Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

A compelling tale of a girl who must protect her village and make difficult decisions to do what she thinks is right. Perfect for libraries and schools where Rick Riordan and Gail Carson Levine rule supreme.

I think stories with strong female characters, particularly ones in the middle school age range, are wonderful. It's always a pleasure to find ones that are equally well written. This one is both. Now, I know it seems a stretch that Gussy is left in charge of protecting the town at middle school age, but real life has some cases of even younger children coming to the rescue, when answwering a call help someone, and I am reasonable sure children at that age also like to see themselves as the heroes in their own minds. Fiction helps show them their strengths safely. Gussy's training by Grandpa Willow and his confidence in her aid her in protecting her village when he is called away very suddenly. I enjoyed the descriptives of the story; it really aided in the world building. The characters were developed and seemed realistic. There was enough scary stuff to thrill the audience, but not cause nightmares.
I am sure it will make a fine addition to the fantasy section of a library or classroom. Or even a great gift for 10-14 year olds. Maybe a bit young or older kids cound enjoy it as well.

I was HOOKED. What a fresh concept. Such a great protagonist. The world-building and magic were stellar, and I felt like I was immersed entirely in the world. What a quick read! I loved this one. I would read so many more in this series. It felt different than anything I have read before.

Gussy is such a wonderful and memorable character with her spitfire personality and down-home way of talking. Liked her conflicted personality, how she is fiercely loyal to the town and her job as Protector, but also wishing she could have a normal life; how she is sometimes mean to others and then remorseful; and how she is very aware of her strengths and weaknesses.

This book had some interesting magical world elements and was a combination of a few different genres making it unique amongst my recent reads. It is a good book for any library looking to bulk up their fantasy/scifi/dystopian categories.

I really liked the character Gussy. She had a unique way of speaking that was fun to read. I thought the first half of the story was a little slow. It did pick up and keep my attention better later in the book though. The theme got a little too dark for what I would recommend for my middle grade students but not sure my teen would enjoy it either. Kind of a weird in between spot to be. Three star read for me overall.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy to review!

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

I received this from NetGalley as a synthesized audiobook and I started listening to it, but I just couldn't get into it and yes, it was definitely the synthesized audio that made it much more difficult for me to get into. So I requested the ebook ARC and received that and I started reading along with the audio. And while it was much better, I realized that part of what made it difficult for me to get into was the style of the storytelling. I really liked the premise, and once I got about halfway through, and things started to become more intriguing, I started feeling invested in our heroine. And the last 25% was probably the most exciting for me (with some earlier moments that were downright creepy, like with the possessed neighbor).

Here's what I liked about the story:
* A pretty unique premise where a girl is adopted by her "grandpa" who is the Protector of their town and she is learning the trade from him. He leaves her in charge when he is unexpectedly called out of town and she is left in charge for the first time. She is young (11, I think) and under normal circumstances, it would probably have been fine. But as soon as he leaves it seems that things start to go wrong.
* The girl does a lot of growing and maturing in this book as she learns to question what she has always been taught and believed. She has a high sense of responsibility and only wants what is best (according to what she's been taught by her grandpa) for her town and neighbors. Despite how they have treated her, her strong sense of responsibility drives her to care for them and she really does care about them, even the ones she doesn't like.
* The world-building is quite interesting and feels almost like a fable in many ways.
* The ending is fast-paced (but not too fast), exciting, and very satisfying. Although the grandfather is gone for most of the book, I like the lessons that he has also learned. It makes what Gussy and her friends have learned more important and valuable for the town.

What I wasn't thrilled about:
So this story is told entirely from Gussy's point-of-view, which is fine, but she tells us everything, including what goes on in her head and it really bogs things down in places. I love middle school books, but this is one of those that I'm not sure will hold a middle school student's interest, especially because they have to get through a fairly large portion of the book before it becomes really engrossing and exciting. I'm not sure how many of my middle school students would persevere to get to the exciting part. I really liked the lessons that were taught in this book but I feel like the pacing could have been better and that perhaps there could have been more showing/doing than telling. And as interesting as the world-building was, it was a very small world. There was the outside desert, and then within the town (inside the gates), there was the perimeter, her house, the tavern, and the bird place. Two other homes were mentioned in one incident each, but it really was limited.

