Eden's Everdark

Hailed by Newbery winner Kelly Barnhill as "stunning, moving, and marvelously strange," this tale of a young girl who stumbles into a magical realm ruled by a wicked witch is a haunting and ultimately uplifting middle grade novel about grief, family, and decades-old magic.

Still grieving the loss of her mother, Eden visits Safina Island, her ancestral home, as a healing balm. But when she discovers an old sketchbook that belonged to her mother, she's haunted by the images she sees drawn there. A creepy mansion covered with roots and leaves. A monstrous dog with dagger-sharp teeth. And a tall woman with wind-blown hair and long, sharp nails who is as beautiful as she is terrifying.

Days later, exploring the island alone, Eden follows a black cat through a rift in the bright day. She stumbles into Everdark, a parallel world where the sun never rises, where spirits linger between death and the afterlife, and where everything from her mother's drawings is all too real--especially the Witch of Everdark, who wants to make Eden her eternal daughter.

Can Eden find a way to defeat the witch's magic? Or will she remain trapped in Everdark forever?

Author: Karen Strong
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 09/06/2022
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.8lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.60w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9781665904476
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.5
Point Value: 10
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 515694 / Eden's Everdark


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2022
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2022 - Book Of Special Distinction
School Library Journal 08/26/2022 pg. 1
Publishers Weekly 10/03/2022

About the Author
Born and raised in the rural South, Karen Strong spent most of her childhood wandering the woods, meadows, and gardens on her grandmother's land. She developed a deep adoration of books from her weekly visits to the public library. A graduate of the University of Georgia, she is an advocate of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). An avid lover of strong coffee, yellow flowers, and night skies, Karen currently lives in Atlanta. You can find her online at Karen-Strong.com.