Common Sense Media Review
By Julie A. Carlson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Girl fights mythical beings in thrilling school fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Tormented by her mother's suicide -- and sudden appearances by a strange, smoke-breathing man -- Avaline Hall works quietly as a seamstress at the ill-fated Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911 New York. Spirited away from the deadly fire there by a mysterious boy, she finds herself in a mental hospital, where a benefactor discovers her and sends her to BLYTHEWOOD, the academy that expelled her mother long ago. Once there, she struggles to win acceptance from her fellow students as she tries to figure out the mystery behind her mother's death and find her elusive rescuer. Also, she keeps seeing a winged boy and wonders if this means she's really insane.
Is It Any Good?
New York Times-bestselling author Carol Goodman's first venture into young adult fiction is an atmospheric novel that's sure to please fans of Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. Both heroic and down-to-earth, its characters are compelling, and there's a lot of heart mixed in with the magic, mythical beings and monsters. Blythewood is long, but its characters, suspense, and romance keep the pages turning and leave readers eager for Book 2.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why stories that mix magic with historical fiction are so popular. What other examples can you think of? Do they make you want to learn more about the period in which they're set?
What was life like at the time when Blythewood takes place? How was Ava's childhood different from that of her classmates? How and why were they different?
How does the author gradually reveal Blythewood's history and what's really going on there?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , History , Holidays , STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Viking Juvenile
- Publication date : October 8, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 496
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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