A Story Unwritten

In debut author Sneed’s spirited retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Wild Swans,” adventurous white-cued 11-year-old Cora Noland, an oil heiress in 1925 Oklahoma, is used to running wild with her beloved horse Ali Baba and navigating life as the only girl among six brothers. When her father—widowed following Cora’s mother’s death in childbirth with youngest sibling Freddie—threatens to send Cora away to the Boston Academy for Admirable Young Ladies, Cora and Freddie hatch a plan to protest. Their attempts are derailed, however, when their father returns from an outing with a new acquaintance: World-Famous Medium, Madame Genevieve Blanche Marguerite d’Verita of Paris, France. That night, Genevieve hosts a seance, and Cora becomes convinced that the mysterious visitor harbors ulterior motives. Overhearing Genevieve and her purported brother plotting a grand thieving scheme, Cora sets out to expose the psychic—but by then, her entire family has fallen under Genevieve’s spell, leaving Cora as their only hope. Sensate language firmly roots this appealing adventure in its historical setting. Cora’s lively, relatable voice and enduring themes of family, trust, and loyalty make for a charming and fun tale. Ages 8–12. (Self-published)