Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero - OPTIONAL

Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero, 350 pages. Little Brown, 2024. $17

Content: G (mild tension)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

11yo Anne feels, rightfully, neglected by her father as he wallows in his grief over her mother’s death and ignores Anne by submerging himself in his work. Anne’s mother raised her on a book of fairy tales about a flying forest. Anne has always felt there was a hole in her life - and one day a magical raven tells Anne that the stories are true and that she has a twin brother who was snatched away at birth and is being raised within the forest.  Anne is needed, as the person holding her brother is about to make a play to break into Anne’s reality and control the whole world.

At first I was lost within Anne’s story, but it  is about 100 pages too long - a tighter tale with fewer scenes would have kept my attention.  By the end I just wanted it to be over. Almost a great modern new fairy tale. Some will enjoy it.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS