The passage from real life to an imagined, magical one has fulfilled a childish yearning for many a young person, particularly those who grew up in less than desirable circumstances. Writer and editor Dayle A. Dermatis tapped into that yearning to bring together this collection of stories that take their characters through portals to fantastical worlds—although sometimes the new worlds prove more problematic than the old ones. Still, for anyone who sees herself as the hero of her own story, these stories can’t help but tempt the imagination. And this volume itself opens a doorway to enchantment.