In The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, September made an impulsive and heartfelt decision to remove her own shadow, and it seemed to be a fine reflection on her character and little more. In this sequel, however, Valente forces September to grapple with the consequences of this choice after she finds her way back into Fairyland.
September is one of the best heroines to enter the worlds of fantasy in the last few years, and it is a pleasure to see her return. Though only a year has passed in the real world, life has altered in Fairyland. September's shadow, called Halloween, who also serves as the Hollow Queen, has convinced Fairyland-Below to take back their shadows and thus stop sending their magic Above. September heads Below to try to convince the Hollow Queen to make things the way they used to be, but soon finds it's not as simple as she'd thought to make a change--or even to know if the change is right to make.
Between both books, Valente has created a new world on par with the other fine realms of modern fantasy, and given us an admirable and relatable guide to that world in September. Valente's settings and characters will delight readers, with strong writing that will appeal to adults as much as children, making this an ideal choice for both reading aloud and also under the covers. --Stephanie Anderson, readers' advisor at Darien Library and blogger