When Sadie was thirteen, her father left town to live with the bears in the magical woods surrounding their hometown. Years later, her father was eaten by the bears. Raised, the new book by Eva Adderley, follows Sadie as she deals with loss and fosters new friendships in a whimsical world.
"It definitely intentionally has some fairytale vibes," says Adderley of the story. "I love fairytales. I think there is something beautiful how they're both really lush and really simple." The book keeps one foot in reality and one in the world of magical realism. Sadie's journey with grief is shared with a wolf-woman she meets on the road who is also experiencing a parting of her own.
The town in the story, referred to as 'The Liminal Place', feels like a step back in time and also a place removed from what we know and expect. "There are a lot of traditions that this town has had around craftspeople... that feels a little surreal and magical on its own," says Adderley. "Additionally, there are real magical elements. There are tree-people... there's a woman who can spin cotton candy out of clouds."
Peppered throughout the book are illustrations (all created by the author) that lean into and support the timeless and natural aspects of the story.
Raised by Eva Adderley is available at Acorn Bookshop in the Twin Cities as well as online through the Campfire Press website.
Minnesota Reads is produced at The North 103.3 with funding provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
