In this charming middle grade fantasy, two nearly 13-year-old boys raised as twins-one a goblin changeling-set out in search of the truth behind their origins. Cole and Tinn are inseparable, neither knowing nor caring which one might be the changeling, but when a mysterious note calls for the changeling's return, they waste no time in venturing into the danger-infested woods and the swamp known as the Oddmire. There, the two encounter hazards aplenty, plus a strange girl named Fable and a terrifying witch, Queen of the Deep Dark. Soon joining the gathering are the twins' mother, Annie, and the goblin Kull, who was responsible for leaving behind a changeling when the boys were infants. Together, they must find a way to defeat the monster at the heart of the Oddmire and restore magic to the woods. Ritter (the Jackaby series) crafts a well-paced adventure filled with whimsy and peril, in which the bonds of family and love prove stronger than any spell or curse. With memorable characters-especially the irrepressible protagonists, who make a delightful team-and an atmospheric setting, this is a strong series opener. Ages 8-12. Agent: Lucy Carson, the Friedrich Agency. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Tinn and Cole Burton have been raised as twins their entire lives, living with their mom, Annie, in the town of Endsborough at the edge of the Wild Wood, dark woods the townsfolk avoid for fear of the creatures that live there. What Tinn and Cole don't know is which one of them is actually a goblin mimicking the other. As babies, a goblin, Kull, tried and failed to swap a changeling for a human baby, leaving both Tinn and Cole in the human world. Now, almost 13 years later, Kull is attempting to return the changeling to the Wild Wood before all goblinkind and the Wild Wood itself perishes completely. As Tinn and Cole enter the woods in an attempt to cross the murky Oddmire and find out the truth once and for all, they encounter other creatures and must keep an eye out for the Witch of the Wood, all while unaware of a much darker, sinister force that has already sensed their presence. Set in a magical world filled with incredible creatures from folklore, this fast-paced fantasy will keep readers turning the pages as they follow the twins through the dark and mysterious woods. Unique characters with complex personalities will give readers insight into the feelings and actions of not only Tinn, Cole, and their mother but also the creatures both good and evil they encounter on their journey. A captivating series opener.--Selenia Paz Copyright 2019 Booklist

A human boy and a goblin changeling are raised as brothers.Thirteen years ago, a goblin out of the Wild Wood brought a doppelgnger to exchange for a human infantthen had to dash away to escape detection, leaving both infant and changeling behind. Though everyone knows one of the babies must be a changeling, their mother insisted on raising Tinn and Cole as twins. Now, years later, they're inseparable, and both drive their mother to distraction, playing in the quarry and swapping the salt for the sugar. But one day the boys receive a mysterious letter explaining that if the changeling child doesn't join the goblin horde, all the magical creatures will die. Neither boy knows who the real changeling actually is, and though they're mischievous and irreverent, they each want what's best for one another. Thus begins Tinn and Cole's quest through the Wild Wood, past the Oddmire, and beyond the Deep Dark. They'll encounter not just goblins, but also a hinkypunk (a grieving will-o'-the-wisp with a candle in his beard), the Witch of the Wood, and a feral little shape-shifting girl their own age. Apparently set in the same fantastic, alternative bygone America as Ritter's Jacoby series for teens, this middle-grade adventure starts slow but ramps up into a tale of maternal and brotherly love that's never mawkishly sentimental.A delightful series opener. (Fantasy. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 3--7--Two brothers, Tinn and Cole, raised as twins by their mother on the edge of the Wild Wood, grew up with rumors that one of them is actually a goblin changeling brought to the human world to be exchanged for a human child. The boys are inseparable and take great pleasure in fatiguing their mom with their wild antics. One day, however, Tinn and Cole receive a letter saying that the changeling must return to the goblin horde or everything in the Wild Wood will die. And so begins their quest to save the horde (and themselves), and stave off the "lots of death" promised in the letter sent to them. Along the way they meet all manner of magical creatures and travel through a part of American folklore resting on the edge of unbelievable. Fans of Michael Buckley's "Sisters Grimm" novels will delight in this fast-paced, page-turning fantasy. Those who love the magical universe will look forward to reading the young adult "Jackaby" series by the same author. VERDICT A must-buy for any collection and a title that will lead readers to other classic titles used as source material.--Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., St. Pius X High School, Houston, TX

Annie Burton had given birth to one baby, but now there are two: twins. Goblins, the townspeople whisper; the new one surely was a changeling meant to have replaced the real baby. Unruffled, Annie raises Tinn and Cole in a home full of warmth and love, their lives uneventful. Until the eve of the twins thirteenth birthday, when Kull, the goblin who bungled the original switch, lures them into the Wild Wood, where only a changeling can stop the ebbing away of magic that has been happening there for years. Agreeing to help, the boys trek through the Oddmire swamp and into the terrifying Deep Dark, acquiring companions along the way. Ritter (author of the Holmesian steampunk Jackaby series for teens) has created a riveting adventure set in a fully realized magical world that feels both timeless and of today. Major and minor characters are well rounded; even the most villainous among them have backstories that evoke readers sympathy. Alongside the requisite courage and fraternal bond of the hero twins is a lovely theme of maternal love that weaves throughout; in this fairy tale, mothers dont passively stay home but are fierce and ready to take action. Vivid writing makes for moments of humor, pathos, and suspense. Readers with a taste for quests and excitement, all contained in a not-overly-scary package, will gobble up this first in a series and then eagerly await book two. monica edinger September/October 2019 p.98(c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.