Seanan McGuire always manages to pack some really impactful conversations and themes into such short books. I can always appreciate what she is setting out to do. She sets such a scene of like adoption and the adopted mother that made me want to shake her even though she wasn't really doing anything wrong. I love the writing and it's so easy to be sucked in. However, as a fantasy reader and less of a literary reader, I always want more from these books. I want more time in the world, more world building, more magic etc. I think this one was actually better for me than some of the Wayward Children books, but I always find it so interesting! And I just want a longer novel to dig deeper. Overall, I would highly recommend this if you are a fan of the series. It was one of the stronger books for me.

Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series continues to be one of my absolute favorites. The balance of magical realism and incredible world building creates the perfect background for the characters. McGuire never disappoints!

Thank you Tor for the finished copy of this book!

This was my first book by Seanan McGuire and I really enjoyed it. The story was unique and beautiful and the world-building was really well developed for such a short book. I also loved the main character and her strength. I can't wait to read more from this author!

The Wayward Children maintains its status as one of my favorite series of all time. This was a heavy, emotional read. McGuire handles themes of disability and otherness beautifully and her contribution to the our world and culture is unmatched. I hope this series continues for a long time.

I absolutely love this series so, so much and am convinced that there isn't an installment I won't absolutely love. Bravo, Seanan McGuire!

I loved the beginning of this story, because it pulled me in right away. Seanan McGuire has a gift for writing the quiet, emotional moments that stick with you. Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear explores the struggles of adoption in such a raw, honest way, and even though it’s a short piece, it packs a serious emotional punch. It’s a little haunting, very bittersweet, and beautifully written. Definitely one I’ll be thinking about for a long time, and now I really want to check out the other Wayward Children books!

Grateful for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts! Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for this chance, this book deserves a lot of attention!

Though Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear is one of the shorter books in the Wayward Children series, with the depth of the storytelling and the time traversed on the page, it felt much longer. It's easily one of my favorites in the series. As the story progresses and Nadya grows older and gets married, I began to question my understanding of her in Beneath the Sugar Sky. I wondered how I hadn't realized she was as old as she becomes in Belyyreka. Nadya has family in Belyyreka. She is loved and accepted as she is in Belyyreka - curious, loving, and wild. Her curiosity as a scout leading to her drowning once again and her being returned to Earth in the nearly eleven year old body she'd first drowned in are a tragedy lived in an instant and a lifetime. This explains a lot about her temperament earlier in the series and her willingness to stay behind in the halls of the dead.

I really appreciated how McGuire handled Nadya's limb difference as a part of her and her storytelling. To be born without something is to not know what it is to live with it, and therefore not to know what it is to miss it. Nadya's characterization, as both strong willed and obedient made for an intriguing character study in the face of her adoptive parents trying to force their idea of what it means to be whole and normal onto her, as she already believed herself to be such. The immediate acceptance and love she find in Belyyreka in opposition to the pressures to conform she faces in America, in particular, makes it feel like home in a way that is tangible and enviable for the reader.

It wasn't until after I finished the book and thought about it for a hot minute, that it clicked that Burian is also disabled. The two choose each other with the understanding that they can and will adapt and grow without the expectation of adherence to any sort of physical standard tied to morality. They grow together with the knowledge that they are just as whole and valuable as the rest of their community. The family Nadya finds in Belyyreka and the standard in that world for the drowned to be enveloped into a chosen family by choice is something beautiful. It's not perfect, as we're shown when Nadya meets Alexi, but it is a world where family is not defined by blood and love is freely given.

I loved reading Nadya's story. I knew what was coming in the end, and it still made me so sad. I keep wondering when Seanan McGuire will run out of ideas, but she hits it out of the park every time.

Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire is Volume 10 in the Wayward Children series, a collection of short novels in which youths find mysterious doors and pass through them into worlds perfectly suited to each person. This story centers on Nadya, a cynical girl who in previous books desperately tried to return to her perfect watery world of Belyyreka. Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear tells the story of how a younger Nadya fell into a turtle pond and into Belyyreka, an aquatic world full of giant frogs, talking foxes, and turtle companions, along with found family of all kinds.

McGuire often chooses specific themes to focus on in each book in this series--here, she explores the themes of adoption and physical disability (Nadya is born with a partially missing limb). I appreciated that McGuire emphasizes that a missing limb is not a detriment; nor do adopted children necessarily owe their adoptive families a debt of gratitude. With limited page space, McGuire adds a lot of nuance.

In terms of characters, Burian (who is a disabled turtle) is 100% my favorite character. I loved his bond with Nadya, and hope he at least cameos in future books! That said, in some ways, it did feel a bit like McGuire was trapped by descriptions of Nadya's story hinted at in previous books; the worldbuilding felt a little weaker in this story compared to some others, such as Jack's or Sumi's. It does, however, feel like a stronger overall work compared to stories in the second 'arc' of this series, so perhaps McGuire has regained her stride and more exciting adventures are yet to come. I'll be waiting!

