The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett is a magical, witchy, and resoundingly successful homage to a classic. With its captivating narrative and enchanting characters, this novel is sure to leave readers spellbound. Fawcett's writing is a masterful blend of the whimsical and the profound, creating a unique and unforgettable experience.

This is the best retelling I've read! I am completely entrantsed with this. A must read for the year.
I just reviewed The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett. #TheGraceofWildThings #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Such a delight! This is a retelling of Anne of Green Gables, and Heather Fawcett did an excellent job of encompassing the spirit of it. If Anne were a witch, this is exactly how she would be! I can't even get over it! You get the fun parts that happened in Anne of Green Gables, but put into this story of magic and reality. You get slates being broken over heads, and a pest of a preteen boy (Gilbert, who is Rum in the story) Anne is one of my all time favorite fictional characters and this book showcased her perfectly!

In a Nutshell: A witchy retelling of ‘Anne of Green Gables’! Good for middle graders who don’t get scared easily. Knowing the original tale isn’t necessary, though it helps. If you are an adult fan of Anne and also like fantasy, you might wanna add this to your agenda.

Story Synopsis:
Grace is a young orphan who has run away from the children’s home with just one aim in mind: she is going to convince the witch who lives in the nearby woods to take her on as an apprentice. After all, she knows she can do a little magic; so what if she can’t control it? What Grace doesn’t realise is that the witch is as bad as the locals say. However, a she doesn’t want to return to the dreary orphanage, she makes a deal with the witch. Grace now has to learn all the 100½ spells in the witch’s grimoire within the next 7-8 months, or else she has to surrender her magic to the witch. Will Grace be able to save herself and her magic?

Where the book worked for me:
👻 I love it when retellings don’t just rehash the original story but take it as the foundation to create a whole new experience. In many ways, this book is like Anne of Green Gables, and yet it is not. There are subtle nods to the key scenes from the original such as the slate scene or the raspberry cordial scene, but nothing is replicated outright. You will also find an equivalent of all the key characters such as Marilla, Matthew, Gilbert, Diana and even Rachel Lynde. However, none of them are called by the same or even a similar name in this book, thus making this story a fresh experience and allowing the new characters to stand tall without the shadow of their predecessors covering them.
(Funnily, many story elements also reminded me of Hansel and Gretel.)

👻 Grace’s character lives up to the high expectations set by Anne Shirley. Grace is just as curious, loquacious, vivacious, and audacious as Anne was. She is a wonderful character to have as the main protagonist. There are many other characters I liked, but my favourite of these was Windweaver the poetry-loving crow.

👻 The book begins on a somewhat slow pace but soon picks up the momentum. It is almost episodic at times, just as the original was, but reading the adventures in this style was better, especially as it is kinda long (at 368 pages) for its target age group of 8-12 years.

👻 Kids will surely enjoy reading about the bizarre ingredients Grace requires to carry out the spells from the grimoire. The magical elements and the spells are fun.

👻 This is not just a story of found family but also a tale of friendship, determination and loyalty. As a children’s book, this has many lessons to offer along with the entertaining bits. There are some really beautiful quotes too.

👻 The worldbuilding needs to be spot on for a fantasy to work, and this book doesn’t fail us. Prince Edward Island is transformed into a magical place, what with mysterious woods and fairy realms intermingled with the regular village people.


Where the book could have worked better for me:
☠ There were a few elements that go unexplained, and a few scenes that are too hurried. The ending is especially abrupt. (There’s no cliffhanger though.)

☠ The character who is introduces towards the final section doesn’t add much to the story. I get why her track was required, but it felt superfluous. Only if there’s a sequel planned of which I know nothing right now, her appearance is justified.


You don’t need to know the original at all to enjoy this story; it stands perfectly well on its own. But knowing the original will certainly help you see how well the author has transposed the children’s classic into this fantastical version.

Overall, this is a nice book for middle graders who have a preference for the fantastical and would like to read a story of friendship and courage.

4 stars. (I’d have happily gone with a higher rating had the final few chapters been written better.)

Note: There are a few scary elements in here, so if your child is sensitive about ghosts or nightmares or evil witches who eat children, do proceed with care.


My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Grace of Wild Things”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

If you love Anne of Green Gables, this beautiful and charming retelling is for you. Grace, an orphan, is sure she’s a witch. She’s run away from the orphanage in search of a witch who might adopt her and teach her the art of witchcraft. She meets Mrs. Puddle stone, a witch who is sickly and makes Grace a bet. Learn to cast all the spells (100 1/2) in her grimoire and Grace can stay, otherwise, the witch gets all of Grace’s magic. Easy? Not so much.

This book is a delight. The writing is beautiful. I love the characters, especially the witch. Even though she’s pretty wicked, she and Grace manage to form a relationship. Fawcett does a tremendous job with the character of Grace. She’s captured Anne Shirley’s spirit and freedom, but added her own twist. Then we have Grace’s friend Sareena Khalil and her fairy servant Rum - beautiful characters. The world building is amazing - the descriptions are gorgeous. I wouldn’t mind living in this book.

I highly recommend this book, especially if your a Green Gables fan. You won’t be disappointed. Let me know if you read - I’d love to discuss!

This novel is absolutely enchanting. If you loved Anne of Green Gables, but really wished that it was set in a world where magic was real, this is the book that you have been looking for for your entire life.
Grace absolutely embodies the spirit of Anne, and a few of the scenarios from the original novels are presented with a magical twist here. This retelling captures the same spirit that L. M. Montgomery created in the original tales, spinning a marvelous tale of a young orphan witch who sets out to seek her fortune by attempting to apprentice herself to a witch in a wood.
This is the coziest tale, and you root for Grace the entire way through. The ending was the only one that really made sense in the story, even though I was not expecting it. My only concerns are the intricacies of the magic system, which was silly and preposterous and charming and probably made sense for this story but would likely leave a more experienced fantasy reader wanting. And while I do love tales that re-spin original stories, there were some moments here that felt slightly too derivative of their inspired tales. That said, I absolutely adored the story and the style. Heather Fawcett has such a delightful authorial voice and I will never not be excited for something she writes.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy
Age: Middle Grade (and Adults)

As soon as I saw this book was inspired by Anne of Green Gables, I had to read it. And I love books with witches, so I was completely in. And nervous that it wouldn't live up to my expectations.

I adored it!

Grace is wonderful. A chatterbox, full of angst because of being an orphan, and even loves poetry. The other characters also fit in with the cast of the original Anne of Green Gables.

Outside of the Canadian landscape, emotions, and cast of characters, The Grace of Wild Things is a new story. Grace wants love and acceptance—a home. She loves the witch's cottage for its spookiness and the surrounding forest. Accidentally, Grace saves a boy fairy from being trapped in a tree. Oh, they have a tempestuous relationship—and since he's a fairy, Grace never knows when he's going to pop up.

Grace is tasked to complete one hundred and a half spells to stay with the witch. And she only has until the cherry tree blossoms again. She's sleepy. And then she's rushing to complete the task.

But then another danger appears. One that threatens the forest, the creatures within it, the witch, and the cottage.

I highly recommend this delightful story! Adults are going to love it for the Anne of Green Gables Easter eggs. Kids will love it because it's highly entertaining. And we all know what it's like to feel like an outcaste at some time in our lives. This book is also a gentle way of helping a child understand themselves and others better. But truly, the kids will read it because it's funny and a tiny bit spooky. (More humor than horror, so you don't need to worry.)

Happy reading!

3.75 stars

This is a wonderfully whimsical and witchy reimagining of Anne of Green Gables (with Hansel and Gretel, and some other fairytales thrown in for good measure) with enough inventiveness to break free from its source material. I became a Heather Fawcett fan after loving The Encyclopedia of Faeries earlier this year, and her strengths are present in this story too (a flair for language, vivid imagination, characters with flaws but easy to root for), though I found it too long for a middle-grade read (yet too short and rushed for everything the story tried to take on). There are enough loose ends to build a sequel, if the author so wished. Even without it, this is quite the charming story with a very well-rounded and compelling protagonist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! The Grace of Wild Things was a delightful read that surprised me with it's wit, humor and the joy that permeated the story. The Grace of Wild Things is a lovely mix of Anne of Green Gables and Hansel and Gretel except make the witch a parental figure with a redemption arc. Grace's viewpoint was an absolute joy and I found myself smiling while reading frequently. Her love of words, poetry and magic were so infectious. A really nice cozy fantasy read with loveable characters (there's a talking crow and a raincloud named Patrick).

