The Worlds We Leave Behind
By: A F Harrold
Reviewer Rating: 3
Best for: 12 and up
Timeline and more timelines
Guest book review by Julie
Q: What’s the book about?
The story is good but frustrating because of one question: “What if?”
I think the question that has been asked so many times is illustrated beautifully here. A young boy sees the consequences of a magical vengeance who somehow erased his friend. Things work out…a bit… In the end. All is not as it seems. Be prepared to have deep thoughts and deeper questions.
From Goodreads:
“From acclaimed author and illustrator pair A.F. Harrold and Levi Pinfold comes another powerful and poignant story about friendship, betrayal, and redemption.
Hex doesn’t know why he does the things he does-why he sometimes stands up in class to look out the window or ask an unrelated question or do a little dance. He also doesn’t know why he threw the rock that day in the woods. He didn’t mean for the girl to fall and break her arm. But he’s blamed anyway.
Enraged at how unfair life is, Hex runs into the woods and finds himself in a strange clearing-a clearing that can’t possibly exist-where a strange old woman offers him a she’ll rid the world of those who wronged him. All he has to do is accept and they’ll be forgotten, forever. But what Hex doesn’t know is that someone else has been offered the same deal.
When Hex’s best friend Tommo wakes up the next day, something feels wrong. Half-whispered memories tug at his brain, making him think that something-or someone-is missing from his life. Can Tommo put the world back the way it was? Or can he find a way to make a new world that could be better for them all?
This unforgettable story, complete with lush black-and-white illustrations throughout, explores how we can find the strength to face down in the darkness, in our friends, and in our selves.”
Q: What did you love/not love about the book?
I loved the illustrations! I guess it’s up for the Carnegie Medal for Illustrations.
Q: Where there any content Issues?
Death(or disappearance). Evil witch( magic creature of vengeance). Difficult themes around anger, revenge, forgiveness. A hint of abandonment and possible abuse. The themes here are really hard to explain but would be great discussion starters.
Happy Reading!
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