Despite these shortcomings, I feel that the last 25% or so really ramped it up and the ending was very satisfying, which is what raised it to a 3.5 for me. I would be interested in hearing the real audiobook to see if it changes my opinion any. Since this is a story that is told as if Gussy is telling you the story, it might help to have a good reader telling her story.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, but I had to work a little to maintain my interest, especially at the beginning. I know that some of my middle school students might enjoy it, especially if they enjoy this genre, but my more reluctant readers would likely lose interest.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

After choosing to risk opening the gates after sunset to save a young stranger, a protector-in-training must rely on unfamiliar magic to save her community from the darkness that slipped inside.

This charming story is both grounded and transportive, told through the quirky, confident voice of the protagonist and set in a desert community where rituals and faith that would not be out of place in our world blend with the magic of the fantasy. Though the magic system itself isn't revolutionary, the way it fits into the rich, unique world- and character-building makes it feel truly inventive. This novel is a wonderful choice for middle grade readers who love to be immersed in a fantasy world with characters they'd love to hang out with. I highly recommend this title for middle grade fiction collections.

The Protector

Gussy is being trained as a protector for her village in the desert. She works hard with Grandpa Widow to learn her job well. She is to follow in Grandpa Widow's footsteps when he turns the job over to her. One day Grandpa Widow is called away from the village and it falls to Gussy to protect the village from the great doom.

Gussy tries to do her best job, but somehow she is tricked by a witch and the great doom gets inside the village and causes all kinds of trouble.

Can Gussy rid the village of the great doom and restore it to its former self before Grandpa Widow returns? She works with some of her friends and a friendly girl that just happens to appear one day to undo the damage.

This is a cute story for the younger set maybe the eleven, twelve , thirteen group of young people. It teaches a story that no one is perfect and that sometimes you have to ask for help from others because you cannot do it alone. It is also a story of good over evil.

I am always on the search for children's books for my great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and this book would make a fine gift for a young person that like books on magic.

Thanks to Jimmy Cajoleas, Harper Collins Children's Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy for my honest review.

Gussy, the young Protector of her desert town, is a salt-of-the-earth, strong girl who has been trained her whole life in the Rites and rituals that keep her community safe. When her Grandpa Widow goes out of town, it is up to her to keep up the rhythm of rituals that protect the town from the Great Doom that threatens them at night. I was immediately drawn in to this tale that is set in what seems like the Old West, but with magic, and I think other readers of middle grade fiction will enjoy it, too. It has enough suspense to keep you wondering what will happens next, but at the same time it seems leisurely paced due to Gussy's down-home way of speaking. Her hopes and dreams are sure to be relatable to all young readers who have wondered "what would it be like to have magic?" while also wondering "what am I here for, and where will life take me?"

The writing in this book is beautiful. It's the type of book that deserves to be read slowly, thoughtfully, in segments so you can savor what is going on. I think I had just bad timing with it, coming to it when I was moving quickly and a bit rushed. It just didn't click with me, but I think it will work for others. The world building is clearly elaborate and thoughtful. The mysteries to be solved by Gussy are deep and complicated. The inclusion of music as a both prayer and act of mindfulness is genuinely lovely. Not a good match for me, but I still only have positive things to say about it.

Gussy lives in a small village in the middle of the dessert. She is training to become the next Protector. When Grandpa Widow is called away, Gussy is put in charge of performing the Rites and Mysteries. Soon after Grandpa leaves, signs of the Great Doom start appearing-objects moving on their own and people are acting possessed. Gussy tries to figure out who sabotaged her protections while also coming up with a way to rid the evil from their little village.

Our middle-grade visitors at our libraries will likely enjoy and respond well to Gussy's story. Thank you for the ARC!

This was such a touching and well written middle grade novel. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. Definitely recommend for middle school classrooms!

Gussy and her Grandpa Widow are Protectors for their village in the desert. They have their rites that must be practiced and performed correctly, down to the exact detail, in order to keep the Great Doom outside of the village and keep the community safe. If they err even the tiniest bit, the Great Doom could slip inside and infect people and homes.

