diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/candidate_node.go b/pkg/yqlib/candidate_node.go
index f2ad1069..493fb118 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/candidate_node.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/candidate_node.go
@@ -191,10 +191,11 @@ func (n *CandidateNode) CreateReplacement(kind Kind, tag string, value string) *
 	}
 }
 
-func (n *CandidateNode) CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(kind Kind, tag string, value string) *CandidateNode {
-	replacement := n.CreateReplacement(kind, tag, value)
+func (n *CandidateNode) CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(kind Kind, tag string, style Style) *CandidateNode {
+	replacement := n.CreateReplacement(kind, tag, "")
 	replacement.LeadingContent = n.LeadingContent
 	replacement.TrailingContent = n.TrailingContent
+	replacement.Style = style
 	return replacement
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_add.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_add.go
index f0281bdf..d201f717 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_add.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_add.go
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func createAddOp(lhs *ExpressionNode, rhs *ExpressionNode) *ExpressionNode {
@@ -19,23 +17,20 @@ func addAssignOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Ex
 	return compoundAssignFunction(d, context, expressionNode, createAddOp)
 }
 
-func toNodes(candidate *CandidateNode, lhs *CandidateNode) ([]*yaml.Node, error) {
-	if candidate.Node.Tag == "!!null" {
-		return []*yaml.Node{}, nil
-	}
-	clone, err := candidate.Copy()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+func toNodes(candidate *CandidateNode, lhs *CandidateNode) ([]*CandidateNode, error) {
+	if candidate.Tag == "!!null" {
+		return []*CandidateNode{}, nil
 	}
+	clone := candidate.Copy()
 
-	switch candidate.Node.Kind {
-	case yaml.SequenceNode:
-		return clone.Node.Content, nil
+	switch candidate.Kind {
+	case SequenceNode:
+		return clone.Content, nil
 	default:
-		if len(lhs.Node.Content) > 0 {
-			clone.Node.Style = lhs.Node.Content[0].Style
+		if len(lhs.Content) > 0 {
+			clone.Style = lhs.Content[0].Style
 		}
-		return []*yaml.Node{clone.Node}, nil
+		return []*CandidateNode{clone}, nil
 	}
 
 }
@@ -47,50 +42,50 @@ func addOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expressi
 }
 
 func add(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
-	lhs.Node = unwrapDoc(lhs.Node)
-	rhs.Node = unwrapDoc(rhs.Node)
+	lhs = lhs.unwrapDocument()
+	rhs = rhs.unwrapDocument()
 
-	lhsNode := lhs.Node
+	lhsNode := lhs
 
 	if lhsNode.Tag == "!!null" {
-		return lhs.CreateReplacement(rhs.Node), nil
+		return lhs.CreateReplacement(rhs), nil
 	}
 
-	target := lhs.CreateReplacement(&yaml.Node{
-		Anchor: lhs.Node.Anchor,
+	target := lhs.CreateReplacement(&yaml{
+		Anchor: lhs.Anchor,
 	})
 
 	switch lhsNode.Kind {
-	case yaml.MappingNode:
-		if rhs.Node.Kind != yaml.MappingNode {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%v (%v) cannot be added to a %v (%v)", rhs.Node.Tag, rhs.GetNicePath(), lhsNode.Tag, lhs.GetNicePath())
+	case MappingNode:
+		if rhs.Kind != MappingNode {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%v (%v) cannot be added to a %v (%v)", rhs.Tag, rhs.GetNicePath(), lhsNode.Tag, lhs.GetNicePath())
 		}
 		addMaps(target, lhs, rhs)
-	case yaml.SequenceNode:
+	case SequenceNode:
 		if err := addSequences(target, lhs, rhs); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-	case yaml.ScalarNode:
-		if rhs.Node.Kind != yaml.ScalarNode {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%v (%v) cannot be added to a %v (%v)", rhs.Node.Tag, rhs.GetNicePath(), lhsNode.Tag, lhs.GetNicePath())
+	case ScalarNode:
+		if rhs.Kind != ScalarNode {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%v (%v) cannot be added to a %v (%v)", rhs.Tag, rhs.GetNicePath(), lhsNode.Tag, lhs.GetNicePath())
 		}
-		target.Node.Kind = yaml.ScalarNode
-		target.Node.Style = lhsNode.Style
-		if err := addScalars(context, target, lhsNode, rhs.Node); err != nil {
+		target.Kind = ScalarNode
+		target.Style = lhsNode.Style
+		if err := addScalars(context, target, lhsNode, rhs); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
 	return target, nil
 }
 
-func addScalars(context Context, target *CandidateNode, lhs *yaml.Node, rhs *yaml.Node) error {
+func addScalars(context Context, target *CandidateNode, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) error {
 	lhsTag := lhs.Tag
-	rhsTag := guessTagFromCustomType(rhs)
+	rhsTag := rhs.guessTagFromCustomType()
 	lhsIsCustom := false
 	if !strings.HasPrefix(lhsTag, "!!") {
 		// custom tag - we have to have a guess
-		lhsTag = guessTagFromCustomType(lhs)
+		lhsTag = lhs.guessTagFromCustomType()
 		lhsIsCustom = true
 	}
 
@@ -106,11 +101,11 @@ func addScalars(context Context, target *CandidateNode, lhs *yaml.Node, rhs *yam
 		return addDateTimes(context.GetDateTimeLayout(), target, lhs, rhs)
 
