Every Heart a Doorway

Peter Pan + School for Good and Evil + And Then There Were None + Seanan McGuire Have you ever wondered what happened after “The End?” If YOU were Alice, would you really want to leave Wonderland? This is a story of those that were sent back to their worlds, kicking and screaming. They want nothing more than to find their door (rabbit hole/window/cyclone/etc). Eleanor, headmistress of Wayward School wants nothing more than to take them into her care, away from parents who will never understand) and help them find their doors. But when new student Nancy arrives, tragedy strikes..and again..and again.. I ABSOLUTELY adored this book! I gave 5-stars to Over the Woodward Walls and EHaH blew it out the waters! I don’t know how Seanan does it! She is able to tell THE best stories in less than 200 pages! And her language and world-building is second to none! This book was gorgeous, creepy, mysterious, funny, scary, and inclusive!! This is my favorite read of the month and have already ordered #2 for January! One note: I have seen some reviews saying this is MG. I would just be careful about letting younger ones read, as there are f-bombs and talk about adult toys. I would say this is more a fairy tale for teens or adults. Buy this for yourself or someone who has always wondered what happens after “The End.” Or, if you’re twisted, get it for someone who believes fairy tales only apply to children.

Juvenile. The characters are underdeveloped, unlikable and displayed inconsistent qualities. For example, the headmistress. She's supposed to be this strong character who has 'seen it all' and whose main purpose in founding the school is to guide 'wayward children,' but this same headmistress flopped weakly at the hint of a hurdle and allowed a student to take over and control the situation. So, so much for being a figure of strength. The dialogue is boring, and I had to roll my eyes several times because it is mostly comprised of stating the obvious. The idea of Alices in Wonderland getting kicked out of their respective Wonderlands and how they move on, has potential. Sadly the narration and the characters do not deliver.

Sooooo goooood! Read it. If you love fairy tales, read it. If you ever wanted to find your own magic mirror to a make believe land, read it. If you've ever felt like no one understood you, read it. Read it, and tell someone else to read it, because then, just maybe, we can all find a way to understand each other.