The Land of Yesterday

A tender and fantastical adventure story perfect for fans of Coraline.

After Cecelia Dahl’s little brother, Celadon, dies tragically, his soul goes where all souls go: the Land of Yesterday—and Cecelia is left behind in a fractured world without him.

Her beloved house’s spirit is crumbling beyond repair, her father is imprisoned by sorrow, and worst of all, her grief-stricken mother abandons the land of the living to follow Celadon into Yesterday.

It’s up to Cecelia to put her family back together, even if that means venturing into the dark and forbidden Land of Yesterday on her own. But as Cecilia braves a hot-air balloon commanded by two gnomes, a sea of daisies, and the Planet of Nightmares, it’s clear that even if she finds her family, she might not be able to save them.

And if she’s not careful, she might just become a lost soul herself, trapped forever in Yesterday.

• Quest to the Afterlife: Cecelia must journey to the forbidden Land of Yesterday, a world filled with gnomes, a sea of daisies, and the terrifying Planet of Nightmares, to find her mother.
• A Story About Grief and Healing: Faced with the loss of her brother Celadon, Cecelia must grapple with overwhelming guilt and find the strength to piece her fractured family—and herself—back together.
• A Living, Grieving House: Once her protector, the spirit of Cecelia’s home, Widdendream, is crumbling with sorrow and rage, and it might not let her family go without a fight.
• A Brother and Sister Story: A tender and heartbreaking story about the unbreakable bond between Cecelia and her brother Celadon, even when the Land of Yesterday separates them.

“From its first words, The Land of Yesterday has the pure crystal ring of a classic, like The Little Prince or The Phantom Tollbooth—beautiful, unique, and shimmering with truth. It’s a balm for grief, and a bursting fantastical joy of a story.” - Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer

“Told with riveting language, this is a poignant tale that will resonate with readers of all ages and leave them reeling from such an emotional, gorgeous story.” - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of Aru Shah and the End of Time

“Richly imagined, creative, and entertaining.” - School Library Journal