 	} else if lhsTag == "!!str" {
-		target.Node.Tag = lhs.Tag
-		target.Node.Value = lhs.Value + rhs.Value
+		target.Tag = lhs.Tag
+		target.Value = lhs.Value + rhs.Value
 	} else if rhsTag == "!!str" {
-		target.Node.Tag = rhs.Tag
-		target.Node.Value = lhs.Value + rhs.Value
+		target.Tag = rhs.Tag
+		target.Value = lhs.Value + rhs.Value
 	} else if lhsTag == "!!int" && rhsTag == "!!int" {
 		format, lhsNum, err := parseInt64(lhs.Value)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -121,8 +116,8 @@ func addScalars(context Context, target *CandidateNode, lhs *yaml.Node, rhs *yam
 			return err
 		}
 		sum := lhsNum + rhsNum
-		target.Node.Tag = lhs.Tag
-		target.Node.Value = fmt.Sprintf(format, sum)
+		target.Tag = lhs.Tag
+		target.Value = fmt.Sprintf(format, sum)
 	} else if (lhsTag == "!!int" || lhsTag == "!!float") && (rhsTag == "!!int" || rhsTag == "!!float") {
 		lhsNum, err := strconv.ParseFloat(lhs.Value, 64)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -134,18 +129,18 @@ func addScalars(context Context, target *CandidateNode, lhs *yaml.Node, rhs *yam
 		}
 		sum := lhsNum + rhsNum
 		if lhsIsCustom {
-			target.Node.Tag = lhs.Tag
+			target.Tag = lhs.Tag
 		} else {
-			target.Node.Tag = "!!float"
+			target.Tag = "!!float"
 		}
-		target.Node.Value = fmt.Sprintf("%v", sum)
+		target.Value = fmt.Sprintf("%v", sum)
 	} else {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v cannot be added to %v", lhsTag, rhsTag)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-func addDateTimes(layout string, target *CandidateNode, lhs *yaml.Node, rhs *yaml.Node) error {
+func addDateTimes(layout string, target *CandidateNode, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) error {
 
 	duration, err := time.ParseDuration(rhs.Value)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -158,52 +153,52 @@ func addDateTimes(layout string, target *CandidateNode, lhs *yaml.Node, rhs *yam
 	}
 
 	newTime := currentTime.Add(duration)
-	target.Node.Value = newTime.Format(layout)
+	target.Value = newTime.Format(layout)
 	return nil
 
 }
 
 func addSequences(target *CandidateNode, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) error {
-	target.Node.Kind = yaml.SequenceNode
-	if len(lhs.Node.Content) > 0 {
-		target.Node.Style = lhs.Node.Style
+	target.Kind = SequenceNode
+	if len(lhs.Content) > 0 {
+		target.Style = lhs.Style
 	}
-	target.Node.Tag = lhs.Node.Tag
+	target.Tag = lhs.Tag
 
 	extraNodes, err := toNodes(rhs, lhs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	target.Node.Content = append(deepCloneContent(lhs.Node.Content), extraNodes...)
+	target.Content = append(lhs.CopyChildren(), extraNodes...)
 	return nil
 
 }
 
 func addMaps(target *CandidateNode, lhsC *CandidateNode, rhsC *CandidateNode) {
-	lhs := lhsC.Node
-	rhs := rhsC.Node
+	lhs := lhsC
+	rhs := rhsC
 
-	target.Node.Content = make([]*yaml.Node, len(lhs.Content))
-	copy(target.Node.Content, lhs.Content)
+	target.Content = make([]*CandidateNode, len(lhs.Content))
+	copy(target.Content, lhs.Content)
 
 	for index := 0; index < len(rhs.Content); index = index + 2 {
 		key := rhs.Content[index]
 		value := rhs.Content[index+1]
 		log.Debug("finding %v", key.Value)
-		indexInLHS := findKeyInMap(target.Node, key)
+		indexInLHS := findKeyInMap(target, key)
 		log.Debug("indexInLhs %v", indexInLHS)
 		if indexInLHS < 0 {
 			// not in there, append it
-			target.Node.Content = append(target.Node.Content, key, value)
+			target.Content = append(target.Content, key, value)
 		} else {
 			// it's there, replace it
-			target.Node.Content[indexInLHS+1] = value
+			target.Content[indexInLHS+1] = value
 		}
 	}
-	target.Node.Kind = yaml.MappingNode
+	target.Kind = MappingNode
 	if len(lhs.Content) > 0 {
-		target.Node.Style = lhs.Style
+		target.Style = lhs.Style
 	}
-	target.Node.Tag = lhs.Tag
+	target.Tag = lhs.Tag
 }
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative.go
index ca8569fc..0c45cbf0 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ func alternativeOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *
 			if lhs == nil {
 				return nil, nil
 			}
-			truthy, err := isTruthy(lhs)
+			truthy, err := isTruthyNode(lhs)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
@@ -29,12 +29,8 @@ func alternativeFunc(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode,
 	if rhs == nil {
 		return lhs, nil
 	}
-	lhs.Node = unwrapDoc(lhs.Node)
-	rhs.Node = unwrapDoc(rhs.Node)
-	log.Debugf("Alternative LHS: %v", lhs.Node.Tag)
-	log.Debugf("-          RHS: %v", rhs.Node.Tag)
 
-	isTrue, err := isTruthy(lhs)
+	isTrue, err := isTruthyNode(lhs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	} else if isTrue {
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_assign.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_assign.go
index f21f4522..0d856da7 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_assign.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_assign.go
@@ -8,9 +8,8 @@ type assignPreferences struct {
 
 func assignUpdateFunc(prefs assignPreferences) crossFunctionCalculation {
 	return func(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
-		rhs.Node = unwrapDoc(rhs.Node)
-		if !prefs.OnlyWriteNull || lhs.Node.Tag == "!!null" {
-			lhs.UpdateFrom(rhs, prefs)
+		if !prefs.OnlyWriteNull || lhs.Tag == "!!null" {
+			lhs.UpdateFrom(rhs.unwrapDocument(), prefs)
 		}
 		return lhs, nil
 	}
@@ -60,8 +59,7 @@ func assignUpdateOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode
 
 		if first != nil {
 			rhsCandidate := first.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-			rhsCandidate.Node = unwrapDoc(rhsCandidate.Node)
-			candidate.UpdateFrom(rhsCandidate, prefs)
+			candidate.UpdateFrom(rhsCandidate.unwrapDocument(), prefs)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -92,7 +90,7 @@ func assignAttributesOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionN
 			if expressionNode.Operation.Preferences != nil {
 				prefs = expressionNode.Operation.Preferences.(assignPreferences)
 			}
-			if !prefs.OnlyWriteNull || candidate.Node.Tag == "!!null" {
+			if !prefs.OnlyWriteNull || candidate.Tag == "!!null" {
 				candidate.UpdateAttributesFrom(first.Value.(*CandidateNode), prefs)
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_booleans.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_booleans.go
index d919b9a6..87aac785 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_booleans.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_booleans.go
@@ -3,36 +3,26 @@ package yqlib
 import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+	"strings"
 )
 
