Falling to Fairyland

Reach for this book when your child feels they must constantly perform or 'prove their worth' to earn affection, or when they are struggling with a sense of not belonging in their own home. Cricket is a human boy raised by a cold Fairy Witch, and as his thirteenth birthday approaches, he fears his lack of magical 'usefulness' will lead to his abandonment. This Grimm-inspired quest follows Cricket and a cursed knight through a whimsical yet eerie landscape, exploring the difference between those who merely raise us and those who truly care for us. It is a sophisticated fairy tale that tackles the heavy emotional weight of conditional love and the liberating journey toward self-worth and chosen family. While the setting is magical and sometimes dark, the message is one of profound self-love and independence, making it ideal for older middle-grade readers navigating their own 'Change Day' into adolescence.