- The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine
- by Lindsay A. Franklin
- Publisher: Enclave Escape
- Release date: February 4, 2025
- ISBN: 9798886051780
Emlyn “Emmy” DuLaine stopped writing and telling stories after her sister unraveled and vanished before her eyes seven years ago. Now she is at a loss when a small dragon that she wrote about as a child has appeared in her bedroom. She follows it to a portal located in the exact place her sister disappeared and decides that going through it may provide the answers she’s been seeking. The world she lands in, Rivenlea, is remarkably similar to the world she set her childhood stories in and she soon learns that she is part of a team tasked with fixing broken stories. Dubious of her own abilities but desperate for answers, Emmy reluctantly accepts her role and continues investigating her sister’s whereabouts. The longer she stays in Rivenlea, however, the more she notices troubling signs that both Rivenlea and Earth are breaking – and she is somehow at the center of all it.
This love-letter to the power of stories is a compelling take on the portal fantasy genre. Emmy is a loveable, snarky protagonist who has read tons of YA and is very aware of tropes, giving the sense of humor in this series opener an amusingly self-aware vibe. The world-building is meticulous and immersive, both in Rivenlea and in a broken version of Oz that Emmy and her new friends are sent to fix. The plot is unpredictable, but readers will enjoy the satisfying way details fit together by the end of the book.
Fans of portal fantasies will find lots to love in Emmy’s story, as well as readers who enjoy seeing characters or settings from familiar and beloved works of literature in fresh contexts. Hand this series starter to readers who aren’t quite ready for adult portal fantasies like Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series or older YA titles like In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan. This would also be a great fit for readers who loved series like Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige or Splintered by A. G. Howard.
– Courtney Waters
The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.
Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.
The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: tinyurl.com/bfya2026