Guest: A Changeling Tale by Mary Downing Hahn

My name is Mollie, and a silver necklace and harsh words were supposed to protect my baby brother Thomas from the Kinde Folke. But I was the one who said kind things about him and lifted the chain from his neck. Now, a changeling has taken his place, and the wretched creature has ruined our lives. Dadoe is gone, and Mam is in poor health. Maybe I can find the Kinde Folke and swap the changeling back for my brother. No one knows where they live, and I've been warned that the journey will be dangerous. However, my family's problems won't go away until we're rid of the changeling we've taken to calling Guest. A guest is only temporary, and it's time this one returns to where it belongs. 

I can always count on Mary Downing Hahn to come through with an entertaining book. She's a creative author and knows how to push the right buttons to create consistently spooky, engaging stories. The text isn't complicated, but the descriptions are able to evoke many emotions. The concept of the changeling isn't overly unique, but in this story he becomes a sympathetic character. I don't recall reading about a main character trying to return a changeling back to the creatures who had provided the replacement. The characters usually treat it as a nasty beast and try to get rid of it, and this book begins the same way. Guest starts the book, as a mean, demanding imp and maintains this behavior until Mollie changes how she treats him. Remember the Golden Rule saying "Do unto others, as they would do unto you?" Mollie is a dynamic character, and her transformation throughout the story is heart-warming and virtuous. At first, the changes require a lot of prompting from a mysterious traveler, but you will find yourself rooting for Mollie and Guest. Overall, the book is engaging and enjoyable, and I recommend you give it a shot.