This series has a special place in my heart and this book continued to cement it. Kade and Sumi are long time favourites, while Antsy is a new favourite, and seeing them all come together with such strong moments for each of them struck me so unexpectedly. This series holds children so tenderly; the ways they get lost and find themselves and move through the world and come back to it again.

As we are progressing through the series, Mislaid in Parts Half Known is book #9 in the Wayward Children series, the cast of characters is growing and so is our knowledge of the doors and their attached worlds.
Mislaid features Antsy trying to set right a wrong that occurred after she left her world, a bit of a wandering quest with some of her classmates. In this quest (in which we we meet some lovely little dinosaurs!!) we also get a bit more of an explanation on the working of the doors.

As always, McGuire's writing is descriptive and beautiful and her characters are charming and alive. I can never recommend this series highly enough!

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not crying. You're crying! These books have me in an emotional chokehold. Every book brings me joy, but also breaks me in two. This instalment was no different, apart from the dinosaurs. Just when you think Seanan McGuire has given you everything, she comes at you with dinosaurs!!. This was a wonderful conclusion to Ansty's and Cora's stories (two of my fave characters), but we also go to learn more about Kade, Sumi and Christopher, Which was lovely as they have been around since book one so the slow peeling back of the layers to their doors and adventures is always very welcome. The whimsy and the magic always has me glued to the page, but the hard hitting topics that are tackled are what keep me coming back for me. McGuire leaves no stone unturned and continues to amaze with her imagination. I swear the day the last book is released in this series a part of me will die inside from longing.

Seanan McGuire returns to the world's of Wayward Children in Mislaid in Parts Half-Known, a book that is a direct continuation to Lost in the Moment and Found, and follows Antsy's story further as she reaches Eleanor's school and settles in with teenagers who look her age but are far more mentally and emotionally mature.

This book fills an interesting role in the series as it was more plot- and less character-focused than most of the others. While Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is in Antsy's point of view, the heart of the story is on the quest the gang escapes on through worlds that some of them are familiar with.

While this quest is an interesting one, the book didn't feel like a necessary one for the series. No great revelations were made and not much changed. Some characters return to Eleanor's and some don't, but no one intrinsically grew from the people they were before.

Overall, while the series is amazing, Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is not one of the better installments.

This was such a beautiful installation of this series. I was wary of having another book with Antsy because she wasn't one of the original main characters whose stories I often prefer. However, I think McGuire was able to establish enough of a plot to justify giving Antsy a second story. I didn't feel as though her story was drawn out or unnecessary and I'm glad she was able to work though her confusion and feelings following the events of the previous book.

I tend to enjoy the even numbered books that follow a child in their "other" world more than the books that follow the children at Eleanor West's, but I think the fact that we saw multiple worlds really kept this one fresh and fast-moving. I loved seeing Prism and even Stephanie's world even though we really don't know much about her as a person (maybe we'll get her story next?).

One choice that I really love (even though it is simultaneously a little heartbreaking) is the direction that Eleanor's character is taking. I am anxious to see where this plot line of "assigning too many kids to nonsense" goes.

One aspect that did stick out to me in a way that I wish it wouldn't is the amount of times that characters monologue in this book. McGuire is my favorite author hands-down, but I do think her books can tend to "tell" rather than "show". I don't think there always needs to be a perfect balance of the two, and sometimes "telling" is just more necessary. However, taking into account that these are children, these monologues often feel a little too unrealistic. Their ideas and thoughts, while very valid, are too well formed and nuanced in a way a child/teenagers wouldn't be. Rather, they feel as though McGuire is trying to speak directly to the reader which can pull me out of the story. I don't mind too much, because I appreciate what McGuire has to say and I know that these characters (and especially Cora and even Antsy) are important to her. But sometimes I'd rather not feel like they are just mouthpieces.

Either way, I am just trash for this series and I will continue to read and love this series until the very last book. I will continue to recommend it to everyone I can!

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire, I had been really looking forward to this tie-in book where various threads of the stories are starting to come together and I can't wait to see where it goes.

Actual rating: 3,5 stars

We’re now on the ninth book in the Wayward Children series and it doesn't seem to be running out of steam any time soon! Of the nine books that make it up, I must admit that some worked better than others for me. It's difficult to categorize Mislaid in Parts Half-Known among the others because although I had a great time reading it, I would still have liked to feel a little more transported.

For such a short book, I wish we had spent less time in the school we all already know well, and more going through the doors. The adventures we experienced there only reinforced this feeling as I loved discovering all these new and old worlds. I just wish there were more dinosaurs though.

I loved how this book gave a satisfying conclusion to Antsy’s story and how Cora’s story was resolved as well. The endearing cast of characters we’ve grown to love all have wonderful character development in this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The latest installment of the Wayward Children series continues Antsy's story in the present with the rest of the mislaid children at Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children. We know that she can find anything she's looking for and now other students do as well. When a mean girl tries to force Antsy to find her missing door, Antsy and her friends make their way through a door into relative safety. While Antsy might look like an average sixteen-year-old, she still has the mind and heart of the nine-year-old who found a door to the Shop Where Lost Things Go. When her friends finally ask her how old she is, the truth of the price of opening the doors is finally revealed to them. Antsy lost years of her life and won't open another door no matter how many she's able to find.
While our cast of characters is trapsing across worlds, hints are dropped about children being missorted into nonsense world. As this series comes closer to a close, I suspect something is not quite right at Eleanor West’s school, but we’ll have to keep reading to find out.

