Tale of the Flying Forest

Romero (Death's Country) mixes fairy tale, Jewish lore, and homage to German poet Rainer Maria Rilke in this family-driven fantasy about 11-year-old Anne Applebaum, who's lonely following her mother's death. Losing herself in The World to Come, a fictional fairy tale collection that her mother shared with her, Anne--who has always felt that something was missing from her life--is receptive when a talking raven reveals that Rainer, her dream twin brother her mother used to tell her about, exists, albeit "in three different pieces," in the dangerous region of the east. She soon sets out to find Rainer's parts, make him whole, and bring him home. Quotations from Rilke and Jewish prayers and blessings are sprinkled throughout, and sections from The World to Come accompany Anne's encounters with characters from her book, including the Birch Witch, a magical baker turned villain, whom Anne must battle to rescue Rainer and save her own village. An omniscient third-person narrator directly addresses the reader, creating an ambiance of intimate storytelling as faithful and persevering Anne undergoes the traditional travails of a hero's quest, spun with both a feminist and Judaic twist. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 3-5--After her mother dies, 11-year-old Anne Applebaum spends her childhood daydreaming in her favorite book The World to Come, a collection of fairy tales about a fictional flying forest called Bei Ilai. But what if it wasn't pretend? What if the seven witches and the Prophetesses, and even her twin that her mother used to dream of were all real? Following her encounter with a talking raven, Anne sets off to discover the real Bei Ilai and when she comes face-to-face with her brother Rainer, she knows she has to save him despite the evil they will have to fight to keep all the worlds safe. This story is based on traditional Jewish stories and seamlessly integrates quotes from the Torah and prayers throughout the text. It also references many traditional German fairy tales and includes lines from well-known classics, making it fun for readers to guess the reference. The main arc of Anne rescuing Rainer and saving the Flying Forest is interspersed with created tales from old Bei Ilai. That, in conjunction with the narrator breaking the fourth wall, makes the novel read like a fairy tale itself. The dialogue occasionally feels stilted and, without enough worldbuilding and character development, it's not an immersive reading experience. Most characters are cued as white, which is reflected in the detailed illustrations throughout the text. VERDICT Tales within tales create a modern Jewish-based fairy tale, to be purchased where reimaginings and fractured fairy tales are popular.--Clare A. Dombrowski

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Romero (Death's Country) mixes fairy tale, Jewish lore, and homage to German poet Rainer Maria Rilke in this family-driven fantasy....spun with both a feminist and Judaic twist."—Publishers Weekly

"With stunning prose and deeply relatable characters, Tale of the Flying Forest is a love letter to Jewish storytelling wrapped in a fairy-tale bow. As lyrical as a song and decadent as storybook chocolate, this story will sweep you away among its fox-shaped clouds."—Kalyn Josephson, New York Times bestselling author of the Ravenfall series

"A delightful middle grade fantasy that's really quite timeless. It's absolutely charming, with lovely illustrations."
—Charles de Lint, award-winning author of The Cats of Tanglewood Forest

"Rich, lyrical storytelling in a breathtakingly imaginative world. A joy to read!"—Sophie Anderson, award-winning author of The House with Chicken Legs

"A tale for anyone who's ever felt something was missing from their life, and what it is actually like to find it. No story has ever invited me into its pages like this. Romero's Tale of The Flying Forest will live in my imagination forever."
—Chris Baron, author of All of Me and The Magical Imperfect

"R. M. Romero's lush, lyrical fairy tale takes us through an unforgettable mythical forest where marvels abound and menaces await, and bravery, kindness, and love can conquer all. I was enchanted by this story."—Anne Ursu, author of Not Quite a Ghost

"Seamlessly integrates quotes from the Torah and prayers throughout the text....[and] makes the novel read like a fairy tale itself."—School Library Journal

"An exciting, tender, and appealing adventure."—Kirkus Reviews