I requested LOST IN THE MOMENT AND FOUND by Seanan McGuire for several reasons. It first came to my attention as a LibraryReads selection for January. I then learned about the fantasy series, Wayward Children, and the host of other well-reviewed novels by award-winning author McGuire. Plus, I thought it would be fun to read a middle grade novel for a change. None of that prepared me for a children’s novel about the specter of child abuse. It was unsettling to read. I give the author kudos for the quality of the writing and for the courage to approach this subject, but I cannot imagine handing it to a child without some guidance or plan for discussion.

This book is amazing, important and heartbreaking.

This is a book about a survivor, for survivors, by a survivor. It’s the first time an author’s note at the beginning of a book made me cry, because McGuire assures us: “Antsy runs, before anything actually happens, Antsy runs”.
Those lines in themselves will make a lot of ppl feel seen.

I love the wayward children series. Most of them deal with kids in magical lands, or returning from them. In this one, we see Antsy, a young girl, running away from danger and finding herself in a nexus between worlds - a shop that is safe, but not ideal.

I loved this aspect of the story, that some people have to grow up too fast, survive and get on with a not-completely-perfect life. The writing is excellent and compassionate, but still raw and affecting. My only wish was for some of the other characters in the shop to be a bit more fleshed out. But otherwise this is a gorgeous, emotional, healing book.

Antoinette has lost her father. Metaphorically. He’s not in the shop, and she’ll never see him again. But when Antsy finds herself lost (literally, this time), she finds that however many doors open for her, leaving the Shop for good might not be as simple as it sounds.
My favorite Wayward Children novel so far! Antsy's story is so layered and amazing. The shop of lost things is my most intriguing world so far. I love learning more about the doors.

I guess I need to start with the fact that this book begins with somewhat of a content warning. Seanan McGuire begins with the fact that there is a scene somewhat early in the book that needed to go in the story, needed to be on the page, and it was difficult to write and it may be difficult to read. But Seanan makes sure to tell all of us readers what she believes we need to know up front…that Antsy runs, that Antsy escapes.

This book does deal with losing a parent, and it deals a bit with abuse and gaslighting and the emotional and mental abuse and trauma that goes along with that. It doesn’t get to the point of physical/sexual abuse or trauma. But considering that this sort of an encounter is one that could be triggering to someone who has been in a similar sort of situation, it is good that there is a content warning.

I feel like Seanan does a nice job of handling these sorts of situations with as much care and sensitivity as she can manage. She’s been vocal about abuses and situations she dealt with when she was growing up, so she’s aware how this can be troubling to folks. And she isn’t trying to be harmful or to handle something without care.

She actually had a Twitter thread in 2020, which she retweeted and added to in Dec 2022 about one of the future books in this Wayward Children series, a book specifically focused on Kade. Seanan speaks about how Kade’s book has to wait because people are awful and with everything trans teens are going through, having the story of a trans boy who got thrown out of fairyland for refusing to pretend to be a girl feels too raw. And she wants to avoid doing harm to others. It sucks that we live in a world where these kinds of stories can’t be told without scores of people yelling and complaining and being awful about it.

I hope we get to a point with the world where we can have Kade’s full story, because the world absolutely should have this book, and Kade deserves a book.

All this to say that I have loved this whole series, because the characters are so wonderful and diverse and real. It is actually incredible how much story and character and development and worldbuilding gets packed into 150-200 pages of story. Every book in this series that I pick up ends up being my favorite of the series…until the next one is released.

There have been so many times, quite frequently in this series, but also in some of Seanan’s other books, where I’m just blown away by the characters and by what we learn about them. In some of these characters I have felt seen in a way that very rarely happens in reality. Perhaps that’s something I should talk about at some point online. And maybe I’ll do that sooner rather than later, but it has to be at a time when I’m ready. But with the full spectrum of diverse characters that are available in the Wayward Children series, I think pretty much every reader will see themselves in parts of these characters.

Specifically with Lost in the Moment and Found we follow Antoinette AKA Antsy, and she ends up in this fascinating shop in a sort of world between worlds space, a shop where things lost and forgotten end up, at least until they are remembered and then found again. The caretakers of this shop take Antsy in and take care of her, and she helps them with the shop, because she can open Doors to other worlds, and the caretakers of the shop can then do some supply shopping and such.

But there’s more to opening Doors and visiting other places and to the shop than Antsy thinks, and as she discovers things and learns more about what’s going on, it changes things…and eventually leads her to going to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.

I’m not going to discuss any more details of the plot, because I really do try to avoid spoilers. But I’ve loved each of these books where we get to go through a Door and enter a new world. Some are dark and ominous, some are whimsical and bright, some are very strict and logical…every one feels so different. And we get to go to many places in this one, but only for a brief time, not enough to really dive into the worlds. But we do get to learn more about this fascinating Shop Where the Lost Things Go.

Seanan is currently contracted for two more books, which means the next one will be a more present day story, and then the one after that will be more of an origin story like this one is. It’s an interesting story and timeline setup, and it works for this series of portal fantasy novellas. I feel like we still have quite a few stories left to tell, so hopefully sales continue to be good enough to keep adding to the series.

I want this series to last long enough to try and reach a more accepting world, where some of these characters can finally fully tell their stories.

I love Seanan’s writing and I love collecting these stories, and I’m very excited to see what she comes up with next.

Lost In The Moment And Found by Seanan McGuire

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

* Thank you to @netgalley and @torbooks for providing a digital copy of Lost In The Moment And Found in exchange of a honest review.

I loved this one! I enjoy all the books in the Wayward Children series, but this one is up there with In An Absent Dream. I really like the atmosphere in the shops, the concept is weird and interesting, I trully loved everything about it!

A nice standalone story. Usually the standalone stories are some of my favorites in this series, but I think this one didn't capture my attention as much as the others. It was still another interesting look at how these worlds mix with one another.

One of the absolute most underrated fantasy series is the Wayward Children series. They are short and sweet and tell the most beautiful and whimsical stories. Seanan McGuire is also one of my favorite authors, with the ability to tell the best stories with beautiful words and illustrative text. I'm so impressed with all of the books she's written and this story of Antsy is certainly a new favorite!

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! This may officially be my favorite Wayward Children portal world! And that's saying a lot because The Moors exist, and I've always been drawn to that dark world.

I absolutely adored this so much. The characters, the store, the settings, it was just brilliant all around. I really enjoyed how Seanan brought the readers along every step of this journey and discovery with the characters. Sometimes, we're a step or three ahead of the characters, but this time, it felt like we were right there with Antsy.

5/5 stars - Dark, as they all are, but oh my is it great. Love the Lost Things world with a dash of Goblin Market vibes. I also kept imagining the “Spirited Away” witchy bird, Yubaba, for Venita. Loved the fairy elements, the magpies, and the kind of sentience that the sort-of-antique-store has. There’s a darkness to the place that feels dangerous, a bit like the “Needful Things” oddities shop. As with all of these books, the need to escape is usually a traumatic one, and his is no different. While nothing overt happens, the threat looms heavy and large as if the worst occurs. A brilliant addition to the series.

My love for this series grows with every new addition.

Seanan McGuire has a wonderful imagination. Every book follows a new character, in a new world, with a new story, but every book relates to the last. The worlds are colorful and well written and the characters are relatable.

There is always a sadness at the end, when the character realizes how much time they've lost in the end, and I always have this feeling that the characters died before they went into the door and that is why they are lost. Something traumatic happened to them and this is their afterlife we are seeing. Maybe one day McGuire will finally answer my screaming question about this, but until then I keep reading.

Every book in this series is fantastical, lovely, and heartbreaking and this one is no exception. A wonderful addition to a wonderful series, and one that will sit with me for ages. Can’t recommend highly enough.

Lost in the Moment and Found is the 8th book in a the completely unique Wayward Children series. The series explores the lives of children who don’t really fit into this one and the magical doors that find them. Doors to worlds that fit them better, places they can be themselves whatever that is and while the worlds aren’t completely nice or perfect, they are perfect for each child who finds a door. Antsy is one of those children.

Antoinette was deeply loved by her father who she lost at a young age. When her mother remarried, something was just off about the new man she is supposed to think of as her daddy. Over the course of year, that feeling towards him never changes until the day she is sure she must flee. She expected to run away to her grandparents, but Antsy walked through a door and said she was sure and ended up in the shop for lost things.

She belongs here in this shop; she feels at home in it with the talking crow and the other woman that follows her though the doors. Other children have come to this shop and found the doors to other worlds to trade in to bring items back to this unique place full of shelves and shelves of lost items. But there is a cost to every door Antsy goes through, nothing is free in a place this full of magic.

I really enjoy the Wayward Children series. There are so many unique and interesting worlds the children visit. Antsy’s story is blended with her life before the door and after. While there are some tough topics in this, I think McGuire does them very well and knew exactly were to draw the lines in her story telling.

This has been one of my favorites in the series as Antsy was a really interesting character and I liked her ability to find the best deals and bargains. I also loved her journey at the store and how she became more there. It will be interesting to see glimpses of her in future stories as I’m sure we will. This was one of my favorites stories of the series so far and I love how all of them eventually tie back to the school for Wayward Children in some way.

A quick, easy, heartfelt story. I haven’t read the other novellas in this collection, but I think I will after reading this one. I loved the idea of the doors leading to different worlds, and I loved the main character as well.

