Windswept by Margi Preus

A new fairytale is on the scene drawing young readers under its spell! Following the formula of the hero on a quest, Windswept features a collection of very unlikely heroes. Tag (short for Tagalong) witnessed the Wind sweeping up and taking away her older sisters. As more and more children fell victim to the Wind's power, youngsters were kept indoors while living in fear of the outdoors. But Tag was no ordinary youngster and she soon felt compelled to try to find and rescue her sisters.

She makes the acquaintance of a number of orphaned children. Together they brave the elements to embark on what may be the most dangerous mission of their young lives. When the unthinkable happens (you'll have to read to find out), the children are left struggling to find the courage to keep going. With the help of some very unusual adults along the way, they band together. But they continue to hear an ominous message that they may be too late. Will it be worth trying to battle not only the Wind, but also trolls intent on stopping them? You'll have to read it yourself to find out whether they succeed on their quest!

For the most part, the book was truly delightful with young people discovering hidden strengths they didn't know they had, and learning to work together through hardship. There was one passing reference to a story that included same-sex attraction (if reading aloud, that comment could easily be skipped without affecting the story in any way). A more significant thread running through the tale was the opinion that humans have destroyed the planet. Felt a bit preachy and unnatural to harp on that point. I prefer fairy tales that focus more on a life lesson or moral than on political commentary. Aside from that, the tale was creative and heartwarming.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Windswept from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.