Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1) in Keep It Diverse

Jan 14, 2017 Naz (Read Diverse Books) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ace-rep

Adored this novella. I don't understand the low scores, tbh :P
Full review to come. ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Mar 25, 2019 Rose rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, fantasy, drama, thriller, crime, glbt, fairy-tales, multi-povs, pretty-cover, all-time-favorites

Quick review for a quick read. I think my literal reaction finishing this book was "Whoa." That's entirely a good thing considering the overarching journey that "Every Heart a Doorway" took me on. I loved the introduction and idea of the world in this novel. The characters also captivated me, and made me want to know more about them even in the mix of a number of harrowing events that kept me on the edge of my seat steamrolling through the novel's end.

Nancy is a young woman who has been sent to Quick review for a quick read. I think my literal reaction finishing this book was "Whoa." That's entirely a good thing considering the overarching journey that "Every Heart a Doorway" took me on. I loved the introduction and idea of the world in this novel. The characters also captivated me, and made me want to know more about them even in the mix of a number of harrowing events that kept me on the edge of my seat steamrolling through the novel's end.

Nancy is a young woman who has been sent to Eleanor West's "Home for Wayward Children". She, like many of the students attending, is recovering from being sent into an otherworldly realm that's left her forever changed from the experience. I think that's one of the premises that drew me into this series in the first place. Many of us read fantasy stories in which children or adults are sent into an "otherworld" of sorts, but don't exactly think about what happens when they come back and have to deal with the "real world" again. This novel has a blend of character experiences in this vein, but not all of them had ventured into bright, blooming, shimmering worlds (though some do). Some, like Nancy, descended into worlds that were dark and disturbing. In Nancy's case, she walked with ghosts - and that made her a bit of an outcast to begin with. But she really gets into trouble as the characters who have interacted with her...well...meet not so cheerful fates that put her in the center of the crosshairs for blame.

This is a really, really, REALLY short book, that I almost wish were a little bit longer considering everything that happens and all the potential that was wrapped up into it. Considering it involves murder and grisly, gory scenes with a fair helping of diverse characters who are wrapped within the journey, I could appreciate what it had to offer. It ended a little too soon for the way the book steamrolled with blow after blow for plot conflict, but in the end, I liked what it had to offer and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more into the series built by McGuire here.

Overall score: 4/5 stars. ...more

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Nov 05, 2016 Jeann (Happy Indulgence) rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, 2016-releases

4.5 stars

What an incredibly beautiful book! Although short, in under 200 pages it will leave you with a lasting impact long after you've read it.

I loved the concept of Every Heart a Doorway, a home for wayward children aged 12-19 who are suffering from their own reality in a way. There's so many fantastic forms of diversity here, from the transgender, to the asexual and the gay relationship. I enjoyed how the book challenged gender stereotypes and how no judgement should be formed - if Kade want 4.5 stars

What an incredibly beautiful book! Although short, in under 200 pages it will leave you with a lasting impact long after you've read it.

I loved the concept of Every Heart a Doorway, a home for wayward children aged 12-19 who are suffering from their own reality in a way. There's so many fantastic forms of diversity here, from the transgender, to the asexual and the gay relationship. I enjoyed how the book challenged gender stereotypes and how no judgement should be formed - if Kade wants to be a boy who used to be a girl, then so be it. The teens are encouraged to keep an open mind and not judge others for what they are - if only real world was like that!

We were seventeen when we came out. Maybe we would have been able to adapt to this stupid, colorful, narrow-minded world if we'd woken from a shared dream and been thrown straight into middle-school.

Set in a portal between worlds, where a doorway to the boarding school will open to those that need it, Every Heart a Doorway is magical and enchanting. I went into the book thinking it was going to be middle grade, given the term of "children" is used, but it's definitely an older read. From sexuality, female pleasure and self-identity, the book addresses many important topics through a cast of memorable characters. There's also an underlying mystery of a killer on the loose when some of the schoolmates are murdered.

The book is weird, wonderful, important and whimsical all in one with characters to suit. With worlds classed as High Nonsense (I'm guessing fantasy), High Logic (real life) and everything in between, it was interesting to see the types of characters that Nancy encountered at school. Jack and Jill are female twins who were given gender stereotypes by their parents, but seeing them conduct themselves in different manners was fascinating. Jack was such a weird and slightly creepy analytical character who talked about death and murder without missing a beat, while Jill is the pretty one whose path becomes quite unexpected. There's also the psychologist Lundy, who's trapped in a child's body and the transgender boy Kade who flirts with Nancy.

Beautifully written with a wonderful concept of teensescaping their worlds, a fantastic cast of weird and wonderful characters and intersectional diversity, Every Heart a Doorway is a must read for everyone. I wish it wasn't such a short novella, because I wanted more of this brilliant world.

Check out Happy Indulgence Books for more reviews! ...more

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Jan 25, 2017 Chessa rated it really liked it

4.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. McGuire sets up a complicated world of portals, alternate realities, magic, etc alongside a murder mystery with fleshed-out characters and gorgeous writing in such a small number of pages that it's almost unbelievable. It didn't really feel like a novella - I felt satisfied by this story, not starving for more.

I really loved seeing such diverse characters brought to life on the page - these facets of the characters were not "the story" but rather ju ...more

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Oct 12, 2016 Haley rated it it was amazing

I’m going to start by acknowledging that this book has an asexual protagonist–and not like “oh, this character doesn’t have sex so we are inferring.” She comes right out and says “I am asexual.” That deserves it’s own applause. So here you go.

There’s also a transgender character and other queer characters. This is literally a book full of LGBTQA+ representation. ALL THE APPLAUSE.

And that is really the point of the book. This is a marvelous metaphor for those trying to come out of the closet. The ...more

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Oct 30, 2018 Ashley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, on-my-bookshelf, teen-fiction, favorites, diverse, overdrive, broward-library

A new favorite. An absolute gem of a book. I don't know why it's taken me so long to finally read!

First read: October 29, 2018 to October 30, 2018

Second read: December 12, 2023 to December 14, 223 ...more

1 like · Like · see review