I always love this series, but this was a rough one to get through at times. Not because it’s bad, but because the topics are really heavy.

The story begins with Antsy witnessing the death of her father, and then deals with grooming and gaslighting. While she runs away (into another world of course) before anything serious can happen, it’s still disturbing to read. But I also think this is an important story to tell and I thought it was handled with the care it deserves. The author has been candid about her own experience with grooming and child sex abuse and it’s clear this was a story that meant a lot to her.

While this is a fantastical story with doors to other worlds, it’s really about how abuse and trauma can force kids to grow up long before they are ready and steals their childhood from them. It’s a short book but it packs a punch. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This book does not take place in Eleanor West's home but it does give a lot of insight into the doors and how they work. It is kind of a sad tale to be honest and I wish it had more of a connection to other characters. That being said, it is still a beautiful installment into the series.

I don’t think I will ever grow tired of the writing style and imagination of this author. This has been one of my favourites in the Wayward Children series.

The story of Antsy and a world of lost things, much like the pervious books is full of adventure beautiful world building, unexplained magic and stunning writing.

The character arc is unique and plentiful and makes me want to go back and visit the school and the rest of its characters all over again.
The relationships took twists and turns that we’re unexpected to me and it really added to the depth of such a short story. I don’t know how so much gets packed into so few pages, the content is chosen and written with perfect balance.

A charming and fanciful tale, a great addition to the series.

Amazing! This series is so absorbing and magical. The writing feels warm and comforting like nothing else I read. It's the perfect escape.

5⭐️

The 'Wayward Children' series is one of my favourite series of all time because each book is absolutely incredible. They are so beautifully written and just equal parts magical and devastating. 'Lost in the Moment and Found' is especially heavy, dealing with childhood trauma and the death of a parent. Please read the Author’s Note and content warnings before you pick this one up.

I highly recommend reading the 'Wayward Children' series in its entirety, but this book could probably be read as a standalone as well. There are mentions to people or places from earlier books that are fun easter eggs if you’ve read them all, but they aren’t focused on in a way that would confuse a reader who hasn’t.

'Lost in the Moment and Found' may also be one of my new favourite books in this series. I was intrigued by Antoinette (Antsy) and her Door in 'Where the Drowned Girls Go', so it was really interesting to get to see the world she went to, how she ended up there, and what led to her arrival at Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. Antsy has a beautiful arc in this book and we get so much depth added to her character, I can’t wait to go back and reread 'Where the Drowned Girls Go' with a better sense of who she is and what she’s been through.

Seanan McGuire creates incredible worlds in such short books and I could vividly imagine the Land of Lost Things and all of the other places that Antsy got to visit. There is an endless number of worlds in this universe and I wish I could read a 500 page book about each one. I will never stop reading and recommending these books and I already can’t wait for the next one!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Antoinette, or Antsy as she is known by most, has an idyllic life. Until one day when she is out with her father and he collapses in the store, dying immediately of a massive heart attack. Antsy’s mother grieves her father but moves on very quickly. However, her new husband is not what he appears to be, so Antsy decides to run away. In the middle of the night, she approaches a door; however, she misses the engraving around the door which makes a single request: Be sure.

Lost in the Moment and Found was an interesting installment to the Wayward Children series. More of the action takes place outside of the fantastical spaces beyond the doors and the issues Antsy deals with are significantly darker than many from previous stories. As such, Seanan McGuire’s author’s note regarding trigger warnings is well placed at the front of the text.

Even after Antsy goes through the door, there is less time in fantastical worlds since much of the action takes place in the shop of lost things. The shop continues to be full of more adult and dark themes about childhood and who really owns those years. In many ways, the metaphors in Lost in the Moment and Found were more plentiful than other novellas in the series.

Overall, Lost in the Moment and Found is a unique entry, which serves as Antsy’s origin story. Given that every other entry is an origin story, I will be interested to see how Antsy fits into the dynamic of Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children and the no quests directive since it’s likely readers will see her again.

Another hit in the Wayward Children series. I appreciated the content warning before the story, because this one is heavier than the other books. Antionette, Antsy, is happily browsing Target with her dad when he suddenly drops dead and her world is shattered. Tyler was sleazy from the first sentence he was mentioned in. His sly ways of sabotaging Antsy and her Mother's trust in her leave you uncomfortable and feeling for poor Antsy. The manipulation and machinations make you want to scream "RUN!"

Antsy escapes the nightmare of her reality through a Door to a shop of lost things. She takes refuge here, exploring new Doors everyday and tending shop. She is ultimately taken advantage of again by an adult. She learns the truth before it's too late and is then sent away. She ultimately ends up at Elenore West's School where she'll be WELL taken care of.