This is exactly the kind of book that makes middle-grade fantasy worth reading. Barnhill takes a fairy tale structure—mysterious ogress, plucky orphans, corrupt authority figure—and uses it to teach kids about prejudice, media literacy, and community action without feeling like a lesson plan.

The story works because it trusts kids to understand complex ideas: that charismatic people can be villains, that communities can be wrong, that changing minds requires both kindness and persistence. The fourteen orphans aren't passive victims; they're resourceful problem-solvers who figure out how to share the ogress's story when adults refuse to listen.

It's a National Book Award finalist that parents rave about, with one noting that kids will recognize 'characters who, like most real people, are neither only good or only bad.' That nuance is rare in middle-grade fiction. Plus it comes with a discussion guide, making it perfect for family book clubs or classroom reads.

The only caveat: it's a 2022 release that's still building its reputation, so it doesn't have the instant name recognition of Barnhill's Newbery winner. But the 4.6 Amazon rating and strong reviews suggest it's finding its audience. If your kid liked The Girl Who Drank the Moon or needs a thoughtful fantasy that's more substance than spectacle, this delivers.