Illustrated by Emily Gravett

3 stars

Dealing with her own chronic illness and feelings of inadequacy, Lily is not looking forward to the addition of a new baby in the house. But when she returns home to find a mom who is not quite her mother and a dad who is not quite her father, Lily encounters truths she didn’t know she was strong enough to face. Follow Lily as she joins forces with a band of talking animals to defeat the replacements and save her family… both the old and the new.

An eerie tale that combines Coraline-esque villains, wise animal companions with secrets of their own, and an ancient magic that dwells deep. This story has a lot of fascinating elements. Loved the way magic was incorporated and the power of ancient things.

Gravett’s artwork is a perfect companion to the text. The magical details and full-page artwork really brought the characters to life, especially the animal heroes.

An interesting tale of facing your fears, finding your strength, and doing what it takes to protect the ones you love.

Goodreads