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Reviewed by:
  • Willow Moss and the Lost Day by Dominique Valente
  • Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor

Valente, Dominique Willow Moss and the Lost Day. Harper, 2020 [224p] (Starfell) Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-06-287940-0 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-06-287943-1 $8.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 4-6

While Willow's magical ability to find things (eyeglasses, shoes, etc.) is not nearly as impressive as her sisters' abilities to levitate or blow things up, it's Willow's help that Moreg Vaine—Starfell's most powerful witch—seeks out when she suspects that last Tuesday has gone missing. Indeed no one, including Willow, can remember the day, so Willow agrees to help Moreg; then the older witch is captured by the Brothers of Wol, a religious order bent on ridding the world of magic, and Willow is left alone to their task. Well, not entirely alone: she has the help of Oswin, a cranky but loveable kobold (here a furry green cat-like creature with the bad habit of exploding when irritated), and eventually a grieving dragon, a confused troll, and a fainting wizard. This is a satisfying middle-grade fantasy, from the classic quest setup, to the likable heroine and her ragtag group of quirky sidekicks, to the eventual unmasking of a dastardly villain. The world building is accessible in its simplicity, teasing out the essential details without overwhelming the text with exposition while nonetheless hinting at a larger history. Most effective here, though, is Valente's witty, glowing prose that infuses the tale with both intrigue and warmth, and the third-person narration keeps a storytelling tone that deftly balances pathos and action. Readers might guess, along with Willow, what heartbreak the revelation of last Tuesday will bring, and they'll admire her nobly going forward to the bittersweet but ultimately hopeful ending. [End Page 190]

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