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Down Among the Sticks and Bones

Wayward Children #2 / 12
by Seanan McGuire
Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Wayward Children #2) by Seanan McGuire
  ★ 7.34 / 3
1★2★3★4★5★16★7★28★9★10★

Hugo Award nominee 2018.

A novella.

A new stand-alone dark fantasy tale from the world of Every Heart a Doorway: what happened to Jack and Jill before they tumbled into Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children

Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.

This is the story of what happened first.

Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter — polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline.

Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter — adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tomboy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got.

They were five when they learned that grown-ups can’t be trusted.

They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you for a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices.

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Standard Shelves
Updated 05/07/2025
Category: Fantasy, Dark Fantasy
Release date: June 11, 2017

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Seanan McGuire

Seanan McGuire

Seanan McGuire is a name that resonates with readers of urban fantasy, horror, and science fiction, known for her deep explorations into the dark and strange corners of the world. But while many recognize her for her October Daye and InCryptid series, Seanan’s literary prowess extends far beyond her most famous works. Under the name Mira Grant, she delves into gripping dystopias and terrifyingly believable horror with a touch of speculative brilliance. As A. Deborah Baker, she ventures into the whimsical and profound, creating rich, layered worlds that ask the reader to think deeply while being swept away in adventure.

Read more ...

Born and raised in Northern California, Seanan’s love for storytelling began early, with a childhood full of fantasy novels and a passion for role-playing games. That interest eventually blossomed into a career that spans genres and shows no sign of slowing down. She first burst onto the scene with the October Daye series, which blends urban fantasy with rich mythological underpinnings, offering a world filled with creatures, magic, and politics, all wrapped in the character of a fierce and witty protagonist.

In addition to her work as Seanan McGuire, she has written under the name Mira Grant, bringing readers to the brink of horror with novels like Feed, which explore the intersection of zombie apocalypses and media culture. As A. Deborah Baker, she crafts stories that reflect her interest in history, exploration, and the mysteries of the unknown, offering tales that balance wonder with a healthy dose of dark curiosity.

Her books, whether written under her real name or her pseudonyms, all share a common thread: characters facing the unknown, struggling with their identities, and navigating worlds where reality and fantasy are intertwined. Whether diving into the eerie, the fantastical, or the unsettling, Seanan McGuire’s work invites readers to venture into realms where the impossible feels heartbreakingly real, and where every twist and turn is a promise of something both new and familiar.

Wayward Children

In the Wayward Children series, Seanan McGuire invites readers into a world where children discover doors to alternate realities—worlds that feel more like home than the one they were born into. But when they return to the mundane world, they find themselves lost, unable to reconnect with a reality that feels increasingly foreign. It’s a story about being somewhere you don’t belong and longing for a place that can never be returned to.

Read more ...

The series opens with Every Heart a Doorway, where readers are introduced to Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children. Here, the misfits are offered a safe haven to process their experiences, from worlds of beauty and magic to those of science, logic, and madness. But beyond the walls of the school, these kids must contend with the realities of their strange and often dangerous adventures, and the haunting question of whether they'll ever truly fit back into a world that no longer feels like their own.

Each installment delves into a different child’s journey, unraveling unique stories of self-discovery, resilience, and loss. In Down Among the Sticks and Bones, the focus shifts to twins Jack and Jill, who must come to terms with their dark and twisted past. Meanwhile, Beneath the Sugar Sky and In an Absent Dream explore realms where logic clashes with emotion, and reality twists under the weight of imagination. With each tale, McGuire masterfully layers her characters' development against the backdrop of the strange worlds they inhabit—worlds that are as wondrous as they are perilous.

The Wayward Children series isn’t just a portal fantasy. It’s a poignant exploration of belonging, identity, and the bittersweet nature of homecoming. It’s about the worlds we create within ourselves when we’re forced to navigate between spaces that feel impossible to reconcile.

For fans of immersive, character-driven fantasy, this series delivers a rare emotional depth and a haunting atmosphere. It doesn’t offer neat answers, but it poses questions that linger long after the pages are turned—about what it means to be home, and whether we can ever really go back.


Wayward Children consists of ten primary books, and includes one additional book that complement the series but is not considered mandatory reads and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of two more books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children #1)
  ★ 6.86 / 7
Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Wayward Children #2)
  ★ 7.34 / 3
Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children #3)
  ★ 7.00 / 5
In an Absent Dream (Wayward Children #4)
  ★ 9.00 / 2
Come Tumbling Down (Wayward Children #5)
  ★ 8.00 / 3
Across the Green Grass Fields (Wayward Children #6)
  ★ 8.00 / 2
Where the Drowned Girls Go (Wayward Children #7)
  ★ 10.00 / 1
Lost in the Moment and Found (Wayward Children #8)
  ★ 9.00 / 1
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known (Wayward Children #9)
  ★ 8.00 / 1
Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear (Wayward Children #10)
  ★ 8.00 / 1
Through Gates of Garnet and Gold (Wayward Children #11)
  ⧗ 8.00 / 1
Wayward Children Book 12 (Wayward Children #12)
  ⧗ 8.00 / 1
Be Sure (Wayward Children)
  ★ 9.00 / 1


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