Every Heart a Doorway

Every Heart a Doorway is a YA novel by Seanan McGuire, the first in her Wayward Children series. It was the winner of the 2016 Hugo Award, 2017 Nebula award, 2017 Locus Award, and received many nominations.

Nancy arrives at Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, a few months fresh from a stint in the Underworld. She learns that she is one of dozens of children who found doors to magical worlds, that run on nonsense or logic. They're back in reality, and most are not handling it well. They want to return to those worlds. Nancy is no different. She wants to find her door, sooner rather than later.

Orientation will have to wait, however; dead bodies start appearing on school grounds, missing their limbs. Nancy is suspected, as is a mad scientist's apprentice named Jack. Miss West becomes frantic about protecting the children, by any means necessary. If they don't find the killer soon, the school could close, and Nancy may never find her door.


 * Adult Fear:
 * We see two sides of it with the premise of the doors: your child goes missing for a few months, or a few years even, and they come back utterly changed. Lucky ones have PTSD or a dose of Nonsense, and the not-so-lucky ones have been raised by vampires or served as Underworld servants. The stories of where they have been are too ridiculous to be the truth. Indeed, Christopher's parents logically think that the Skeleton Girl he met and wants to marry must be another runaway he met while missing, and are terrified to think that she must be dying on the streets.
 * Then imagine you are the kid. You are this child who found a magical world, some scary, others nonsensical and some rational. Then you are thrust back into this reality, where you have become a stranger to your parents, who were once a distant memory. If you speak the truth, you'll likely be committed. Even if you can't explain, your parents will want the old you back, the cheerful child.
 * Kade mentions that his parents disowned him for presenting as a boy when he returned from fairy land. They want "Katie" back, and nothing to do with Kade..
 * When students are murdered at the school, Eleanor gives a meaningful funeral to the ones that are her wards, and . She knows it's not the right decision, but a death on school grounds with investigators would mean the school would be closed down.
 * Bullying a Dragon: Those acclimated to the school know that Kade is more important than he looks, given Thus, Angela comes off as stupid and transphobic when she insults Kade by saying he's supposed to be a girl after he defends Nancy and Jack. And she says it in front of Miss West,, without realizing that Miss West was in earshot. We don't hear of her punishment, but Eleanor gives her a stern talking-to in the morning.
 * Cool Aunt: Miss West is revealed to be this for.
 * Do Wrong Right: This is why Jack maintains that she's not cutting up dead bodies for their organs. The killer is super sloppy, leaving the bodies out for the students and teachers to find. She was trained to always hide bodies, and be precise with any organ donation. Indeed, when accused of taking We find out Jack was right;.
 * Good Cannot Comprehend Evil: Downplayed with Jack, who has done mad scientist deeds like involuntary organ donations For Science! under her mentor Dr. Bleak's tutelage. She maintains, however, that everything was pragmatic and practical. Jack is also shocked and betrayed when learning that.
 * Honor Before Reason:
 * This is why Lorelei returned to the real world. The spider queen she met offered to make her princess of this Web Kingdom, but Lorelei said she had to ask her parents first, despite knowing that her door may not reappear..
 * Jack reveals that she could have returned to her door at any time, if.
 * Only Sane Man: Kade out of all the students is the best-adjusted of the kids who haven't or never will find their doors. He helps them do clothing swaps when their parents meddle with their wardrobes, gives them a basic introduction if orientation is no help, and is matter-of-fact about the truth that . So he's going to run the school when.