Readers who enjoy this book may also be interested in: Castle Swimmer by Wendy Lian Martin, The Moorings of Mackerel Sky by MZ, Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid by Na Yoonhee, Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant, Made in Abyss by Akihito Tsukushi, The Anti-Ableist Manifesto by Tiffany Yu, LoveBot by Chase Keels and Miranda Mundt, and Big Fish & Begonia (2016).

This was an amazing 10th book in the series. Seanan McGuide always manages to incorporate serious topics into these whimsical and magical stories. I get so entranced and lost in these books and they are such quick reads. I recommend this series and this book to everyone who loves a good story. The magical realism is captivating and the world building is top tier! I loved falling into this world with the main character and learning about this world. This book was fantastically done and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be rereading it in the future and I wish this wasn’t the last book in the series.

I have not read any other books by this author yet, but my friends and sister strongly recommended them. I am not a huge turtle fan, so my sister's gushing praise of McGuire's inclusion of turtles didn't strike much of a chord for me, but I still really enjoyed the under-water world in this book. It reminded me a bit of the wood between the worlds in the Chronicles of Narnia, but taken in a really different direction. This is a quick, engaging read, and I will be looking for more books by McGuire this year.

This is one of my all time favorite series. I reread all of it at least once a year. I have dying to hear about Nadya's story. She is such a strong character that had been through so much at such a young age but was making the best of her situation. She was orphaned at birth then when she was finally adopted she was seen as something less because she was missing part of her arm. The family never thought about what she would want. Her door was so cool. I love the turtles. The ending was just heartbreaking. I need to find out more about her now. I cannot wait for the next story. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group got allowing me to read the arc in exchange for my honest review.

The tenth book of the Wayward Children series gives up Nadya, born in Russia and without part of her right arm. She gets adopted to parents from the US and loves turtles. She falls through a door in the middle of the turtle pond in her backyard and ends up in a drowned world. She is more welcome there, than with her adoptive parents — figuring out how to work without her arm. She bonds with a turtle and adventures above their watery home. Another great addition to the series.

I have read and ADORED all of the Wayward Children Novellas. Since I have consumed 10 of these novellas, there are definitely some I have enjoyed more than others. Though I do love Nadiya as a character, her story felt a bit slower than the others. I found myself.... bored at times, which I HATE to say.

I will of course forever continue with this series. This one was a solid 3.5/5. I enjoyed it but it wasnt my FAVORITE of the series.

This may be my favorite book in the Wayward Children series!

I loved this story from page one. It's highly entertaining with a love story, adventure, and PLENTY of adorable turtle animal companions. It also has incredibly insightful and important things to say about disability (Nadya was born with one arm) and how the use of mobility aids can be incredibly liberating when chosen by oneself, or incredibly limiting when forced upon someone to get them to conform. There was great conversation about finding comfort in a place similar to the one where you were born, and about how exciting it is to travel to new places. The magic system in here was very interesting! It's focused on different weights of water which I loved learning about. I also loved how we were able to follow Nadya quite a bit older than most of the other children, and therefore were able to watch her fall in love. I always enjoy this series, but this one was incredible (maybe tied with down among the sticks and bones for my favorite!) Cant wait to read the next one :)

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this addition to the series! I always love seeing how the various worlds are uniquely suited to each child. I loved the conversations about disability and identity and what it means to interact with the world differently. I love how Seanan McGuire continues to let children have complex emotions and thoughts even if they don't have the means to express them yet. I found the ending a bit abrupt. Most of the other books in the series have a clear turning point but this one was a bit different and I didn't expect that. I grew very attached to this world and it was hard to see the book end. I'm very curious to see more of this character when we return to the school.

This series continues to be such a lovely adventure. We see a bit of Nadia in Rini’s book when she is trying to get back to her world, but this one is a deep dive on her time in an orphanage before being adopted, her adopted family trying to “fix” her, and then the amazing time she spends in a world of turtles and air lighter than water, and adventures. One thing that this book doesn’t do that I wish is did is circle all the way back to her coming to Eleanor West’s school. I always look forward to those moments and I was a little bummed to be without it. Still, McGuire is a master at the delicate emotions of these young characters and giving them what they need even if they get taken away at the end. Happy endings come in many forms. Drink this book: Enjoy with a salty and light bottle of French Muscadet.

This is #10 in the Wayward Children series. I love these quick read books. McGuire has such a way with words, and cutting to the heart of things in ways I don't see often. In this book, you'll find themes of disability and feeling whole, and adoption, belonging and found family. As readers we first learned about our main character, Nadya, in the first couple of books in this series. In this book, we finally get Nadya's whole story.

Not my favorite installment to this series, but definitely a fun ride! I adored the turtles and the idea of an underwater world. Nadya was a strong and likable character. I do hope the series continues and she is united with some of the characters who came before, if not returned through her door.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I could not even begin to explain to you how the water in this world works but that's the beautiful thing about these books. The nonsense just works. It doesn't matter. It's the spirit and tenderness that really hits home with the Wayward Children stories. Nadya is one of my favorite characters so far. I love how she always saw herself as wholly complete and was secure in herself. I'm so glad she found her door to get away from those nasty Americans.