A ragtag band of orphans and a kindhearted ogress fight xenophobia and cynicism in Kelly Barnhill's Indie Next List title, The Ogress and the Orphans, which was shortlisted for the National Book Award.
Stone-in-the-Glen was once a model town, but it has become a shell of itself since the Library burned. Drawn to the town's need, a compassionate Ogress builds a home on its outskirts and comforts her neighbors with anonymous deliveries of food and handmade cards. Her shyness and differences make her an easy target for the conniving Mayor, who steers his disgruntled constituents into blaming her for the town's problems. The clever orphans know the truth, but the adults won't believe them. Barnhill delivers a plea for empathy with deft charm and, despite the deceptive simplicity of the story, characters act in wonderfully complex ways. Deeply moving and often hilarious. --Jaclyn Fulwood, youth experience manager, Dayton Metro Library