Once a Queen
Recommended. Age: 13+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
A Narnia-style story about grief, guilt and the long road home. A wounded grandmother has turned from magic and from God, and a wise stag tells Eva it is never too late to make wrong things right. The magic is story-world magic in the Lewis mode, not occult practice. The prose is uneven and the sorrow runs deep, so this suits thoughtful readers of thirteen and up.
For parents
Read aloud from 11, independent reading from 13. Plugged In says 13 and up. The grief and family wounds are heavy. Ask who the stag reminds them of, and why. Ask what Eva does when she learns she has wronged someone, and how confession helps us make wrong things right.