Publishers Weekly
05/20/2019
In this charming middle grade fantasy, two nearly 13-year-old boys raised as twins—one a goblin changeling—set out in search of the truth behind their origins. Cole and Tinn are inseparable, neither knowing nor caring which one might be the changeling, but when a mysterious note calls for the changeling’s return, they waste no time in venturing into the danger-infested woods and the swamp known as the Oddmire. There, the two encounter hazards aplenty, plus a strange girl named Fable and a terrifying witch, Queen of the Deep Dark. Soon joining the gathering are the twins’ mother, Annie, and the goblin Kull, who was responsible for leaving behind a changeling when the boys were infants. Together, they must find a way to defeat the monster at the heart of the Oddmire and restore magic to the woods. Ritter (the Jackaby series) crafts a well-paced adventure filled with whimsy and peril, in which the bonds of family and love prove stronger than any spell or curse. With memorable characters—especially the irrepressible protagonists, who make a delightful team—and an atmospheric setting, this is a strong series opener. Ages 8–12. Agent: Lucy Carson, the Friedrich Agency. (July)
From the Publisher
William Ritter draws readers ages 8-12 into an enchanted forest prowled by all manner of sinister and peculiar beings . . . Suspenseful and sometimes droll, ‘Changeling’ is a promising start to a planned series.” —The Wall Street Journal “One of my favorite new middle grade books of any genre. The writing is superb, with all of the wit, whimsy, and wonder of Tolkien’s The Hobbit.” —The BN Kids Blog “Ritter crafts a well-paced adventure filled with whimsy and peril, in which the bonds of family and love prove stronger than any spell or curse. With memorable characters—especially the irrepressible protagonists, who make a delightful team—and an atmospheric setting, this is a strong series opener.” —Publishers Weekly “Set in a magical world filled with incredible creatures from folklore, this fast-paced fantasy will keep readers turning the pages as they follow the twins through the dark and mysterious woods. Unique characters with complex personalities will give readers insight into the feelings and actions of not only Tinn and Cole and their mother, but the creatures—both good and evil—they encounter on their journey. A captivating series opener.” —Booklist, starred review “William Ritter takes familiar pieces of lore and infuses rich new life and magic into them. The characters of Changeling, both human and magical, are complex and multi-faceted: wildly brave single mothers, rowdy sensitive boys, goblins yearning for forgiveness and redemption and a Thing whose power is limited by its own insecurities. Wonderfully written, with powerful messages of love and the importance of family, Changeling is a bold start to a promising series.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review “Fans of Michael Buckley’s ‘Sisters Grimm’ novels will delight in this fast-paced, page-turning fantasy . . . A must-buy for any collection and a title that will lead readers to other classic titles used as source material.” —School Library Journal “A delightful series opener.” —Kirkus Reviews “Ritter invests the novel’s questions about biological identity and birthright with equally powerful affirmations of bonds forged by familial love . . . The snappy, humorous dialogue and shifting perspectives keep the pace lively, and readers can look forward to learning more about Fable in the next installment.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “Having established major monster cred with the wry young-adult 'Jackaby' trilogy, about a 19th-century New England detective who specializes in paranormal crimes, Oregon author William Ritter has launched a similarly otherworldly, and similarly witty, middle-grade series.” —The Oregonian “This is the delightful beginning to a new series about goblins who seek to restore magic to the Wild Wood.” —Book Riot “Ritter’s brand of magic here is a gift for all readers of the fantastical—young and old alike.” —The Mountain Times “Ritter writes with humor and offers a vivid storybook setting in a time not so long ago . . . He does a masterful job crafting his tale, conjuring up the terrors lurking in the Wild Wood and the Oddmire swamp and the nature of the evil Thing that awaits.” —The Buffalo News “A great adventure that keeps you guessing!” —Imagination Soup
School Library Journal
07/01/2019
Gr 3–7—Two brothers, Tinn and Cole, raised as twins by their mother on the edge of the Wild Wood, grew up with rumors that one of them is actually a goblin changeling brought to the human world to be exchanged for a human child. The boys are inseparable and take great pleasure in fatiguing their mom with their wild antics. One day, however, Tinn and Cole receive a letter saying that the changeling must return to the goblin horde or everything in the Wild Wood will die. And so begins their quest to save the horde (and themselves), and stave off the "lots of death" promised in the letter sent to them. Along the way they meet all manner of magical creatures and travel through a part of American folklore resting on the edge of unbelievable. Fans of Michael Buckley's "Sisters Grimm" novels will delight in this fast-paced, page-turning fantasy. Those who love the magical universe will look forward to reading the young adult "Jackaby" series by the same author. VERDICT A must-buy for any collection and a title that will lead readers to other classic titles used as source material.—Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., St. Pius X High School, Houston, TX
Kirkus Reviews
2019-04-10
A human boy and a goblin changeling are raised as brothers.
Thirteen years ago, a goblin out of the Wild Wood brought a doppelgänger to exchange for a human infant—then had to dash away to escape detection, leaving both infant and changeling behind. Though everyone knows one of the babies must be a changeling, their mother insisted on raising Tinn and Cole as twins. Now, years later, they're inseparable, and both drive their mother to distraction, playing in the quarry and swapping the salt for the sugar. But one day the boys receive a mysterious letter explaining that if the changeling child doesn't join the goblin horde, all the magical creatures will die. Neither boy knows who the real changeling actually is, and though they're mischievous and irreverent, they each want what's best for one another. Thus begins Tinn and Cole's quest through the Wild Wood, past the Oddmire, and beyond the Deep Dark. They'll encounter not just goblins, but also a hinkypunk (a grieving will-o'-the-wisp with a candle in his beard), the Witch of the Wood, and a feral little shape-shifting girl their own age. Apparently set in the same fantastic, alternative bygone America as Ritter's Jacoby series for teens, this middle-grade adventure starts slow but ramps up into a tale of maternal and brotherly love that's never mawkishly sentimental.
A delightful series opener. (Fantasy. 9-12)
