{"title":"Fantasy","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the heights of imagination with these fantastical reads.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"twice-dead","title":"Twice Dead","description":"\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/caitlin-seal\" title=\"Caitlin Seal\"\u003eCaitlin Seal\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDeath is only the beginning.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNaya Garth's first solo mission for her merchant father goes horribly awry when she wakes up undead in a foreign city. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResurrected in order to spy for her country on the orders of the mysterious Ambassador Valn, Naya must embrace a state of being that her culture despises in order to complete her missions. Assuming the face and persona of a servant to the necromancer who raised her from the dead, she struggles to adapt to her spectral state while completing a crash course in spycraft – and developing the sneaking suspicion that she was brought back wrong . . .\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmbroiled in politics, kidnappings, murder, intrigue, and an entirely unexpected romance, Naya will need every ounce of her wits to escape a fate worse than death. This imaginative debut is perfect for fans of \u003cem\u003eGraceling\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDaughter of Smoke and Bone.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTwice Dead\u003c\/i\u003e is book I of The Necromancer's Song.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/trinity-of-bones\"\u003eBook II: Trinity of Bones\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/charlesbridge.blogspot.com\/2018\/10\/charlesbridge-unplugged-14-young-adult.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eListen\u003c\/a\u003e to Caitlin talk about The Necromancer's Song series on Charlesbridge Unplugged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/trinity-of-bones\"\u003eTrinity of Bones\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contagion\"\u003eContagion\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/twice-dead-cvr.jpg?15130230091333515809\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/Twice-Dead-hi-res.zip?17090596281294401571\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/Twice-Dead-Excerpt.pdf?17090596281294401571\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Excerpt\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/twice-dead-readers-group-guide.pdf?8527521631618956525\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Readers' Group Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCaitlin Seal, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaitlin Seal is a writer and compulsive reader living in northern California. When not writing, she enjoys skiing, aikido, and playing too many board games. \u003ci\u003eTwice Dead\u003c\/i\u003e is her debut novel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Author Caitlin Seal\" href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/caitlin-seal\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Caitlin here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNaya Garth, apprentice to her wealthy merchant father, has been sent to prove herself by speaking with a supplier—but will it be the test she was expecting? On her way from her father's ship to the supplier's home in Ceramor, 17-year-old Naya is killed. A necromancer brings her back to life as a wraith with the authority of Ambassador Valn from her home country of Talmir. He wants her to continue to be of service to Talmir by becoming a spy. Naya has great difficulty accepting her circumstances until she meets Corten, another wraith, who helps her learn about her new powers. Over time Naya begins to question whether she is on the right side of the conflict between Ceramor and Talmir. She also fears what she has inadvertently involved Corten in. Naya, Corten, and the inhabitants of Ceramor are described as being tan-skinned, and the inclusion of a lesbian couple makes for a pleasantly diverse cast. Debut author Seal's characters aren't particularly well-rounded, but the world they inhabit is richly detailed and the plotline is exciting, if at times predictable. This is a promising beginning to a series that makes us question what we think we know. A high fantasy filled with adventure, espionage, and romance that envelops the reader in a world where the undead walk among the living.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-105-7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-63289-648-3 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 12 and up\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 336\u003cbr\u003e6 x 9\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 9-10. Standards 1-6, 10\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Literature. Grade 11-12. Standards 1-6, 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","brand":"Charlesbridge","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":32584876851279,"sku":"41057","price":6.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/products\/twice-dead-cover_49d2f460-29d4-448b-b33e-deb291922384.jpg?v=1586806386"},{"product_id":"friend-or-fiction","title":"Friend or Fiction","description":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/abby-cooper\"\u003eAbby Cooper\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe best friends are the ones you make yourself . . .\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwelve-year-old Jade wishes her family would leave their no-name Colorado town already–everyone else does, including every friend Jade's ever had. But now that her dad's been diagnosed with liver cancer, they're not going anywhere. So Jade makes a friend who won't ever leave her: Zoe, the best best friend anyone could imagine, who lives in the pages of her notebook. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen an experiment gone horribly right brings imaginary Zoe to life, Jade is thrilled. But the strange power she wields over Zoe scares Jade, as does Zoe's increasing popularity. Is it okay to have a friend who \u003cem\u003ehas\u003c\/em\u003e to do what you want? Is Jade really ready to share Zoe with the world?