THURSDAY Emelie's Books REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 17th THURSDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 18th FRIDAY The Bookwyrm's Den REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 18th FRIDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon REVIEW
Week Two
SEPTEMBER 21st MONDAY J Long Books REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 21st MONDAY Rajiv's Reviews REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 22nd TUESDAY J.R.'s Book Reviews REVIEW & GUEST POST
SEPTEMBER 23rd WEDNESDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 23rd WEDNESDAY Author Kelly Riser REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 24th THURSDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 25th FRIDAY My Fictional Oasis REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 25th FRIDAY Books A-Brewin' EXCERPT
Thank you to JeanBookNerd for having me on this tour and to Candlewick for sending me a copy of the book.