<div><b>NOW IN PAPERBACK!<br><br>“A classic origin-quest tale . . . brimming with a well-drawn, colorful supporting cast, a strong sense of place, and an enchanted forest with a personality to rival some of the best depictions of magical woods.” —<i>School Library Journal,</i> starred review</b><br><br>When Ned and his identical twin tumble from their raft into a raging river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Across the forest that borders Ned’s village, Áine, the daughter of the Bandit King, is haunted by her mother’s last words: “The wrong boy will save your life and you will save his.” When the Bandit King comes to steal the magic Ned’s mother, a witch, is meant to protect, Áine and Ned meet. Can they trust each other enough to cross a dangerous enchanted forest and stop the war about to boil over between their two kingdoms?<br><br><b>“Barnhill skillfully interweaves the stories of Ned, Áine, Sister Witch and the stones . . . The classic fantasy elements are all there, richly reimagined, with a vivid setting, a page-turning adventure of a plot, and compelling, timeless themes.” —<i>Kirkus Reviews,</i> starred review<br><br>“Offer [<i>The Witch’s Boy</i>] to Gaiman and Wynne-Jones fans, and to realistic fiction buffs who are open to brilliant coming-of-age stories sharing space with touches of magic.” —<i>The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books,</i> starred review<br><br>“Through the eyes of the brave and increasingly shrewd Ned and Áine, young readers consider the complications of magic, the corrupting desire for power, and the conflicting natures of good and evil in this atmospheric and elegantly told literary fairy tale.” —<i>The Horn Book Magazine</i><br><br>“[<i>The Witch’s Boy</i>] should open young readers’ eyes to something that is all around them in the very world we live in: the magic of words.” —<i>The New York Times Book Review</i><br><br>“This spellbinding fantasy begs for a cozy chair, a stash of Halloween candy and several hours of uninterrupted reading time.” —<i>The Washington Post</i><br><br>“Gorgeously written and fast-paced . . . Barnhill is a fantasist on the order of Neil Gaiman, and this story feels fully inhabited.” —<i>Minneapolis Star Tribune</i><br><br>“Kelly Barnhill casts her own spell with this beautifully written tale that carries a message about kindness and taking control of your own destiny.” —<i>Shelf Awareness for Readers</i></b><br><br>A Top Ten Fall ’14 Kids’ Indie Next Pick<br>A <i>Kirkus Reviews</i> Best Children’s Book of 2014<br>A <i>Washington Post </i>Best Book of 2014<br>A Chicago Public Library “Best of the Best” 2014 <br>A <i>Publishers Weekly</i> Best Book of 2014<br>A 2015 ALSC Notable Children’s Book<br>A Minnesota Book Award Finalist (Young People’s Literature)<br>A Junior Library Guild Selection<br><br></div>