4.25⭐️
Oh my gosh, this book was so good! I loved the overall story, but it was the characters that really hooked me! Highly recommend for fans of fairytales, Anne of Green Gables, and all things whimsical.

The Grace of Wild things is an absolute delight. Fawcett has spun a tale that will endear a whole new generation to Anne's story while giving seasoned fans something that feels simultaneously fresh and nostalgic.

Grace is an overlooked orphan with a lot of spunk and a little bit of magic. In an effort to hone her skills and find a home she runs away to the woods and offers herself as an apprentice to a cagey witch. The reluctant witch agrees that if Grace can finish 100 and 1/2 spells, before the cottages Cherry tree blooms, she can stay on as her apprentice. Grace sets to work but with time quickly dwindling she may have to work with new friends and foes to complete the seemingly impossible task.

If you are looking for a dose of feelgood whimsy, The Grace Of Wild Things is worthy of your TBR!

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This might be one of the cutest books I’ve ever read, although it did make me cry at one point. I absolutely loved the relationships that were built and friendships that were made. This book is written so sweetly it gave me all the warm and fuzzies! The magic is adorable written and I truly hope I get to see more of these characters in the future!

This was just delightful. I am a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables, and this book was just such a pleasure to read.

Grace is an orphan and she believes no one wants her, so rather than wait around any longer at the orphanage, she decides to strike out on her own and make a bargain with a witch. Grace is magical, you see, and she wants to become the witch's apprentice. But the witch doesn't want a little girl underfoot. Reluctantly, she agrees, that if Grace can do all 100 and a half spells in her grimoire by spring, she will take her on as an apprentice. If she fails, the witch will take away her magic. And so begins our tale.

I think that this book does what I want a retelling to do - it takes the source material and then makes it into something new. I think Anne Shirley would absolutely love that in this story she is cast as a witch who can work magic, that she has a talking crow, and is friends with an actual fairy. It's the most Anne thing ever and I feel that L.M. Montgomery would approve.

This was a wonderful witchy retelling of Anne of Green Gables! Imagine if Anne was a young orphaned witch who sought to learn magic from the witch in Hansel and Gretel. Grace is Anne - dramatic, imaginative, headstrong, loves fiercely, and gets herself into trouble often despite mostly good intentions. There are even some storylines that are clearly inspired by Anne of Green Gables, though obviously not exactly the same. Despite the similarities, the story was fresh enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this one for children and adults alike! It will feel nostalgic for those who love Anne, but will also be enjoyable for those who aren't familiar with the inspiration.

In solidarity with the HarperCollins Union, I won't be sharing my full review elsewhere until the workers receive a fair contract. Thank you to NetGalley and Balzer + Bray for the eARC.

After reading Heather Fawcett’s “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries”, I was so excited to read another one of her books. While this book is marketed for children around middle school age, I think it is a good read for anyone looking for an uplifting, whimsical tale. It is billed as a retelling of ‘Anne of Green Gables’ with witchcraft and magic.

Grace Greene is an orphan. She is also a witch. After several failed home placements (due to her unnerving and uncontrolled ability to look into someone’s eyes and see the worst memory of their lives), Grace flees the orphanage in search of a local witch’s cottage. Grace does find the witch, and the witch is just as evil as people have said. Undeterred and full of optimism, Grace convinces the witch to concede to a deal – Grace will have half a year to complete the witch’s 100 and one half spells in her first grimoire.

As Grace works her way through the book of spells, she picks up not only witchcraft skills but friends that soon turn into the only family she has ever known. Along with her familiar, a crow named Windweaver, Grace will learn that magic can be found all around – through words, through deeds, through love.

I really loved the way this story connected nature, poetry, and the human experience. Themes of found family, forgiveness, and redemption are woven throughout. A wonderful light read, and a story with true heart.

Loved the characters!😍

This book moved me and I think it offers great life lessons about kindness, acceptance and cooperation to readers of any age. Young Grace begins as a tragic figure, lonely and unwanted, and achieves a remarkable transformation. Grace remains a dreamer, but her melodramatic personality softens and her big heart comes through. She leads an endearing cast of characters. Daisy Bean with her ubiquitous green blanket was perhaps my favorite, but the witch, all of the children and her crow familiar Windweaver were great secondary characters who each helped Grace demonstrate both her worst and her best. The author also imbued Grace's story with the beauty of nature and the changing seasons.

