SISTERS OF THE MIST

The eldest of three sisters undergoes a change in an enchanted forest.

Margot, Kyra, and Janna are on their way to spend two weeks with their Gran at the edge of the Frygea Forest. It’s Margot’s last summer before high school, and she’s beginning to change in ways that confuse and frighten middle sister Kyra. Mom leaves with the classic warning not to wander too deep into the forest, so naturally the girls do just that, facing trolls, Hellhounds, and, most powerful of all, the Fog Furies, which seem intent on stealing Margot away—and Margot seems to want to go, baffling Kyra, who is determined to save her. When Margot gets her period (which steady Gran handles in a positive, straightforward manner), the puberty metaphor becomes clear: Margot is transforming in real-world ways as well as magical ones. The three fair-skinned sisters have distinct personalities: Tall, long-haired Margot wants to read her vampire romance novel; stout Kyra is stubborn and brave; and Janna, with her dark hair in puffy pigtails, is oblivious to the drama as she befriends tiny Root Goblins. Though the puberty/magic metaphor isn’t always that compelling, the depiction of the sisters’ relationship will hold readers’ attention, as will the illustrations. Beautiful, watercolorlike art employs warm colors for indoor and garden scenes and spooky blues and greens for the deep forest; the Fog Furies are translucent swirls of pale gray, with human faces and elongated bodies.

A magical, moving celebration of sisterly bonds.