-func isTruthyNode(node *yaml.Node) (bool, error) {
-	value := true
+func isTruthyNode(candidate *CandidateNode) (bool, error) {
+	if candidate == nil {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	node := candidate.unwrapDocument()
 	if node.Tag == "!!null" {
 		return false, nil
 	}
-	if node.Kind == yaml.ScalarNode && node.Tag == "!!bool" {
-		errDecoding := node.Decode(&value)
-		if errDecoding != nil {
-			return false, errDecoding
-		}
+	if node.Kind == ScalarNode && node.Tag == "!!bool" {
+		// yes/y/true/on
+		return (strings.EqualFold(node.Value, "y") ||
+			strings.EqualFold(node.Value, "yes") ||
+			strings.EqualFold(node.Value, "on") ||
+			strings.EqualFold(node.Value, "true")), nil
 
 	}
-	return value, nil
-}
-
-func isTruthy(c *CandidateNode) (bool, error) {
-	node := unwrapDoc(c.Node)
-	return isTruthyNode(node)
-}
-
-func getBoolean(candidate *CandidateNode) (bool, error) {
-	if candidate != nil {
-		candidate.Node = unwrapDoc(candidate.Node)
-		return isTruthy(candidate)
-	}
-	return false, nil
+	return true, nil
 }
 
 func getOwner(lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) *CandidateNode {
@@ -48,7 +38,7 @@ func getOwner(lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) *CandidateNode {
 
 func returnRhsTruthy(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
 	owner := getOwner(lhs, rhs)
-	rhsBool, err := getBoolean(rhs)
+	rhsBool, err := isTruthyNode(rhs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -61,7 +51,7 @@ func returnLHSWhen(targetBool bool) func(lhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, er
 		var err error
 		var lhsBool bool
 
-		if lhsBool, err = getBoolean(lhs); err != nil || lhsBool != targetBool {
+		if lhsBool, err = isTruthyNode(lhs); err != nil || lhsBool != targetBool {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		owner := &CandidateNode{}
@@ -72,18 +62,17 @@ func returnLHSWhen(targetBool bool) func(lhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, er
 	}
 }
 
-func findBoolean(wantBool bool, d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode, sequenceNode *yaml.Node) (bool, error) {
+func findBoolean(wantBool bool, d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode, sequenceNode *CandidateNode) (bool, error) {
 	for _, node := range sequenceNode.Content {
 
 		if expressionNode != nil {
 			//need to evaluate the expression against the node
-			candidate := &CandidateNode{Node: node}
-			rhs, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context.SingleReadonlyChildContext(candidate), expressionNode)
+			rhs, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context.SingleReadonlyChildContext(node), expressionNode)
 			if err != nil {
 				return false, err
 			}
 			if rhs.MatchingNodes.Len() > 0 {
-				node = rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Node
+				node = rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode)
 			} else {
 				// no results found, ignore this entry
 				continue
@@ -106,8 +95,8 @@ func allOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expressi
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		candidateNode := unwrapDoc(candidate.Node)
-		if candidateNode.Kind != yaml.SequenceNode {
+		candidateNode := candidate.unwrapDocument()
+		if candidateNode.Kind != SequenceNode {
 			return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("any only supports arrays, was %v", candidateNode.Tag)
 		}
 		booleanResult, err := findBoolean(false, d, context, expressionNode.RHS, candidateNode)
@@ -125,8 +114,8 @@ func anyOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expressi
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		candidateNode := unwrapDoc(candidate.Node)
-		if candidateNode.Kind != yaml.SequenceNode {
+		candidateNode := candidate.unwrapDocument()
+		if candidateNode.Kind != SequenceNode {
 			return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("any only supports arrays, was %v", candidateNode.Tag)
 		}
 		booleanResult, err := findBoolean(true, d, context, expressionNode.RHS, candidateNode)
@@ -164,7 +153,7 @@ func notOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expressi
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 		log.Debug("notOperation checking %v", candidate)
-		truthy, errDecoding := isTruthy(candidate)
+		truthy, errDecoding := isTruthyNode(candidate)
 		if errDecoding != nil {
 			return Context{}, errDecoding
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_collect.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_collect.go
index b153952c..3272f15f 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_collect.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_collect.go
@@ -2,12 +2,10 @@ package yqlib
 
 import (
 	"container/list"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func collectTogether(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
-	collectedNode := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq"}
+	collectedNode := &CandidateNode{Kind: SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq"}
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 		collectExpResults, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context.SingleReadonlyChildContext(candidate), expressionNode)
@@ -17,10 +15,10 @@ func collectTogether(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expr
 		for result := collectExpResults.MatchingNodes.Front(); result != nil; result = result.Next() {
 			resultC := result.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 			log.Debugf("found this: %v", NodeToString(resultC))
-			collectedNode.Content = append(collectedNode.Content, unwrapDoc(resultC.Node))
+			collectedNode.Content = append(collectedNode.Content, resultC.unwrapDocument())
 		}
 	}
-	return &CandidateNode{Node: collectedNode}, nil
+	return collectedNode, nil
 }
 
 func collectOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
@@ -28,9 +26,8 @@ func collectOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expr
 
 	if context.MatchingNodes.Len() == 0 {
 		log.Debugf("nothing to collect")
-		node := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq", Value: "[]"}
-		candidate := &CandidateNode{Node: node}
-		return context.SingleChildContext(candidate), nil
+		node := &CandidateNode{Kind: SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq", Value: "[]"}
+		return context.SingleChildContext(node), nil
 	}
 
 	var evaluateAllTogether = true
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_collect_object.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_collect_object.go
index 59417a62..0c4bb1a0 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_collect_object.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_collect_object.go
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ package yqlib
 
 import (
 	"container/list"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 /*
@@ -23,26 +21,26 @@ func collectObjectOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, originalContext Context, expres
 	context := originalContext.WritableClone()
 
 	if context.MatchingNodes.Len() == 0 {
-		node := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.MappingNode, Tag: "!!map", Value: "{}"}
-		candidate := &CandidateNode{Node: node}
+		candidate := &CandidateNode{Kind: MappingNode, Tag: "!!map", Value: "{}"}
 		return context.SingleChildContext(candidate), nil
 	}
 	first := context.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode)
-	var rotated = make([]*list.List, len(first.Node.Content))
+	var rotated = make([]*list.List, len(first.Content))
 
-	for i := 0; i < len(first.Node.Content); i++ {
+	for i := 0; i < len(first.Content); i++ {
 		rotated[i] = list.New()
 	}
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidateNode := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		for i := 0; i < len(first.Node.Content); i++ {
-			rotated[i].PushBack(candidateNode.CreateChildInArray(i, candidateNode.Node.Content[i]))
+		for i := 0; i < len(first.Content); i++ {
+
+			rotated[i].PushBack(candidateNode.CreateChildInArray(i, candidateNode.Content[i]))
 		}
 	}
 
 	newObject := list.New()
-	for i := 0; i < len(first.Node.Content); i++ {
+	for i := 0; i < len(first.Content); i++ {
 		additions, err := collect(d, context.ChildContext(list.New()), rotated[i])
 		if err != nil {
 			return Context{}, err
@@ -82,10 +80,7 @@ func collect(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, remainingMatches *list.List)
 		aggCandidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 		for splatEl := splatted.MatchingNodes.Front(); splatEl != nil; splatEl = splatEl.Next() {
 			splatCandidate := splatEl.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-			newCandidate, err := aggCandidate.Copy()
-			if err != nil {
-				return Context{}, err
-			}
+			newCandidate := aggCandidate.Copy()
 
 			newCandidate.Path = nil
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_delete.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_delete.go
index eb475da5..ea89aa29 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_delete.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_delete.go
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ package yqlib
 import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func deleteChildOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
@@ -17,12 +15,12 @@ func deleteChildOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *
 	for el := nodesToDelete.MatchingNodes.Back(); el != nil; el = el.Prev() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 
-		if candidate.Node.Kind == yaml.DocumentNode {
+		if candidate.Kind == DocumentNode {
 			//need to delete this node from context.
 			newResults := list.New()
 			for item := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); item != nil; item = item.Next() {
 				nodeInContext := item.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-				if nodeInContext.Node != candidate.Node {
+				if nodeInContext != candidate {
 					newResults.PushBack(nodeInContext)
 				} else {
 					log.Info("Need to delete this %v", NodeToString(nodeInContext))
@@ -36,12 +34,12 @@ func deleteChildOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *
 			return context, nil
 		}
 
-		parentNode := candidate.Parent.Node
+		parentNode := candidate.Parent
 		childPath := candidate.Path[len(candidate.Path)-1]
 
-		if parentNode.Kind == yaml.MappingNode {
+		if parentNode.Kind == MappingNode {
 			deleteFromMap(candidate.Parent, childPath)
-		} else if parentNode.Kind == yaml.SequenceNode {
+		} else if parentNode.Kind == SequenceNode {
 			deleteFromArray(candidate.Parent, childPath)
 		} else {
 			return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("Cannot delete nodes from parent of tag %v", parentNode.Tag)
@@ -52,19 +50,17 @@ func deleteChildOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *
 
 func deleteFromMap(candidate *CandidateNode, childPath interface{}) {
 	log.Debug("deleteFromMap")
-	node := unwrapDoc(candidate.Node)
+	node := candidate.unwrapDocument()
 	contents := node.Content
-	newContents := make([]*yaml.Node, 0)
+	newContents := make([]*CandidateNode, 0)
 
 	for index := 0; index < len(contents); index = index + 2 {
 		key := contents[index]
 		value := contents[index+1]
 
-		childCandidate := candidate.CreateChildInMap(key, value)
-
 		shouldDelete := key.Value == childPath
 
-		log.Debugf("shouldDelete %v ? %v", childCandidate.GetKey(), shouldDelete)
+		log.Debugf("shouldDelete %v ? %v", value.GetKey(), shouldDelete)
 
 		if !shouldDelete {
 			newContents = append(newContents, key, value)
@@ -75,9 +71,9 @@ func deleteFromMap(candidate *CandidateNode, childPath interface{}) {
 
 func deleteFromArray(candidate *CandidateNode, childPath interface{}) {
 	log.Debug("deleteFromArray")
-	node := unwrapDoc(candidate.Node)
+	node := candidate.unwrapDocument()
 	contents := node.Content
-	newContents := make([]*yaml.Node, 0)
+	newContents := make([]*CandidateNode, 0)
 
 	for index := 0; index < len(contents); index = index + 1 {
 		value := contents[index]
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_document_index.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_document_index.go
index 566fe9df..42597759 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_document_index.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_document_index.go
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ package yqlib
 import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
-
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func getDocumentIndexOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
@@ -12,8 +10,7 @@ func getDocumentIndexOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionN
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		node := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: fmt.Sprintf("%v", candidate.Document), Tag: "!!int"}
-		scalar := candidate.CreateReplacement(node)
+		scalar := candidate.CreateReplacement(ScalarNode, "!!int", fmt.Sprintf("%v", candidate.Document))
 		results.PushBack(scalar)
 	}
 	return context.ChildContext(results), nil
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_encoder_decoder.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_encoder_decoder.go
index 877a0902..3e8d8149 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_encoder_decoder.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_encoder_decoder.go
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
-
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func configureEncoder(format PrinterOutputFormat, indent int) Encoder {
@@ -78,7 +76,7 @@ func encodeOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expre
 		if originalList != nil && originalList.Len() > 0 && hasOnlyOneNewLine.MatchString(stringValue) {
 
 			original := originalList.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode)
-			originalNode := unwrapDoc(original.Node)
+			originalNode := original.unwrapDocument()
 			// original block did not have a newline at the end, get rid of this one too
 			if !endWithNewLine.MatchString(originalNode.Value) {
 				stringValue = chomper.ReplaceAllString(stringValue, "")
@@ -92,8 +90,7 @@ func encodeOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expre
 			stringValue = chomper.ReplaceAllString(stringValue, "")
 		}
 
