
A city darkens, a boy is lost, and a girl seeks answers in a magical forest.
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In Hodorf, Nim lives by the Tattercoats' code, surviving with her rat, Nibbles. When Otto, a new boy, is ensnared by a fallen Tattercoat's schemes, Nim must save him. As the city grows colder and darker, Nim ventures into the mysterious woods, seeking Otto and the truth behind the vanishing sundragons. Can she uncover the secrets before the city freezes over?
From a masterful storyteller comes an adventure filled with magic and mischief, courage and family. Perfect for fans of The Penderwicks and the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. In the city of Hodorf, the Tattercoats live by a strict code. Only steal what you need, don’t leave a trace of yourself behind, and if another Tattercoat is in trouble, you must always help them out. These are the rules that guide Nim’s life as she and her rat, Nibbles, live on the streets and the rooftops of the only place she’s ever called home. So when a new boy named Otto comes to town and gets caught up in the devious plottings of a former Tattercoat who’s fallen from grace, Nim takes it upon herself to come to Otto’s rescue. But Otto isn’t the only one who needs help: The days in Hodorf have been growing progressively shorter and darker since the legendary sundragons went extinct. The air is getting colder, hope is waning, and it won’t be long until the freeze grows so bone-deep that the chimneys the Tattercoats use for warmth at night will no longer suffice. With things growing more dire, Nim sets off into the murky woods surrounding the city, searching for Otto–and for answers. With this story of magic, wonder, adventure, and smarts, Matilda firmly establishes herself as a powerful voice in the middle-grade space. Praise for Otto Tattercoat and the Forest of Lost Things * An engrossing tale…Both charming and wise. –Kirkus Reviews, starred review Woods fills her tale with vivid settings–a Dickensian atmosphere, a fairyland forest–and touching teamwork, and Otto’s fortitude makes for a winning read. –Publishers Weekly [A] frosty tale of magic and bravery. –Booklist
What families may want to know
Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.
Presence of Death
A couple of minor characters freeze to death in coldstorms.
Abuse
A factory owner tricks children into working for her under terrible working conditions including no food and rat infestations. The children say that she cut out one boy's tongue, and at the end it's implied that maybe she really did.
The Tattercoats live by a code of conduct call the Tattercode. What do think of the Tattercode?
As orphans, the Tattercoats face many difficulties. In what ways were they resourceful? How did they look out for one another?
5.5
out of 7
“The Tattercoats are fun characters. Their resourcefulness is inspiring as they find ways to survive dangerous "coldstorms.”
Trusted reviewer
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