Whichwood (Furthermore #2)

Gr 5-7--Mafi expands the vibrant world she created in Furthermore with this striking companion novel. Laylee Layla Fenjoon has inherited the magical talents and responsibilities of mordeshoor at the all-too-young age of 13, when her mother's death drives her father to madness. Rather than play with other children and go to school, she washes the bodies of the dead to ease their transition into the afterlife for the ungrateful Wichwoodians. As the stress takes its toll, Alice and Oliver (characters from Furthermore) arrive to help--if only they can make it past Laylee's prickly shell. Another boy with his own bit of magic, Benyamin, joins the group and the romantic pairings are inevitable but also appreciatively complex. Drawing heavily from Persian culture and featuring a heroine of color, this fantasy novel feels both fresh and classic. The cadence may be initially difficult to get into for some readers, but the story pushes forward and those who stick with it will be rewarded with a complex and layered tale. A couple of aspects of the book seem a bit disjointed: the pacing is interrupted and flags a bit in the middle. Time also seems to rearrange itself on occasion in order to serve the plot, rather than flowing organically from the decisions of the characters. Nevertheless, fantasy fans looking for something new will find much to enjoy here. VERDICT A pleasing selection for precocious middle grade and middle school readers.--Erin Reilly-Sanders, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

★ "In deliciously descriptive prose, the confiding, familiar narrator directly engages the "dear reader" with witty asides, explanatory footnotes, and cautionary warnings as Laylee's woeful tale unfolds." —Kirkus, starred review

★ "It's Laylee's personal transformation that shines brightest, giving Mafi's singular fantasy an equally unforgettable heroine." —Booklist, starred review

"Both fresh and classic." —School Library Journal

"This is a gorgeously told tale, thick with magic both beautiful and deadly, set in a world where colors can save a life, whales serve as transportation, and hordes of insects and walking corpses are the good guys, bringing as much hope as they do terror." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Praise for New York Times bestseller Furthermore

★ A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2016
★ A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2016
★ A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2016
★ Featured on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," NPR, TIME, and Entertainment Weekly

"Brimming with color and magic... [Mafi's] prose is as fresh and fragrant as the flowers her characters eat, the descriptions so vibrant that at times one can practically smell the words on the page." —New York Times Book Review
★ "A fast-paced, funny, and richly imaginative story that embraces and celebrates individuality." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "Rich, luscious, clever prose." —Kirkus, starred review