-		stringContentNode := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: stringValue}
-		results.PushBack(candidate.CreateReplacement(stringContentNode))
+		results.PushBack(candidate.CreateReplacement(ScalarNode, "!!str", stringValue))
 	}
 	return context.ChildContext(results), nil
 }
@@ -141,9 +138,9 @@ func decodeOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expre
 
 		context.SetVariable("decoded: "+candidate.GetKey(), candidate.AsList())
 
-		log.Debugf("got: [%v]", candidate.Node.Value)
+		log.Debugf("got: [%v]", candidate.Value)
 
-		err := decoder.Init(strings.NewReader(unwrapDoc(candidate.Node).Value))
+		err := decoder.Init(strings.NewReader(candidate.unwrapDocument().Value))
 		if err != nil {
 			return Context{}, err
 		}
@@ -153,9 +150,15 @@ func decodeOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expre
 			return Context{}, errorReading
 		}
 		//first node is a doc
-		node := unwrapDoc(decodedNode.Node)
+		node := decodedNode.unwrapDocument()
+		node.Path = candidate.Path
+		node.Key = candidate.Key
+		node.Parent = candidate.Parent
+		node.Document = candidate.Document
+		node.FileIndex = candidate.FileIndex
+		node.Filename = candidate.Filename
 
-		results.PushBack(candidate.CreateReplacement(node))
+		results.PushBack(node)
 	}
 	return context.ChildContext(results), nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_entries.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_entries.go
index 2af9fe94..dd246358 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_entries.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_entries.go
@@ -3,64 +3,60 @@ package yqlib
 import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
-func entrySeqFor(key *yaml.Node, value *yaml.Node) *yaml.Node {
-	var keyKey = &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "key"}
-	var valueKey = &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "value"}
+func entrySeqFor(key *CandidateNode, value *CandidateNode) *CandidateNode {
+	var keyKey = &CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "key"}
+	var valueKey = &CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "value"}
 
-	return &yaml.Node{
-		Kind:    yaml.MappingNode,
+	return &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:    MappingNode,
 		Tag:     "!!map",
-		Content: []*yaml.Node{keyKey, key, valueKey, value},
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{keyKey, key, valueKey, value},
 	}
 }
 
 func toEntriesFromMap(candidateNode *CandidateNode) *CandidateNode {
-	var sequence = &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq"}
-	var entriesNode = candidateNode.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(sequence)
+	var sequence = candidateNode.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(SequenceNode, "!!seq", 0)
 
-	var contents = unwrapDoc(candidateNode.Node).Content
+	var contents = candidateNode.unwrapDocument().Content
 	for index := 0; index < len(contents); index = index + 2 {
 		key := contents[index]
 		value := contents[index+1]
 
 		sequence.Content = append(sequence.Content, entrySeqFor(key, value))
 	}
-	return entriesNode
+	return sequence
 }
 
 func toEntriesfromSeq(candidateNode *CandidateNode) *CandidateNode {
-	var sequence = &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq"}
-	var entriesNode = candidateNode.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(sequence)
+	var sequence = candidateNode.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(SequenceNode, "!!seq", 0)
 
-	var contents = unwrapDoc(candidateNode.Node).Content
+	var contents = candidateNode.unwrapDocument().Content
 	for index := 0; index < len(contents); index = index + 1 {
-		key := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Tag: "!!int", Value: fmt.Sprintf("%v", index)}
+		key := &CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!int", Value: fmt.Sprintf("%v", index)}
 		value := contents[index]
 
 		sequence.Content = append(sequence.Content, entrySeqFor(key, value))
 	}
-	return entriesNode
+	return sequence
 }
 
 func toEntriesOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
 	var results = list.New()
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		candidateNode := unwrapDoc(candidate.Node)
+		candidateNode := candidate.unwrapDocument()
 
 		switch candidateNode.Kind {
-		case yaml.MappingNode:
+		case MappingNode:
 			results.PushBack(toEntriesFromMap(candidate))
 
-		case yaml.SequenceNode:
+		case SequenceNode:
 			results.PushBack(toEntriesfromSeq(candidate))
 		default:
 			if candidateNode.Tag != "!!null" {
-				return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("%v has no keys", candidate.Node.Tag)
+				return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("%v has no keys", candidate.Tag)
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -68,9 +64,8 @@ func toEntriesOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Ex
 	return context.ChildContext(results), nil
 }
 
-func parseEntry(entry *yaml.Node, position int) (*yaml.Node, *yaml.Node, error) {
+func parseEntry(candidateNode *CandidateNode, position int) (*CandidateNode, *CandidateNode, error) {
 	prefs := traversePreferences{DontAutoCreate: true}
-	candidateNode := &CandidateNode{Node: entry}
 
 	keyResults, err := traverseMap(Context{}, candidateNode, createStringScalarNode("key"), prefs, false)
 
@@ -88,15 +83,14 @@ func parseEntry(entry *yaml.Node, position int) (*yaml.Node, *yaml.Node, error)
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("expected to find one 'value' entry but found %v in position %v", valueResults.Len(), position)
 	}
 
-	return keyResults.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Node, valueResults.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Node, nil
+	return keyResults.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode), valueResults.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode), nil
 
 }
 
 func fromEntries(candidateNode *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
-	var node = &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.MappingNode, Tag: "!!map"}
-	var mapCandidateNode = candidateNode.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(node)
+	var node = candidateNode.CopyWithoutContent()
 
