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Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children ... Jacqueline was her mother's perfect daughter--polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it's because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline. Jillian was her father's perfect daughter--adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got. They were five when they learned that grown-ups can't be trusted. They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices.… (more)
User reviews
This can be enjoyed on its own terms, without having read the other book, but Every Heart a Doorway will read quite differently to someone who starts with this one.
Effective and affecting. Recommended.
Labelled as a stand alone novel set in the world McGuire established in [Every Heart a Doorway], this is in many ways a prequel to that first novel. McGuire explores how Jacqueline and Jillian become Jack and Jill and once again takes a very dark twist on fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and those large cultural narratives that have permeated the general consciousness. The novel does include some rather dark and gruesome details although nothing beyond what one might find in a Grimm tale or something from Edgar Allan Poe. Recommended for those who like a dark twist on childhood tales.
It's a good story, going deep
*Favorite People(and authors) On Earth
From the publisher:
Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.
This is the story of what happened first…
Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter—polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline.
Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter—adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got.
They were five when they learned that grown-ups can’t be trusted.
They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices.
So, onto the review. I didn't know Every Heart a Doorway had a sequel, so when I saw this in the library,
The characters were well developed, and felt like real kids - kids pigeon-holed into stereotypes of girlie girl, and tomboy, to the point that they aren't allowed to be anything else. So, in a fit of bored silliness brings them to their grandma's old room, they find a stairway, one that leads them to a world where a choice has to be made - and they have to make it mostly uninformed. Jack, being raised as a girlie girl who spends a lot of time listening and sitting still, understand the situation better her sister, Jill, and makes a choice for both of them, leaving Jill behind. Both girls are in a world that on the outside, seems unsuited for them, but being part of the other side of the stereotype, they both thrive, or so it seems.
This is a coming of age story, of expectation vs individuality. And it gets teenage girls - its not often a book manages to make two very believable teenagers, but manages to keep sterotypes.
The world itself is also interesting. It doesn't cover anything new and it will be familiar to most people. Where the book shines is the characters in that world - they are fully realized, even secondary characters like Alexis, Jack's Girlfriend. And outside of disappointed parents over grandchildren, this lesbian romance was done as part of the story. Not to make a statement, it was done naturally, and in the way of two teenagers in love.
I highly recommend this story - but please, read the first book first!
Jacqueline and Jillian are twins born to parents who never really understood or wanted children, parents who believe children are objects to be shaped to their desires. But the world is full of doors to other worlds and Jacqueline and Jillian find their way to a place of darkness and death, where they suddenly have the ability to choose.
Seanan McGuire seems to be getting better and better with every book she writes. The writing in this book is beautiful, often taking on the "fairy tale" tone of an outside narrator as a separate character relating the story.
Down Among the Sticks and Bones is a standalone story in the Wayward Children series, and as such, you can read the books in the series in any order. Although if you really want to know what happens to Jack and Jill, then I recommend reading Every Heart a Doorway, which chronologically comes after this one (even though its the first in the series).
In general, I'm hoping there are many, many more books in this series, because I'm loving it.
Everything about the story grabbed me from the first page. From the matter-of-fact manner in which she presents Jacqueline and Jillian’s parents to the crisp dialogue and clear descriptions, the novel creeps into your imagination and takes over. The atmosphere is outstanding. Bordering on horror, it is deliciously sinister but with an undercurrent of hope that prevents it from diving into the macabre.
One of the best parts of the novella is the fact that it reads like a fable, complete with life lessons about relationships and warnings about paths not taken. It documents in real time how each decision has a lasting impact on the future. It informs about the two possible outcomes and lets you watch it all unfold. It is a cautionary tale without being preachy. More important than that, it shows you what could have been to help you understand what is.
There is no doubt that it is establishing certain characters’ traits for the next book. Again, I read this out of sequence, so I finished the story anxious to find out what comes next and just what lessons the girls learned in their time Down Among the Sticks and Bones. Making this anxiety even worse is the fact that it ends on a cliffhanger. The character development is outstanding, especially because it is a shorter story, so you care quite a bit about Jack and Jill and their prospective fates. That there is still so much of their story left to tell is enticing; I cannot wait to immerse myself into their world again. There is a Neil Gaiman vibe to the novella that has me wanting more, much more.
I loved Dr. Bleak.
This is a retelling of Jill and Jack and I enjoyed it a lot. The mysterious Doors feature in the story as well. Aside from the vampiric fairy tale themes in here, there is a also a theme of finding one’s identity and some LGBT themes as well.
My only complaint about this book is a small one, the ending felt really rushed and the story stopped abruptly without much resolution. Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Overall this was an excellent addition to the Wayward Children series. I was sceptical that a whole book could be done as a Jack and Jill retelling; but this was beautifully done. I would recommend to those who enjoy dark fairy tale retellings. This was beautiful written and incredibly engaging. I definitely plan on continuing the Wayward Children series.