This is a direct continuation of the last few Wayward Children books and wouldn't make much sense without having read the rest of them. I enjoy these stories and seeing some of the other worlds. The dinosaurs in this one were particularly hilarious. I always enjoy a few good Jurassic Park references. It was also nice that this one tied up the loose ends from the last couple of books.

I love this series. Short and to the pain, Seanen McGuire can lay out a wonderful story in a short amount of time with just enough excitement to keep you reading. With every book, my understanding of the door system and magical creatures beyond widens. I absolutely love these worlds.

Antsy is back and in this new story, she plays a pivotal roll in helping those drawn to the doors. He character is wonderful and well written. I love reading about her.

I had to give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It only took me a few hours to get through and I did it in one sitting. We meet back up with some of our favorite characters from some wonderful worlds and I absolutely love it.

I was so excited to revisit the Wayward Children series again by Senan McGuire. In this installment we are given another 'quest' story that takes us away from the school where we are joined by Antsy and other recurring characters. We are given more information about Kade's compass and the functionality of the doors and how they work. I was pleased to see Antsy's story come full-circle and see her finally find her place, and glimpses into the other characters backgrounds and perspectives. Overall I have enjoyed every single story in this series and this one is no different.
Thank you to Netgalley and TOR for this Digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just loved reading this book! This series is just so great, and it was great to continue on with the plot of the present, with the aftermath of the girls from the Whitethorn Institute escaping. Mostly that the girls are not at Eleanor West's school, so I hope we get more of what that ending was in the future!

This is Antsy after she gets to the school, and how the other students react to her with the possibility that she could find their doors. Which given that Antsy knows the cost of opening doors now, yeah, that's not a good situation for her to be in, with all the kids wanting her to find their doors.

That this is another adventure book like book 3, and we get to go to a few different places, that was really great! One of those worlds in particular, and what we learn, yeah, I'll be interested to see how that information will play out!

One thing that this book touched upon briefly, is the categorization of the different worlds. About how their knowledge of these different worlds, and how they should be labeled. This is another area that I can't wait to see more of!

This was a fantastic read, and I can't wait for more!

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been so excited for this book! This book picks back up after book 8, lost in the moment and found. We get to see how Antsy is getting along at Eleanor’s school for wayward children. The rest of the crew are starting to figure out that Antsy can find doors. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones to realize this. This leads the crew and Antsy through a door to get away from two classmates with not so great intentions for Antsy. This becomes a quest to restore Antsy to where she’s meant to be. In the meantime, they must rescue a friend from a dinosaur world, and revisit a world that one of them never wished to return to. I adore to this book. I love how some of our characters are getting second chances, and we’re learning more about some of the characters who haven’t spoken much about what door they came from. As usual, Sumi is my favorite character and have some great quotes throughout this book. I think one of my favorite lines that she said was:

“I don’t think we get second chances with our own injuries,” said Sumi. “All we can really do is try to clean up all the broken glass before someone else gets there.”

I can’t wait for book 10!

Another amazing instalment to the Wayward Children series.
This is the perfect closure to Antsy story but also delves into the background of other children’s doors and overall give so much more depth to the magic system of this world weaving in lore and the history of characters to form a truly enlightening plot.

I thoroughly enjoy returning to these characters, each have such unique and interesting traits and they feel like such a family unit in this book.

As always the world building from McGuire is absolutely beautiful, venturing this time to the land of dinosaurs amoungst others, the world becomes richer with every book added to this series and as always I ate it up it one sitting.
My biggest criticism… I’d have love more dino action.

Thoroughly enjoyable and lots of representation here to be found. Forever one of my favourite authors and series.

Thank you for supplying me with a arc for review.

Once again, Seanan McGuire returns us to the magical doors and alternate worlds of the children at Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. Longtime school residents and some newer faces are once again unexpectedly forced to break Eleanor’s third rule-No Quests. Visiting some new worlds we haven’t seen before, a few that we have, and 1 that has long been mentioned but unseen, we get to know all those involved a bit better, and some a great deal more.
I have enjoyed every one of the books in the Wayward Children series, but as with any series, especially one with multiple volumes like this series (short as those volumes are), there are always some that I enjoy more and some less. This is definitely on the more side. Not at the top, but easily in the top 4 or 5.
It seems like some of the characters are coming to the end of their story arcs, and while I am sad to see where they end up, knowing it’s unlikely they will be back for any appreciable length of time, I am also happy to see them finding what they need. I am also sad to find the series winding it’s way to a conclusion, but very happy that I discovered it almost 10 years ago and have been able to follow along as each volume came out. When it does eventually reach the end, I can only hope that Seanan McGuire chooses to return on occasion, even if it’s only an occasional short story to let us know what these amazing children of hers are up to, wherever they end up.

