"Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu takes us into a more authentic fairy tale world than Disney, where evil is disguised and brutal, and the stories don't always go the way you want them to. Ursu's lyrical writing and well-crafted plot beautifully portrays this mysterious and dangerous world, and you will want to read it again the minute you finish the story. It is a tale of friendship and love fighting for good even when the odds aren't in Hazel's favor.
Hazel lives in an isolated world. Her Dad moved out, leaving her alone with her Mom, and Hazel is not making any friends during her first year at Lovelace Elementary School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In fact, everyone at school thinks that she's crazy and needs special attention. Thankfully, she still has her best friend Jack, who lives next door. Or at least she does until the day he gets a splinter in his eye and stops talking to her. Confused and lost, Hazel tries to make a new friend, but it feels weird. And so one day, when Jack disappears into the woods with a mysterious woman, Hazel packs her bag and follows him to a magical world where not every story has the ending that you want.
I'm suspicious that this book will end up on my Favorite Books of All Time list, and I recommend it for anyone in the fourth grade on up who loves a good story, classic fairy tales, and excellent writing. As an added challenge, see how many allusions to classic children's books you can find as you read!
Note to parents: Depression, the conflict and confusion of divorce, and loneliness are very well captured in this book, so be aware if you have a sensitive reader at home.
Check out this beautiful book trailer for the magical and wintery tale "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu!
--Andrea W., H.Q.
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