THE WORD DANCER

Schur’s latest children’s book pits a young orphaned girl against a group of power-hungry rebels attempting to overthrow a beloved king.

After Wynnfrith’s father—the trusted adviser to the king—became ill and passed away, she was unofficially adopted by King Goodliwink and Queen Olivia, who loved the little girl as much as their own child, Prince Oliver. But after the queen passed away, the children’s safety—and the safety of the entire populace of the kingdom—was at risk. The king’s new adviser, the tyrannical Lord Ugsome, starts a coup, and the young royals barely escape with their lives. Wynnfrith, 12, and Oliver, 5, struggle to survive in the wilderness and avoid Ugsome’s henchmen. They fatefully meet a “pretty and plump” healer named Mistress Plummety Peache who welcomes the children into her home and cares for them. As Ugsome’s army of miscreants comes closer to locating the two—and killing the young heir to the throne—Wynnfrith embarks on a journey of self-discovery, finding her own strengths and weaknesses: “She had learned she could be both afraid and brave at the same time. This knowledge would always comfort and guide her. Knowing this, she could face anything the future held.” Although fueled by a fast-paced, action-packed storyline, it’s the edifying themes (compassion, acceptance, etc.) and lessons learned by the two youngsters that make this such a memorable read. The power of the written word—in both songs and poetic incantations—is a valuable lesson for young readers. Peache says it aptly, “Words can do everything.”

A page-turning fantasy adventure for kids that enlightens, entertains, and, ideally, empowers.