-	var contents = unwrapDoc(candidateNode.Node).Content
+	var contents = candidateNode.unwrapDocument().Content
 
 	for index := 0; index < len(contents); index = index + 1 {
 		key, value, err := parseEntry(contents[index], index)
@@ -106,17 +100,17 @@ func fromEntries(candidateNode *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
 
 		node.Content = append(node.Content, key, value)
 	}
-	return mapCandidateNode, nil
+	return node, nil
 }
 
 func fromEntriesOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
 	var results = list.New()
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		candidateNode := unwrapDoc(candidate.Node)
+		candidateNode := candidate.unwrapDocument()
 
 		switch candidateNode.Kind {
-		case yaml.SequenceNode:
+		case SequenceNode:
 			mapResult, err := fromEntries(candidate)
 			if err != nil {
 				return Context{}, err
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_env.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_env.go
index ed3f51e2..c83499be 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_env.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_env.go
@@ -4,10 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-	"strings"
 
 	parse "github.com/a8m/envsubst/parse"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type envOpPreferences struct {
@@ -18,39 +16,37 @@ type envOpPreferences struct {
 }
 
 func envOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
-	envName := expressionNode.Operation.CandidateNode.Node.Value
+	envName := expressionNode.Operation.CandidateNode.Value
 	log.Debug("EnvOperator, env name:", envName)
 
 	rawValue := os.Getenv(envName)
 
 	preferences := expressionNode.Operation.Preferences.(envOpPreferences)
 
-	var node *yaml.Node
+	var node *CandidateNode
 	if preferences.StringValue {
-		node = &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
+		node = &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
 			Tag:   "!!str",
 			Value: rawValue,
 		}
 	} else if rawValue == "" {
 		return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("Value for env variable '%v' not provided in env()", envName)
 	} else {
-		var dataBucket yaml.Node
-		decoder := yaml.NewDecoder(strings.NewReader(rawValue))
-		errorReading := decoder.Decode(&dataBucket)
-		if errorReading != nil {
-			return Context{}, errorReading
+		decoder := NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences)
+		result, err := decoder.Decode()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			return Context{}, err
 		}
-		//first node is a doc
-		node = unwrapDoc(&dataBucket)
+		node = result.unwrapDocument()
+
 	}
 	log.Debug("ENV tag", node.Tag)
 	log.Debug("ENV value", node.Value)
 	log.Debug("ENV Kind", node.Kind)
 
-	target := &CandidateNode{Node: node}
-
-	return context.SingleChildContext(target), nil
+	return context.SingleChildContext(node), nil
 }
 
 func envsubstOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
@@ -71,7 +67,7 @@ func envsubstOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Exp
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		node := unwrapDoc(candidate.Node)
+		node := candidate.unwrapDocument()
 		if node.Tag != "!!str" {
 			log.Warning("EnvSubstOperator, env name:", node.Tag, node.Value)
 			return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("cannot substitute with %v, can only substitute strings. Hint: Most often you'll want to use '|=' over '=' for this operation", node.Tag)
@@ -81,8 +77,7 @@ func envsubstOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Exp
 		if err != nil {
 			return Context{}, err
 		}
-		targetNode := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: value, Tag: "!!str"}
-		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(targetNode)
+		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(ScalarNode, "!!str", value)
 		results.PushBack(result)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_file.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_file.go
index c0ffaad8..118da5ae 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_file.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_file.go
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ package yqlib
 import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func getFilenameOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
@@ -14,8 +12,7 @@ func getFilenameOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		node := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: candidate.Filename, Tag: "!!str"}
-		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(node)
+		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(ScalarNode, "!!str", candidate.Filename)
 		results.PushBack(result)
 	}
 
@@ -29,8 +26,7 @@ func getFileIndexOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		node := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: fmt.Sprintf("%v", candidate.FileIndex), Tag: "!!int"}
-		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(node)
+		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(ScalarNode, "!!int", fmt.Sprintf("%v", candidate.FileIndex))
 		results.PushBack(result)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_load.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_load.go
index 678854f6..d24bba90 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_load.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_load.go
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
-
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 var LoadYamlPreferences = YamlPreferences{
@@ -30,7 +28,7 @@ func loadString(filename string) (*CandidateNode, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return &CandidateNode{Node: &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: string(filebytes)}}, nil
+	return &CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: string(filebytes)}, nil
 }
 
 func loadYaml(filename string, decoder Decoder) (*CandidateNode, error) {
@@ -51,15 +49,15 @@ func loadYaml(filename string, decoder Decoder) (*CandidateNode, error) {
 
 	if documents.Len() == 0 {
 		// return null candidate
-		return &CandidateNode{Node: &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Tag: "!!null"}}, nil
+		return &CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!null"}, nil
 	} else if documents.Len() == 1 {
 		candidate := documents.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode)
 		return candidate, nil
 
 	} else {
-		sequenceNode := &CandidateNode{Node: &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode}}
+		sequenceNode := &CandidateNode{Kind: SequenceNode}
 		for doc := documents.Front(); doc != nil; doc = doc.Next() {
-			sequenceNode.Node.Content = append(sequenceNode.Node.Content, unwrapDoc(doc.Value.(*CandidateNode).Node))
+			sequenceNode.Content = append(sequenceNode.Content, doc.Value.(*CandidateNode).unwrapDocument())
 		}
 		return sequenceNode, nil
 	}
@@ -87,7 +85,7 @@ func loadYamlOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Exp
 		}
 		nameCandidateNode := rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode)
 
-		filename := nameCandidateNode.Node.Value
+		filename := nameCandidateNode.Value
 
 		var contentsCandidate *CandidateNode
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_path.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_path.go
index cdad7f1b..c956f353 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_path.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_path.go
@@ -3,21 +3,19 @@ package yqlib
 import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
-func createPathNodeFor(pathElement interface{}) *yaml.Node {
+func createPathNodeFor(pathElement interface{}) *CandidateNode {
 	switch pathElement := pathElement.(type) {
 	case string:
-		return &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: pathElement, Tag: "!!str"}
+		return &CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode, Value: pathElement, Tag: "!!str"}
 	default:
-		return &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: fmt.Sprintf("%v", pathElement), Tag: "!!int"}
+		return &CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode, Value: fmt.Sprintf("%v", pathElement), Tag: "!!int"}
 	}
 }
 
-func getPathArrayFromNode(funcName string, node *yaml.Node) ([]interface{}, error) {
-	if node.Kind != yaml.SequenceNode {
+func getPathArrayFromNode(funcName string, node *CandidateNode) ([]interface{}, error) {
+	if node.Kind != SequenceNode {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%v: expected path array, but got %v instead", funcName, node.Tag)
 	}
 
