Ivy and Forest Rewrite the World

Fairy tale heroes and fantasy villains chase one another across the multiverse in this clever middle grade debut that sparkles with bookish magic and quick-witted humor.

Ivy is an isolated, daydreaming girl in the "real" world. Forest is a scrawny, unlikely hero in Ivy's "pretend" story.

Never the two shall meet . . . until Forest unexpectedly walks through a portal and finds himself in Ivy's queendom. All Forest wants to do is talk to the author of his story about a few edits to his character arc--he has no idea what kind of narrative stakes he is up against.

As soon as Ivy and Forest try to rewrite Forest's story, the pair gets caught in an evil wizard's plot for world domination. They must travel through the multiverse of Ivy's imagination--along with a mishmash cast of abandoned characters, including junior superheroes, an intrepid Victorian girl detective, and even a rough draft version of Forest himself--to foil their dastardly foe. If they don't succeed in their heroic quest, each and every world (possibly even Ivy's own!) could be obliterated with just two short words: "The End."

Each story splinters into the next in this brilliant spin on classic storytelling tropes that celebrates the power of imagination and creativity during uncertain times. Bursting with energy, Hannah West makes a fresh middle grade debut that is perfect for bookworms and kids with big imaginations. Features spot illustrations and a map of Ivy's multiverse destinations.

Author: Hannah West
Publisher: Holiday House
Published: 10/14/2025
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.70w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780823459865
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2025
Booklist 09/01/2025

About the Author
Hannah West is an author of young adult novels, including the Nissera Chronicles series and The Bitterwine Oath. Her YA debut, Kingdom of Ash and Briars, received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year. She is a professional copywriter by day and a nature-loving sweets enthusiast around the clock. She lives in the Dallas area with her husband and son, along with their rambunctious rescue pets. Learn more about her books at hannahwestauthor.com.

Jennifer Bricking is a video game concept artist and the illustrator of children's books, including The Memory Cake, by Caroline Perry, and Jackie and the Mona Lisa, by Debbie Robin Murphy. She currently lives in Seattle, where she likes to ride her bike, skateboard, and explore the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Find her at @jenbricking.