When an unexpected rider comes bringing a summons for Grandpa Widow, it's up to Gussy, with the help of her sidekick dog Cricket, to perform the rites each day on her own and to follow all the rules. The most important rule: never open the gates after sundown. But on the night of a very big storm, a little girl wanders up to the gates barely hanging on by a thread and asking to be let in. Gussy breaks the greatest rule to help her out, and that's when things start going strange.

Who is this girl, and did Gussy let the Great Doom in that dark and stormy night? Is Gussy really worthy of the the task in front of her and to be called Protector, and can she ultimately muster the courage to save the town from its greatest ancestral enemy?

What I Loved:
- Very fast-paced story (I read this in under 24 hours!) and there's action from the very start.
- Each of the characters grab at your heart strings a little bit for various reasons (especially Cricket, Gussy's dog!).
- Gussy has a "what in tarnation" kind of style of speaking and it regularly brought a smile to my face! (Phrases like, "I'd be a liar if I told you ...," "and that's just a fact," and "to be honest with you.")
- This story is immensely quotable. There are a million little heartwarming nuggets that are applicable to every day life that kids can learn from (along with a few that just make you smile or tug at your heart).

What I Didn’t Love:
- I wish there had been a tad bit more depth to side characters to get to know them better and to feel a little more connected.

Overall:
I really loved this story overall. It was really adorable and the main character, Gussy, had a very strong voice and personality that I really loved. I also really loved how quotable this story was - so many heartwarming and thoughtful moments that I made sure to highlight throughout. I do wish that there might've been a bit more substance to the side characters, that we could've gotten to know a few of them in depth a bit more to connect with them better. When reading this book as an adult, it's important to keep in mind that it's meant for middle grade readers, and I think for middle grade readers, this will be a supremely enjoyable book! (I think if an adult could enjoy it as much as I did, that's a good sign of a solid middle grade read!) I have every intention on adding this one to my junior high library's collection for the lower readers we have that would enjoy a light but enjoyable fantasy read.

A few favorite lines:
"Even the folks you can't stand still matter to the world, you know? They can still play their part."
"'There isn't a person alive who's not at war with their own thoughts." He shook his head. 'It's the fighting that counts, little Gussy. It's the fight you can't ever quit.'"
"Is that a strange thing to believe, that you were created with love, that whatever made you delights in you too?"
"When you dream so hard it bleeds over into someone else's sleep, well ... that's serious business."
"I went straight back to the Rectory and had myself a good cry. Sometimes you just can't help it. All the fear and worry come pouring out of your eyeballs and you just lay on the floor and moan a while. There's nothing wrong with crying, and that's just a fact. Plus, I had a warm dog to cuddle with and make me feel better."

Thank you to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Children's Books for an e-ARC of this book!

(Note: I've rounded my 4.5-star rating up to a 5-star rating due to the nature of the rating system. It wasn't a "super solid, no questions asked 5-star rating" due to the aspects that I didn't love, as mentioned above -- I just wanted a little bit more -- but it left my heart feeling very satisfied!)

My 10 year old daughter and I both read this and enjoyed it very much. My daughter really loved it and immediately requested a hard copy for herself. The world created in this book was so magical and Gussy was the perfect guide on this journey. The writing was lyrical and very much reminded me of how my grandmother used to talk….the warmth of the story is what really captivated me. For my daughter it was definitely Gussy. We will definitely be adding this to both our personal and homeschool libraries!

Thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I loved Gussy--the book and the girl. Her name should be Gutsy for she is honorable, brave, kind and a bit lonely. She goes through life always giving her "best and fullest intentions."

Gussy is a teenage girl who along with her adoptive father, Grandpa Widow, keep their community safe from the Great Doom by following the proper rites and rituals. Cricket, her dog, is her buddy and helper. When Grandpa Widow is called away, it is up to young Gussy to do all the rituals herself and protect the village, and most importantly, don't open the gate after dark.

I got very engrossed in the book and there were so many of Gussy's thoughts that I highlighted while reading. My favorite: "Her handwriting was this strange loopy swirl, like while she was writing a hurricane blew up on the page and sent the ink a-whirling, like she wrote in windblown raindrops. I loved it a little bit, even if it was kind of hard to read."

I have a new favorite word "widdershins" and need to add it to my vocabulary immediately.

Narration was computer generated and I didn't love listening to it (the final audio book will NOT be computer generated). Luckily I was able to get the digital copy to read.