Vanya and the Wild Hunt

Gr 3-7–Vanya Vallen, an 11-year-old with ADHD, feels out of place in her mostly white English town and finds solace in books—especially those that talk to her! Vanya is stunned to learn that the mythical creatures she’s read about are real when a monster from dark folklore invades her home. As questions about her mother’s mysterious past arise, Vanya travels to Auramere, an enchanted library and school, to learn how to protect her family. Among archwitches and archivists, Vanya finally finds a sense of belonging with her new caretakers, Jasper and his husband Roman. But safety is fleeting, and as the ominous Wild Hunt looms, Vanya must find the courage to protect her newfound community. In a market brimming with Western European folklore and Greco-Roman mythology, Mandanna’s narrative shines, balancing traditional tropes (mermaids and bogeymen) with culturally specific elements like Suvannamaccha, Dullahan, and Goggayya. Fast-paced and engaging, the story carries themes of belonging and self-acceptance, making Vanya’s journey resonate with neurodivergent and neurotypical readers alike. Vanya’s close-knit family all share dark brown eyes and hair; Vanya and her mother, who grew up near India’s Western Ghats, have light brownish-gold skin, while her father from South London has deep golden-brown skin. Supporting characters include friends Ben, a green-eyed, blond boy who identifies as autistic, and bubbly, baking-obsessed Poppy, who is Black.