The Crane Husband
The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill is a novella published by Tor Publishing Group on February 28, 2023. This 128-page work presents a contemporary retelling of the tale “The Crane Wife,” exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and family dynamics through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old girl. As the primary caretaker of her small Midwestern family, she navigates the complexities of her mother’s artistic pursuits and the arrival of a mysterious crane that disrupts their lives.
Readers will find a narrative that delves into the challenges of growing up too quickly while grappling with familial responsibilities. The story captures the tension between artistic ambition and the bonds of family, as the girl strives to protect her younger brother and maintain stability amidst her mother’s enchantment with the crane. This edition, written in English, invites readers into a world where folklore intertwines with contemporary issues, offering a unique perspective on the sacrifices made for love and the lengths one will go to safeguard their family.
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Nebula Award nominee for Best Novella
World Fantasy Award nominee for Best Novella
“If I had to nominate a worthy successor to Angela Carter, I would nominate Kelly Barnhill. “—Laura Ruby, two-time National Book Award finalist and author of Bone Gap
“A slim little novella that packs a narrative punch more intense than that of many books ten times its length.”—NPR
Award-winning author Kelly Barnhill brings her singular talents to The Crane Husband, a raw, powerful story of love, sacrifice, and family.
“Mothers fly away like migrating birds. This is why farmers have daughters.”
A fifteen-year-old teenager is the backbone of her small Midwestern family, budgeting the household finances and raising her younger brother while her mom, a talented artist, weaves beautiful tapestries. For six years, it’s been just the three of them—her mom has brought home guests at times, but none have ever stayed.
Yet when her mom brings home a six-foot tall crane with a menacing air, the girl is powerless to prevent her mom letting the intruder into her heart, and her children’s lives. Utterly enchanted and numb to his sharp edges, her mom abandons the world around her to weave the masterpiece the crane demands.
In this stunning contemporary retelling of “The Crane Wife” by the Newbery Medal-winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon, one fiercely pragmatic teen forced to grow up faster than was fair will do whatever it takes to protect her family—and change the story.
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