I am not the type that rereads books. 

I’m not necessarily repelled by disinterest. Rather, its often fear that prevents me from picking up my most cherished childhood novels once again: fear that what really lies on the page is no longer as magical as I remembered. What if those stories are only enchanting when shrouded in nostalgia? For the longest time, I was unwilling to find out.

But this week, I opened my most cherished book for the first time in nearly a decade: The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann. Eight years and one childhood later, here’s what I found.

Set in the dull, dystopian land of Quill, The Unwanteds follows the story of two 13-year-old twins: Alex and Aaron Stowe. Only one thing divides the two. One is an “intelligent,” disciplined Wanted in Quill society; the other is artistic – an Unwanted – cursed with an illegal creativity and sentenced to death. But, when these Unwanteds are eliminated from within Quill’s dull and deathly walls, they find the magical land of Artimé, a beautiful haven for Unwanteds and the vibrant creativity they bring. When these two, opposite societies meet, only time will tell if darkness or light will prevail.

Reading this book for the second time, I can say with certainty that magic still flows through every single page. Maybe it is nostalgia; maybe it’s just the child in me that calls for this magical tale. But, regardless of why, this story enchants me. It is, as expected, a comfortable read, but the narrative McMann crafts matches that of a much more complex novel. But, what sets this book apart are the images McMann is able to paint. Her story is so unique that it demands intense imagination in order to visualize every single scene. It’s within those imagined images where magic truly lives. Its immersive on every level, deeply exciting for even a high-school reader.

So, would I recommend this book to anyone – a past reader or a newcomer to the Unwanteds universe? Yes. It’s no challenge, but it’s a magical experience for anyone looking for an enchanting story to read.