A review by thepaperwitch
Guest: A Changeling Tale by Mary Downing Hahn

3.0

While this book is intended for middle graders, I still enjoyed it. Nonetheless, this review will be from an adult perspective. I like that it brings folklore to kids without sugarcoating it or stripping it of cultural depth. I could certainly see the duel messages behind it: to learn from your mistakes as well as to not assume things about others. This last part is very prominent in developing the way the main character sees others. She realizes that people you think are good can be bad and vice versa, that you shouldn't treat people badly because you see them as less than yourself, and ultimately, that you should look down on others.

While I did like the message the book offered, I was really here for the horror/dark side of the book. It introduces the folk talk of changlings and takes it in a new direction. My critique of the book would be that it was a little repetative in teaching the main character her lesson, but, again, it is not intended for my reading level.