THE WORLDS WE LEAVE BEHIND, by A.F. Harrold and Levi Pinfold, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Feb. 21, 2023, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 8-12)
The Worlds We Leave Behind, by A.F. Harrold and illustrated by Levi Pinfold, explores how we face down monsters.
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 deal: 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? —Synopsis provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
The Worlds We Leave Behind is one of those books that makes you think — in a good way. It’s masterfully crafted by A.F. Harrold and illustrated by Levi Pinfold.
In The Worlds We Leave Behind, Harrold has created a creepy tale where things feel off from the start, but you’re not sure why. As the story progresses, though, you realize just how horrific it is.
But this isn’t a blood-and-guts-type horror story. Instead, it’s a nuanced story of friendship, social nuances, betrayal and eventually vindication. There’s magic, mystery and things that lurk in the dark.
As much as Harrold sets the tone with his words, Pinfold’s stunning black-and-white illustrations take it over the top. Scattered throughout, these images bring the characters and settings to life. They add to the overall sense of unease, making each turn of the page a nail-biter.
The Worlds We Leave Behind is a fantastic middle-grade novel that would make for a great classroom or individual read.
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