I never read the Green Gables series but I had a basic understanding of the story gleaned from a tv series partially viewed decades ago. I think it would be a detriment to The Grace of Wild Things to read it searching for comparisons with the earlier classic. Heather Fawcett's Grace is fanciful and fun but anchored by the love and friendships that grow as Grace races to fulfill her pact with the witch so she can finally call someplace home. This book held me throughout and almost brought on some tears. Children may prefer the fantasy of Grace's journey as a witch's apprentice but I embraced the relationships and emotion that made this a winner!

Thanks to Harper Collins Children's Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

The Grace of Wild Things is described as a reimaging of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery and while I can see traces of the character Anne in Grace, I think Heather Fawcett's story is very original in many ways. Grace is an orphaned child trying to make her way in the world with the help of an evil witch, who really does not want her. The magical whimsy of her behavior allows the audience to become engrossed in the fantasy being told.

As far as a middle grade book, it is a bit long in length but for those who are interested in fantasy and magic will love Grace and her adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Teen for the opportunity to review this novel.

This is such a unique story in itself with wonderful tributes to Anne of Green Gables. It’s much darker than I had expected so it’s more like if Anne wondered into the Grimm’s version of Hansel and Gretal and had to escape being baked in the Witch’s oven. The author has a flair for language that Anne would appreciate so even when the story starts going to a darker element she ends up pulling it back with beautiful words or humor. Grace holds her own in this book even with the Anne reminders. She is an orphan who longs for a real home and to understand what it means to be a witch. Of course she’s never had a bosom friend of her own, except for her bird friend who she can speak with, and she’d certainly never met a troublesome fairy before. While Grace is on a mission to complete the spells in what may be an impossible timeframe she is still girl who readers can relate to as she navigates both the supernatural and regular human issues like friendship and school. My daughter and I both really enjoyed this book and the Anne tributes.

I really enjoyed the author’s unique Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies so I bought my 10 year old daughter her children’s book, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, which she was hooked on and it was fun hearing her telling me about it as she read. We read this book together and she was quickly hooked and always wanted to read more, especially when the chapters ended on cliffhangers. One minor warning, that may be actually be quite concerning if you have a child with any eating disorder issues, there is one part in the book when an acquaintance of Grace is described as having her food restricted because her parents are so concerned about her appearance and keeping her skinny and beautiful. I really don’t think it’s necessary or appropriate for children’s books to even mention anything like that which could put any idea of body issues or disordered eating into children’s minds. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This gets ALL the stars from me. It was delightful and emotional , well-written and inventive. I loved everything about it. (Except for one tiny thing...but more on that in a minute.)

Here's the thing. Despite being a voracious reader all my life, I never read Anne of Green Gables when I was younger. I was in my 40s before I ever read it. I don't know how I never read it, since it's a classic, but somehow it never made it onto my radar. So I don't have the deep and abiding love of Anne that's been nursed since childhood, like many readers my age have.

Even without a deep knowledge of the original novel, the similarities between Anne and Grace are evident, as are several of the key plot events. In my opinion, Fawcett strikes the perfect balance with Grace, making her similar enough to Anne for the comparison to stand, but also bringing her own story to life. I absolutely loved this little girl, as well as the other characters in the novel.

"As it turned out, wisdom wasn't only about knowing what you didn't know- the world wasn't quite so miserable as that. It was also good for sizing up problems and finding solutions."

I was in the middle of book 3 of the Anne of Green Gables series when I came across this as an ARC. Having just recently fallen in love with this author, I knew it was meant to be. I don't usually read middle grade, but it didn't matter because so many moving cogs clicked into place for this book.

This storyline heavily focuses on Grace, her pact with the witch, and her ability to pull people into her orbit. There is something so special that even the witch, who seems forever at odds with Grace's personality, is drawn into this unique young girl. Her connection to Windweaver is special. The bird adds another fun element to the storyline.

I enjoyed watching Grace figure out how to work the spells and make them her own. I loved watching people come together to help Grace out. And I absolutely adored the way Fawcett weaved Anne into the storyline and made it uniquely Grace. As I'm rereading that series, it's so fresh in my mind, and it was fantastic to have a fantasy retelling of a girl who has had such an impact. This is an enjoyable story for readers of all ages. Thank you, HarperCollins Children's, for the ARC.