The Stolen Child is all of that, and much more. Gail Cooke: 'It has been called magical, beguiling, remarkable, and vividly imagined. It is a world that is the stuff of fairy tales, only the author has turned it into one that is fitting for adults.' I simply could not put it down! The author has created a fantasy world that exists on the cusp of the consciousness of humans. Lawyeraau: 'This haunting and beautifully written debut novel had me compulsively turning its pages. It is an interesting story, as both 'boys' have different perspectives on the life of a 'growing' boy.' I am a very finicky fiction reader, and I was delighted by Donohue's incredibly ability to make sensory experiences real, to make conversations flow naturally and logically-yet leading to surprise after surprise.'Ĭharles Ashbacher: 'The book moves back and forth between the two Henry's, how the substitute Henry handles his assimilation into human society and how the original adapts to the society that kidnapped him. Within minutes, I was completely drawn into this book. Joanna Daneman: 'I found the writing stunningly simple and gripping. If so, the fault is mine, not that of the story.' Perhaps I lack a sense of romance and sympathy for the strivings of the dispossessed. However, I think a story about an adopted child without the parallel changeling world would have been more interesting. 'ĭonald Mitchell: 'What would it like to be adopted and have your head full of fantasies? It might feel very much like this story.

fear of separation from one’s family, especially from parents). Robert Morris: 'Donohue brilliantly explores all manner of themes, many of which are found in the most popular fairy tales and nursery rhymes (e.g. An ingeniously crafted tale about hobgoblins, is a coming of age story and one about identities both lost and found.' Joseph Haschka: ' The Stolen Child is a fairy tale for adults that transcends standard fare. Yeats poem 'The Stolen Child', Keith Donohue's novel of the same title is a fine addition to the fantasy literature genre, yet told with the ample realism one expects from great works of mainstream literature.'Ī. Exceedingly polished prose with a compelling and original twist on a classic theme'. Keith Donohue has produced an exquisite first novel. Boudville: 'An updated and realistic Peter Pan. This is a fantastic fantasy that readers will enjoy immensely.' Harriet Klausner: 'Keith Donohue writes a great novel that will have readers debating the impact of nurturing and naturing as both Henrys adapt and adjust, but never feel whole. For the sake of space, we've only included a brief excerpt of each reviewer's response.

We've included these early reviews below in the order they were received. We queried our top 100 reviewers as of April 6 from, and asked them to read The Stolen Child and share their thoughts.

The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue