Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, 1) by McGuire, Seanan - 2016

Tordotcom, 2016. Hardcover. New/New. Welcome to Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children, a boarding school for children who have come home from portal worlds and can't return to their old lives. Their souls found homes away from this reality, but will they be able to go back? Winner of the 2022 Hugo Award for Best Series! This is the first book in The Wayward Children series: the story of Nancy, unexpectedly returned to her old life after visiting a land of the dead, where she lived as a statue, thrived on pomegranate juice and tasted sweet (and slight venomous) unicorn meat. How can she be true to her new self in her old life? This collection is incredibly inclusive without being heavy handed. Each book is narrated by a different character. Successive books explore the history of favorite characters and adventure anew from the perspectives of asexual and trans girls, a pair of identical yet opposite twins, those recovering from terminal illness and suicide attempts. McGuire approaches stressful and dissonant topics with understanding and grace.