Great addition to the series, even if I wouldn't count it as one of the strongest entries. It was truly fun to read and the fans should not be disappointed. Recommended.

A Wayward Children School Day Outing

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is book 9 in Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series. It follows two seriously serious (I meant to do that) books Where the Drowned Girls Go, in which we saw the inside of the Whitethorn Institute, a a seriously depressing opposite to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, and Lost in the Moment and Found, in which Antoinette (Antsy) Ricci escaped a seriously awful home. Thus we are due for a lighter touch, and we get it.

Antsy and the Whitethorn escapees Cora and Emily are now at Eleanor's along with old friends Christopher, Sumi, and Kade. Antsy has the much-coveted gift of finding Doors. Escaping a couple of girls who want to make use of her, she finds herself trapped in Kade's attic with the students named above. She finds a Door in the back of the attic that allows them to escape. This is the beginning of what I'm calling their school outing, although in fact it is not the whole school along, just the six mentioned. They bop around between various worlds -- Antsy's Door-finding gift is put to use -- and they have adventures. Although some of these adventures appear to have high (e.g. life-or-death) stakes, it all feels like a good, fun adventure.

Now, I am always willing to score a book high for Pure Fun. This one falls a bit short, however, because the Fun is not quite Pure. There is a lot of discussion of the metaphysics of Doors -- what are they, where are they, where are they when they are not, do they have plans or intentions, or motives, are merely desires. This honestly gets a bit tedious and even has somewhat the feel of an Internet comment thread.

But, altogether, it's a fun little novella, and like all the Wayward Children books, a quick read. I enjoyed it.

I thank NetGalley and Tor for an advance reader copy of Mislaid in Parts Half-Known. This review expresses my honest opinions. Release date 9-Jan-2024.

I’m sure. I’m always sure. Well, I’m always sure I’m ready for a new Wayward Children book by Seanan McGuire!

For those who don’t know the series: Wayward Children is about a school where kids who have been thrown out of their fairy tale world go when they come back to Earth; its a safe haven for kids who don’t fit in anymore. The series alternates between a school book and then a stand alone otherworld book. Sometimes the stand alone book is about one of the kids we already know and sometimes we are introduced to a brand new character. The school books usually feature the same characters we know with maybe some new characters too.

The series has one book a year released. I’ve been very lucky to read two Wayward Children books this year! I bought Lost in the Moment and Found in January and received an early copy of Mislaid in Parts Half-Known from Netgalley recently. Pretty exciting.

Lost in the Moment and Found was a stand alone book. Next year’s Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is a school book and a direct sequel to Lost in the Moment. Its not always the case that one Wayward Children book leads into the next. This time Lost in the Moment and Found and Mislaid in Parts Half-Known are very connected.

I won’t give spoilers about Mislaid in Parts Half-Known other than that is a sequel to the previous book. Mislaid isn’t out till next year. All I’ll say is that it does deal with some left-over plot elements from Lost in the Moment and it also deals with some stuff from previous Wayward Children books too. Its not a very long book, but it is a very good book.

If you haven’t read Lost in the Moment and Found, at least, you will be really lost with Mislaid. Though, its highly recommended that you read all of the books so far before reading Mislaid in Parts Half-Known. This book is not an entry book to the series at all. Even as someone who has read all the books, sometimes I had to think back a lot about the previous books to totally understand what was going on.

I do wish Mislaid featured a recap at the beginning of the book. It doesn’t. The stand alone books are very easy to get into but the school books are very much “you must read all the books to really understand this one”.

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known is a really fun book though. If you’re a fan of the series, you won’t want to miss this book! Seanan McGuire is an excellent writer and I’m totally hooked on this series. If you’ve never read the Wayward Children series, you should check out the recent Be Sure book that collects the first three books!

I’m already sure I need the next Wayward Children book. What a wonderful series.

Plot- or character-driven? Character (but with a great plot!)
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Another amazing addition to my favorite series of all time! I am so glad we got more of Antsy’s development throughout this book! We also learned more about Kade’s world, Prism, which I thought was wonderfully done. I always love to read about the wayward children’s quests together and the cameos from characters we’ve met in previous books. I especially loved their adventure into a world of dinosaurs, as seen on the cover of this book! I am always impressed with McGuire’s beautiful writing and diversity inclusion. I could absolutely read 80 books from this series!!!

I’m so grateful to have received an early copy from Tor (via Netgalley) in return for my honest review! I

This latest book in the series was beautifully written, as always, but felt written for a slightly more mature audience than the previous few (especially Across the Green Grass Fields, which felt suited to a early- to middle-grades audience rather than YA). I loved the world in the last book, about a sort of Nexus between all the worlds, and getting to explore that a bit more was exciting!

This latest book felt slightly plot-less - the “quest” was less quest and more an incidental outcome of running away from a specific situation. Nothing with regards to their original reason for leaving had actually changed at all by the end of the book. But this book offered closure for a couple of other characters, and some more insight into Kade’s character.