@@ -59,7 +57,7 @@ func setPathOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expr
 	}
 	lhsValue := lhsPathContext.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode)
 
-	lhsPath, err := getPathArrayFromNode("SETPATH", lhsValue.Node)
+	lhsPath, err := getPathArrayFromNode("SETPATH", lhsValue)
 
 	if err != nil {
 		return Context{}, err
@@ -110,7 +108,7 @@ func delPathsOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Exp
 	if pathArraysContext.MatchingNodes.Len() != 1 {
 		return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("DELPATHS: expected single value but found %v", pathArraysContext.MatchingNodes.Len())
 	}
-	pathArraysNode := pathArraysContext.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Node
+	pathArraysNode := pathArraysContext.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode)
 
 	if pathArraysNode.Tag != "!!seq" {
 		return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("DELPATHS: expected a sequence of sequences, but found %v", pathArraysNode.Tag)
@@ -156,16 +154,15 @@ func getPathOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expr
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		node := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq"}
+		node := candidate.CreateReplacement(SequenceNode, "!!seq", "")
 
-		content := make([]*yaml.Node, len(candidate.Path))
+		content := make([]*CandidateNode, len(candidate.Path))
 		for pathIndex := 0; pathIndex < len(candidate.Path); pathIndex++ {
 			path := candidate.Path[pathIndex]
 			content[pathIndex] = createPathNodeFor(path)
 		}
 		node.Content = content
-		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(node)
-		results.PushBack(result)
+		results.PushBack(node)
 	}
 
 	return context.ChildContext(results), nil
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_reverse.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_reverse.go
index 1693308f..2ea97c5f 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_reverse.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_reverse.go
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ package yqlib
 import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func reverseOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
@@ -13,19 +11,19 @@ func reverseOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expr
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 
-		candidateNode := unwrapDoc(candidate.Node)
+		candidateNode := candidate.unwrapDocument()
 
-		if candidateNode.Kind != yaml.SequenceNode {
+		if candidateNode.Kind != SequenceNode {
 			return context, fmt.Errorf("node at path [%v] is not an array (it's a %v)", candidate.GetNicePath(), candidate.GetNiceTag())
 		}
 
-		reverseList := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq", Style: candidateNode.Style}
-		reverseList.Content = make([]*yaml.Node, len(candidateNode.Content))
+		reverseList := candidate.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(SequenceNode, "!!tag", candidateNode.Style)
+		reverseList.Content = make([]*CandidateNode, len(candidateNode.Content))
 
 		for i, originalNode := range candidateNode.Content {
 			reverseList.Content[len(candidateNode.Content)-i-1] = originalNode
 		}
-		results.PushBack(candidate.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(reverseList))
+		results.PushBack(reverseList)
 
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_select.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_select.go
index 57b9e2ce..dc2358bf 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_select.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_select.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func selectOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expre
 
 		for resultEl := rhs.MatchingNodes.Front(); resultEl != nil; resultEl = resultEl.Next() {
 			result := resultEl.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-			includeResult, errDecoding = isTruthy(result)
+			includeResult, errDecoding = isTruthyNode(result)
 			log.Debugf("isTruthy %v", includeResult)
 			if errDecoding != nil {
 				return Context{}, errDecoding
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_sort.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_sort.go
index 01070f2d..8ba7e2e1 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_sort.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_sort.go
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func sortOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
@@ -26,9 +24,9 @@ func sortByOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expre
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 
-		candidateNode := unwrapDoc(candidate.Node)
+		candidateNode := candidate.unwrapDocument()
 
-		if candidateNode.Kind != yaml.SequenceNode {
+		if candidateNode.Kind != SequenceNode {
 			return context, fmt.Errorf("node at path [%v] is not an array (it's a %v)", candidate.GetNicePath(), candidate.GetNiceTag())
 		}
 
@@ -36,8 +34,7 @@ func sortByOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expre
 
 		for i, originalNode := range candidateNode.Content {
 
-			childCandidate := candidate.CreateChildInArray(i, originalNode)
-			compareContext, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context.SingleReadonlyChildContext(childCandidate), expressionNode.RHS)
+			compareContext, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context.SingleReadonlyChildContext(originalNode), expressionNode.RHS)
 			if err != nil {
 				return Context{}, err
 			}
@@ -48,19 +45,20 @@ func sortByOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expre
 
 		sort.Stable(sortableArray)
 
-		sortedList := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq", Style: candidateNode.Style}
-		sortedList.Content = make([]*yaml.Node, len(candidateNode.Content))
+		sortedList := candidate.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(SequenceNode, "!!seq", candidateNode.Style)
+
+		sortedList.Content = make([]*CandidateNode, len(candidateNode.Content))
 
 		for i, sortedNode := range sortableArray {
 			sortedList.Content[i] = sortedNode.Node
 		}
-		results.PushBack(candidate.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(sortedList))
+		results.PushBack(sortedList)
 	}
 	return context.ChildContext(results), nil
 }
 
 type sortableNode struct {
-	Node           *yaml.Node
+	Node           *CandidateNode
 	CompareContext Context
 	dateTimeLayout string
 }
@@ -79,7 +77,7 @@ func (a sortableNodeArray) Less(i, j int) bool {
 		lhs := lhsEl.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 		rhs := rhsEl.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 
-		result := a.compare(lhs.Node, rhs.Node, a[i].dateTimeLayout)
+		result := a.compare(lhs, rhs, a[i].dateTimeLayout)
 
 		if result < 0 {
 			return true
@@ -92,18 +90,18 @@ func (a sortableNodeArray) Less(i, j int) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (a sortableNodeArray) compare(lhs *yaml.Node, rhs *yaml.Node, dateTimeLayout string) int {
+func (a sortableNodeArray) compare(lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode, dateTimeLayout string) int {
 	lhsTag := lhs.Tag
 	rhsTag := rhs.Tag
 
