The Wayward Children Novella series is one of my favorite. It’s whimsical, wise, and nostalgic all at once. Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is no exception. This one might be my favorite of the series as well. Keep reading this book review of Mislaid in Parts Half-Known.
Summary
Antsy is the latest student to pass through the doors at Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children.
When her fellow students realize that Antsy’s talent for finding absolutely anything may extend to doors, she’s forced to flee in the company of a small group of friends, looking for a way back to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go to be sure that Vineta and Hudson are keeping their promise.
Along the way, temptations are dangled, decisions are reinforced, and a departure to a world populated by dinosaurs brings untold dangers and one or two other surprises!
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I absolutely adored Lost in the Moment and Found and this just feels like a continuing chapter. It takes place basically moments after the previous installment and really builds on the themes of cost and knowledge. Of the importance of informed choices. Beginning with the idea that we want isn’t always what we need, Mislaid in Parts Half-Known only continues in wisdom. It explores the prices of choices. The weight of adults in our lives to make sure we know about the costs and consequences.
It goes back to the central theme of the book and the doors – “be sure”. This idea that part of being sure isn’t only about knowing we are where we want to be, with who we want, but also to know of the consequences of our choices. This felt like such an echo of themes and characters we’ve been seeing throughout the whole novella series. It almost feels like a book end, a culmination of themes of mislaid and misplaced.
Listening to the audio also felt wonderfully nostalgic. It brought back memories of being read to as a child. That’s one of the joys of the series. It feels like a childhood bedtime story with grit, with lessons and wise words encased in whimsy and magic. The relationships and glances we don’t understand as kids juxtaposed by the themes and truths of the world we implicitly do. Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is in my top of the series and if you’re a fan, then make sure you’ve got your copy pre-ordered.
(Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. For more information you can look at the Policy page. If you’re uncomfortable with that, know you can look up the book on any of the sites below to avoid the link)
Find Mislaid in Parts Half-Known on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, Libro.fm, and Google Play.