Illustrated by E.K. Belsher

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A spellbinding and lyrical modern fairy tale about a girl who journeys to an enchanted world to find the twin she’s never met, filled with lavish illustrations that bring the magic to life, perfect for fans of the Chronicles of Narnia.

After her mother passes away and her father retreats into his grief, 11-year-old Anne Applebaum is afraid the only happy endings she’ll ever have are in The World to Come, a collection of fairy tales about the flying forest of Bei Ilai. In its pages, children outsmart demons, girls train as knights, and songs come to life. But even these stories can’t stop Anne from feeling alone. So when a raven tells her that she has a long-lost twin brother named Rainer, she sets out to find him. Anne soon learns that Bei Ilai is a real place—and she must step through the door into this magical realm to seek her brother.

But the dangers in the flying forest are just as real as its beauty. To overcome the challenges and monsters she faces, Anne must lean into the magic contained within her and her Jewish faith—especially when she discovers Rainer is locked away by a being more frightening than any dragon.

Because the most terrifying villain of all is one who used to be a hero.

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“With stunning prose and deeply relatable characters, Tale of the Flying Forest is a love letter to Jewish storytelling wrapped in a fairy-tale bow. As lyrical as a song and decadent as storybook chocolate, this story will sweep you away among its fox-shaped clouds.”
Kalyn Josephson, New York Times bestselling author of the Ravenfall series
“A delightful middle grade fantasy that's really quite timeless. It's absolutely charming, with lovely illustrations.”

Charles de Lint, award-winning author of The Cats of Tanglewood Forest
“Rich, lyrical storytelling in a breathtakingly imaginative world. A joy to read!”
Sophie Anderson, award-winning author of The House with Chicken Legs
"A tale for anyone who’s ever felt something was missing from their life, and what it is actually like to find it. No story has ever invited me into its pages like this. Romero's Tale of The Flying Forest will live in my imagination forever.”

Chris Baron, author of All of Me and The Magical Imperfect
“R. M. Romero’s lush, lyrical fairy tale takes us through an unforgettable mythical forest where marvels abound and menaces await, and bravery, kindness, and love can conquer all. I was enchanted by this story.”
Anne Ursu, author of Not Quite a Ghost
"An incredibly creative and compassionate case for holding on to hope and light while facing the darkest parts of the world."
Booklist
"Romero (Death’s Country) mixes fairy tale, Jewish lore, and homage to German poet Rainer Maria Rilke in this family-driven fantasy....spun with both a feminist and Judaic twist."
Publishers Weekly
"Seamlessly integrates quotes from the Torah and prayers throughout the text....[and] makes the novel read like a fairy tale itself."
School Library Journal
"An exciting, tender, and appealing adventure."
Kirkus Reviews

On Sale: Oct 15, 2024
Page Count: 368 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780316539487

R. M. Romero

About the Author

R.M. Romero (she/they) is a critically acclaimed Jewish Latina and international bestselling author of fairy tales for children and adults. She is the author of The Dollmaker of Kraków and The Ghosts of Rose Hill, both Sydney Taylor Notable Books; A Warning About Swans; and the forthcoming Death’s Country. R.M. Romero lives in Miami Beach with her cat Henry VIII and invites you to visit her online at rmromero.com.

Learn more about this author