Falling In

Falling In by, Frances O'Roark Dowell ISBN-13: 978-1416950325

Isabelle Bean is an unlikely heroine. Friendless and eccentric, she questions reality in a way that drives everyone around her absolutely crazy. One fateful day, Isabelle, who was distracted by a strange buzzing sound under her school, was sent to the principal's office. There, she falls down a magic hole, which leads Isabelle into a fairy tale world that feels much more like home than the world Isabelle had always known. The children Isabelle meets in this new land are escaping to secret camps in order to hide from the evil Witch of the Woods, but Isabelle finds the idea of witches exciting and desperately wants to meet one. Isabelle befriends a girl named Hen and tricks her into accompanying Isabelle to the witch's house. Isabelle, who has always known how it feels to be different, learns that even wicked witches are not always what they seem. Isabelle may be an outsider in both worlds, but she learns a lot about growing into the kind of person she was always meant to be. This enchanting story offers children a chance for philosophical speculation as Isabelle lures readers into the journey of her own personal growth. She speaks directly to readers, which helps them to relate to Isabelle's evolution from misfit to heroine. Isabelle demonstrates how challenging it is to balance one's sense of creative freedom with the need to be socially accepted. Falling In is a fairy tale about growing up.