Changeling by Delia Sherman

[meganbmoore]

Neef is a mortal changeling, a human child taken and raised by the fae as an infant.  While most stories dealing with changelings involve the changeling trying to return to the world of their birth, Neef is perfectly happy with her life as a "country girl" in the world of New York In Between, and has no desire to leave.  Ever.  Her fairy Godmother, Astris, is one of New York In Between's foremost folklorists, leaving Neef with an even better understanding of the fae and tradition than many fae themselves, and she's an expert at maneuvuring her way through "her" world, including how to evade the Wild Hunt, who love nothing more than to prey on mortal changelings.

What she doesn't know, however, is that the only thing that allows mortal changelings to travel In Between so easily and escape the Wild Hunt is a geas laid on them by the Green Lady of Central Park, a geas that, once broken, she is obligated to lift.  Neef breaks her geas when she sneaks out to an annual dance she's always been forbidden to attend.  Almost before she can register it, she's been abducted by a Tengu Bogeyman to be his entry in a contest for disobedient children, where she meets Jenny(called Changeling) the fairy changeling she was traded with at birth.  Neef is impatient and reckless, but quick witted and clever.  Changeling is brilliant and amazingly literal minded, but has the social skills of a rock.  Together, they escape the Tengu and strike a deal with the Green Lady to have Changeling Returned home and to put Neef back under the Green Lady's protection.  Together,  they outsmart the Mermaid Queen, rescue all of Broadway, match guile with the Dragon of Wall Street and make the Bull cry and the Bear laugh, and finally, outsmart the Green Lady herself, with nothing to their advantage but Neef's wits and Changeling's intellect.

The book works within the structure and stereotypes of classic fables, but places them in the modern, urban world(without relying on hot vampires and werewolves to carry the book, thankyouverymuch.)  It simultaneously plays homage to all the classic mythic tropes and turns them on their heads.  Despite being a YA book, it's more than adult enough for adult readers(but still nice and clean for the kids)  having a complex world, but a straightforward and engaging tail.  More importantly, unlike Eragon other young adult novels, neither lead is grating or annoying.  Being 11(But almost 12!) year olds, both Neef and Changeling have annoying traits, but neither is an annoying character.