 	if !strings.HasPrefix(lhsTag, "!!") {
 		// custom tag - we have to have a guess
-		lhsTag = guessTagFromCustomType(lhs)
+		lhsTag = lhs.guessTagFromCustomType()
 	}
 
 	if !strings.HasPrefix(rhsTag, "!!") {
 		// custom tag - we have to have a guess
-		rhsTag = guessTagFromCustomType(rhs)
+		rhsTag = rhs.guessTagFromCustomType()
 	}
 
 	isDateTime := lhsTag == "!!timestamp" && rhsTag == "!!timestamp"
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_style.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_style.go
index ed7f6549..f4e354bf 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_style.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_style.go
@@ -3,23 +3,21 @@ package yqlib
 import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
-func parseStyle(customStyle string) (yaml.Style, error) {
+func parseStyle(customStyle string) (Style, error) {
 	if customStyle == "tagged" {
-		return yaml.TaggedStyle, nil
+		return TaggedStyle, nil
 	} else if customStyle == "double" {
-		return yaml.DoubleQuotedStyle, nil
+		return DoubleQuotedStyle, nil
 	} else if customStyle == "single" {
-		return yaml.SingleQuotedStyle, nil
+		return SingleQuotedStyle, nil
 	} else if customStyle == "literal" {
-		return yaml.LiteralStyle, nil
+		return LiteralStyle, nil
 	} else if customStyle == "folded" {
-		return yaml.FoldedStyle, nil
+		return FoldedStyle, nil
 	} else if customStyle == "flow" {
-		return yaml.FlowStyle, nil
+		return FlowStyle, nil
 	} else if customStyle != "" {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("Unknown style %v", customStyle)
 	}
@@ -29,7 +27,7 @@ func parseStyle(customStyle string) (yaml.Style, error) {
 func assignStyleOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
 
 	log.Debugf("AssignStyleOperator: %v")
-	var style yaml.Style
+	var style Style
 	if !expressionNode.Operation.UpdateAssign {
 		rhs, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context.ReadOnlyClone(), expressionNode.RHS)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -37,7 +35,7 @@ func assignStyleOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *
 		}
 
 		if rhs.MatchingNodes.Front() != nil {
-			style, err = parseStyle(rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Node.Value)
+			style, err = parseStyle(rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Value)
 			if err != nil {
 				return Context{}, err
 			}
@@ -60,14 +58,14 @@ func assignStyleOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *
 			}
 
 			if rhs.MatchingNodes.Front() != nil {
-				style, err = parseStyle(rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Node.Value)
+				style, err = parseStyle(rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Value)
 				if err != nil {
 					return Context{}, err
 				}
 			}
 		}
 
-		candidate.Node.Style = style
+		candidate.Style = style
 	}
 
 	return context, nil
@@ -81,26 +79,25 @@ func getStyleOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Exp
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 		var style string
-		switch candidate.Node.Style {
-		case yaml.TaggedStyle:
+		switch candidate.Style {
+		case TaggedStyle:
 			style = "tagged"
-		case yaml.DoubleQuotedStyle:
+		case DoubleQuotedStyle:
 			style = "double"
-		case yaml.SingleQuotedStyle:
+		case SingleQuotedStyle:
 			style = "single"
-		case yaml.LiteralStyle:
+		case LiteralStyle:
 			style = "literal"
-		case yaml.FoldedStyle:
+		case FoldedStyle:
 			style = "folded"
-		case yaml.FlowStyle:
+		case FlowStyle:
 			style = "flow"
 		case 0:
 			style = ""
 		default:
 			style = "<unknown>"
 		}
-		node := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: style, Tag: "!!str"}
-		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(node)
+		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(ScalarNode, "!!str", style)
 		results.PushBack(result)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_tag.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_tag.go
index 59b07d89..fff3c888 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_tag.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_tag.go
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ package yqlib
 
 import (
 	"container/list"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func assignTagOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
@@ -18,7 +16,7 @@ func assignTagOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Ex
 		}
 
 		if rhs.MatchingNodes.Front() != nil {
-			tag = rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Node.Value
+			tag = rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Value
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -38,10 +36,10 @@ func assignTagOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Ex
 			}
 
 			if rhs.MatchingNodes.Front() != nil {
-				tag = rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Node.Value
+				tag = rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Value
 			}
 		}
-		unwrapDoc(candidate.Node).Tag = tag
+		candidate.unwrapDocument().Tag = tag
 	}
 
 	return context, nil
@@ -54,8 +52,7 @@ func getTagOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Expre
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
-		node := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: unwrapDoc(candidate.Node).Tag, Tag: "!!str"}
-		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(node)
+		result := candidate.CreateReplacement(ScalarNode, "!!str", candidate.unwrapDocument().Tag)
 		results.PushBack(result)
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_unique.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_unique.go
index 1a821538..6c8c0c67 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_unique.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_unique.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func uniqueBy(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionN
 				newMatches.Set(keyValue, child)
 			}
 		}
-		resultNode := candidate.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(SequenceNode, "!!seq", "")
+		resultNode := candidate.CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(SequenceNode, "!!seq", candidateNode.Style)
 		for el := newMatches.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
 			resultNode.Content = append(resultNode.Content, el.Value.(*CandidateNode))
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_value.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_value.go
index b4296acc..740893af 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_value.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_value.go
@@ -7,22 +7,16 @@ func referenceOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *Ex
 }
 
 func valueOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
-	log.Debug("value = %v", expressionNode.Operation.CandidateNode.Node.Value)
+	log.Debug("value = %v", expressionNode.Operation.CandidateNode.Value)
 	if context.MatchingNodes.Len() == 0 {
-		clone, err := expressionNode.Operation.CandidateNode.Copy()
-		if err != nil {
-			return Context{}, err
-		}
+		clone := expressionNode.Operation.CandidateNode.Copy()
 		return context.SingleChildContext(clone), nil
 	}
 
 	var results = list.New()
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
-		clone, err := expressionNode.Operation.CandidateNode.Copy()
-		if err != nil {
-			return Context{}, err
-		}
+		clone := expressionNode.Operation.CandidateNode.Copy()
 		results.PushBack(clone)
 	}