CHILDREN OF MANDRAKE

In Stein’s YA novel, the only children in Mandrake, an isolated town surrounded by a circular river, go on a mysterious journey.

The lore of the town runs deep, and tween Donna, as the narrative’s resident expert, guides readers through its complicated history. It turns out that various legendary creatures, including a monster called Hojo (for whom the Hojo River is named); the Swamp King; and the Great Sphinx Moth are very real, and closer to the town than Donna or young Truman could ever have guessed from the stories they’ve been told. They encounter all these creatures and more after they set off from Mandrake on a quest bestowed upon them by Donna’s witchy mother, Aunt Ginny—ostensibly to find a cinnamon tree to make the perfect pecan pie for Donna’s upcoming 13th birthday. It’s the first time that either Donna or Truman have ever left Mandrake, and they do so on a pontoon, guided by Aunt Ginny’s tiny alligator named Regina. They must withstand many perils along the way, including “live oaks” (living, moving trees that try to grab them); swamp bears; and “the Bagman,” who tries to kidnap them. Donna and Truman eventually realize that their quest is about more than cinnamon and that their fate is tied to that of Mandrake itself. Stein’s worldbuilding is complex, which is sure to appeal to some fantasy fans. At first, the setting seems to be a nonspecific fantasy world dominated by swamps; however, an alligator named Ruth Gator Binsburg and a few other contemporary references situate it as real-world adjacent—at least to some degree. Indeed, the swampy environment is reminiscent of real-life areas of Louisiana and the Florida Everglades, and readers may find the disconnect between the magical realism and the modern elements to be a bit disorienting at times. Gorgeous full-page, full-color illustrations by Shui, stylized as postcards, appear at the end of most chapters and add a rich layer of vibrancy and authenticity to the wild environment described in the text.

An engaging, original tale for those looking for elaborate worldbuilding in their fantasy fiction.