The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsly

Summary: The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsly is a beautiful fairy tale that sometimes reads like a Victorian Gothic novel. It has many of the elements of the latter: an orphan, a bleak orphanage, a mysterious benefactor, and a rich manor shrouded in secrets. Billingsly adds an element of magic with the addition of The Folk, magical creatures that live beneath the human realm and must be kept satisfied through the efforts of a Folk Keeper.


Corinna is one such Folk Keeper. Masquerading as a boy, the young orphan has found her way into an acceptable life, keeping the voracious and sometimes evilly mischievous Folk of Rhysbridge quiet so they don’t ruin the crops or curdle the milk. She records her activities in her Folk Record, as all good folk keepers do, and it is this record that holds the story itself. Corrina is the queen of her domain, protected by the knowledge that everyone else fears the folk and will not enter her cellar unless there is a dire need.

When a mysterious man makes a deathbed visit and whisks her away to the remote manor of Marblehaugh Park, Corinna discovers questions about her own origins and abilities she was unaware of. She also finds herself in the middle of a plot to get control of the manor which puts her and one she loves in great danger.

Can Corinna save the day while also discovering the truth about who she really is? Will she have to choose between two homes once the truth is discovered?

Themes:
Secrets
Self-discovery
Individuality

Age Appropriateness:
10 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild