Publish Date |
August 20, 2024 |
Category |
Juvenile Fiction / Fantasy & Magic Juvenile Fiction / Science & Nature |
Price |
$23.99 |
ISBN: 9781534431904
Format: Hardback
Pages: 320
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: August 20, 2024
"The worldbuilding is tight in this eerie take on the battle between good and evil with a distinct message about the environmental impact of human activity…Searing and satisfying.”"In her middle grade debut, Maxwell presents through a realistic lens an approachable, magical adventure that’s reminiscent of A Wrinkle in Time.""The enthralling story employs delightfully precise and sophisticated language to conjure a disquieting countryside setting that feels both cozy and menacing in turn. Xavier makes for a charming and compassionate companion, and the complicated familial relationships feel eminently relatable. A pleasurable page-turner with style and suspense to spare.""Maxwell's poignant middle-grade debut reads like an endearing oral history with an enchanting third-person narrator who at times speaks directly to readers. The robust woodsy setting is as wondrous as it is uncanny, and Maxwell includes a great amount of humor through wry excerpts from Xavier's field guide, Notes for the National Society of Natural Things by Milton von Wimple II. The author tactfully depicts frayed family ties while still warming the heart through Xavier's enigmatic friendship with the "prickly-but-lovable" Clem. A charming celebration of naturalism and self-confidence."