The Moorchild

Incorporating some classic fantasy motifs and icons, McGraw (A Really Weird Summer) conjures up an appreciably familiar world that, as evidence of her storytelling power, still strikes an original chord. Elves, an invented vocabulary with Anglo-Nordic roots, medieval folk elements, herbalism, gypsies-all contribute to the atmosphere of mysticism and magic that suffuses the story of the changeling Saaski. The misbegotten offspring of a moorfolk (small, elf-like beings) and a human, Saaski is secretly switched with a human baby when the moorfolk discover she lacks certain powers. But she is not an ordinary mortal, either; her eyes, for example, change color with her mood, and, as she gets older, the local villagers view her as an outsider. Rather than a typical fantasy adventure, this is a saga of self-discovery as Saaski learns to cope with the pain, often physical, of not fitting in and as she learns her true heritage. Transcending genre, these themes will likely resonate with a wide audience. Ages 9-12. (Apr.)