These twins were first seen in Every Heart a Doorway and Down Among the Sticks and Bones tells the story of their lives before any doors and the world that Jill tried so hard to return to. The other world Jack and Jill travel to is called the Moors, which offers them a chance at a new life with a whole new set of problems. Jack (who was always Jacqueline) was jealous of her sister's freedom to be less feminine, get dirty, and run around. Jill was jealous of her sister's beautiful dresses, long hair, and refined nature. This jealousy keeps them from forming a true friendship and keeps them at odds. This new world gives them the chance to be who they truly want to be, but their relationship is no better. Jill chooses to stay with the Master, the cruel vampire ruler of the land, as his doll-like, pampered daughter. Jack chooses to become a mad scientist's apprentice, submitting herself to backbreaking work and science that would turn others' stomachs. Both girls' desire to go after their own interests whether it be stereotypically feminine or not is seen as completely valid. Especially in YA novels, there is a dismissive or outright hostile view towards feminine women and girls with an "I'm better than those other girls attitude." I'm so happy to see an author I especially respect giving validity to differing gender roles.
The latter part of the story focuses mostly on Jack, her coming of age, and her first love. She lives near a village of peasant people and loves every bit of her humble way of life. However, throughout everything, there's an undercurrent of threat. If someone offends her, they might suffer a painful, bloody fate at the hands of Jill or the Master. After one such incident, the people take care what they say around her and keep her at arms length. Everyone except for Alexis, who loves her deeply. They hide the extent of their relationship in public, but Alexis is the only person Jack can truly be herself with. Jill, on the other hand, aspires to become a vampire and be next in line to rule the Moors. Her heart withers until she becomes just as ruthless as the Master she is so obsessed with and views death as an amusement. Their journeys run parallel each other until they meet in a heartbreaking tragedy.
Down Among the Sticks and Bones isn't quite as good as Every Heart a Doorway, but it provides a context for the twins and their dynamic. It's a pretty short novella. Seanan McGuire imbues each page with such masterful writing and detail that it seems much longer. I am eager to read further stories in this series that allow us to get to know those memorable characters better.
It's a morality tale, basically, but also a fantasy story about identical twins and vampires and mad scientists. The first half explains the strictures forced on the girls, the second half shows what happens when they're given the option to change.
I found it a little slow reading at first because the narrative is told in a children's bedtime story tone, and while I often enjoy that style and I fully agreed with the lessons in the morality play, it was a little wearing. I may have just not been in the right mood for it. But in the second half, when Jack and Jill actually begin to choose and live for themselves, the pacing and interest picked up quite a bit, and I was disappointed to see the story end.
I really liked the queer rep and the weird Moors setting. This was the first book by Seanan McGuire that I have read, and I think I will try more of her stories.
This tale is not such an adventure...
This was one quick read that happened to be richly written, starring robust characters within world(s) that were expertly crafted!! It fits snuggly into Every Heart a Doorway... so neatly and effortlessly that I quite frankly was in a constant state of awe. This story is phenomenally molded and magically delicious."
I liked seeing their home lives and the events leading up to their entrance into The Moors. I found the discussion of gender stereotyping well done, if not a little overdone. I felt like maybe if we had gotten into Jack and Jill's heads more it wouldn't have seemed this way. We may have gotten to see more of how they thought and how their parents' actions effected them.
Overall, I really enjoyed the world we got to see and getting to know the backstory of Jack and Jill, and really getting some clarification and an idea of what was going through Jill's head in Every Heart a Doorway
Cons:
Chester and Serena Wolcott decided to have children after seeing the impeccably behaved offspring of his work peers and her social clubs. They were not prepared for the real thing. Which is why
Jacqueline and Jillian, their twin girls, are so
While this is the second Wayward Children novella, its events are a prequel to those of Every Heart a Doorway. I REALLy liked this story. The narrative style was unique, with the narrator occasionally addressing the reader during interludes of storytelling. I greatly enjoyed this and it gave a bit of distance from the text, which was helpful as the story went in dark directions. It doesn’t quite line up with the narrative of their history from Every Heart a Doorway, but most of the details carry through.
The world is really interesting, with just enough fleshing out to feel alive, but not enough to make you question how it all works in practice. I enjoyed the characters, who had a level of depth to them that was wonderful to read.
While it’s short it packs a punch. Highly recommended.
Every time I think Seanan can't write a character more perfectly aimed at me, she outdoes herself. If you liked the first one, or you like classic horror, or you know what it means to stumble into home long years after growing up with parents who don't see you, yes, read it.