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"The Importance of Wings\" href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/the-importance-of-wings\"\u003eThe Importance of Wings\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca title=\"Flying the Dragon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/flying-the-dragon\"\u003eFlying the Dragon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/friend-or-fiction-cvr.jpg?9602067234706311769\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/friend-or-fiction-hires.zip?487\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/friend-or-fiction-excerpt.pdf?9602067234706311769\"\u003eDownload the Excerpt\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/friend-or-fiction-readers-guide.pdf?116\"\u003eDownload the Reader's Group Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbby Cooper, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreviously a K-8 library media specialist, Abby Cooper is now a full time author of books for children. She has written two novels: \u003ci\u003eBubbles\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSticks and Stones\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/abby-cooper\" title=\"Author Abby Cooper\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Abby here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lonely girl creates her own best friend.No one stays in Tiveda, Colorado, for long. Friends come and go, and no one keeps in touch. Sick of making friends and losing them, aspiring author Jade Levy writes herself a best friend. Although Zoe exists solely on paper, she's real to Jade. She lives next door, they do everything together, and when Jade needs her, she gets out her beloved notebook and writes herself and Zoe into a story. Reality and fiction collide when an actual girl named Zoe moves in next door. Jade thinks she's dreaming; this can't be her Zoe. But everything about this girl mirrors Jade's creation. They look alike, and real Zoe's first day in Jade's sixth grade class unfolds exactly like the one Jade wrote for her. Jade finally has the real best friend she's longed for. But then Zoe deviates from the stories and starts thinking for herself, throwing Jade into a whirl of worry. What if Zoe finds another best friend? A subplot concerning Jade's father's cancer circles neatly around to meet the main narrative. Jade is introspective and narrates with quiet humor; anyone would be lucky to have her as a friend. Jade is white and Jewish, and Zoe has olive skin. An important secondary character is adopted and has two dads; another wears hijab. A solid, unusual story that speaks to the need for friendship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\nIn Jade’s Colorado town, people are always moving in and out. She’s had best friends and lost them, and she’s finally decided that the best way to keep a friend is to write one for herself. Zoe is everything she could ever want in a best friend, and their exploits are legendary—in Jade’s mind, at least. But when Zoe is brought to life by a quirky classmate and some magical pond water, Jade must deal with the day-to-day realities of having a formerly fictional best friend. At first, Zoe is content to be constantly guided by Jade. But is it real friendship when Zoe lacks agency? And is Jade neglecting other people in her life to devote all her time to perfecting her friendship with Zoe? Readers who also enjoy the craft of writing will find plenty to like here. Since Jade is an aspiring writer, there are plenty of writing tips, usually offered by Jade’s favorite teacher Mrs. Yang. VERDICT This contemplative fantasy has plenty of character development and touches of magical realism. Offer to fans of Kate Messner and Sarah Weeks.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBooklist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\nAfter Jade’s dad was diagnosed with cancer, her family canceled the plan to move away from their small Colorado town, and so Jade has been stuck there while the town gets smaller and her friends move away. In order to cope with the worry over her father’s illness, Jade turns to writing, and she ends up creating her own perfect friend in Zoe, a character who never leaves and does everything with Jade. When a classmate discovers magic in the town’s pond, however, he uses it to bring Zoe to life, and soon Jade discovers that it’s not always easy having a perfect best friend and that life is much more complicated than fiction. Her father’s illness and the surrounding drama are handled nicely as Jade’s family comes together and she realizes what she’s been missing out on by not being fully present. An endearing story, with a pitch-perfect tween voice and a touch of magic, about what makes a friend.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBayViews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJade is unhappy in the little Colorado town her family has ended up in, but they can’t move away because of her dad’s illness. Each new friend she makes soon moves away, so she now relies on writing about an imaginary best friend instead. One surprising day, her fictional best friend Zoe (described as having long dark hair and green eyes) comes to life. While Jade (default white) initially loves the control she has over Zoe’s actions and personality; eventually, she realizes what the readers may have known all along. Cooper’s writing engages readers, challenging them to decide whether Zoe is a hallucination, or a magical girl there to help Jade through a tough time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollabookathon\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fun, fast-paced, thought-provoking, and emotional middle grade read! Abby Cooper starts with a captivating premise—what if an aspiring writer created a fictional best friend who somehow came to life?—and she delivers a charmingly relatable and magical novel that's as moving as it is entertaining. Jade's story will keep readers turning the pages and leave them thinking about how we protect ourselves and others when we're going through something incredibly hard and what it means to be a true friend. It’s a perfect follow-up to Abby’s first two novels and a delightful story on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-108-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: \u003cspan\u003e978-1-63289-870-8\u003c\/span\u003e EPUB\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 10 and up\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 272\u003cbr\u003e5 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 8 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e4\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","brand":"Charlesbridge","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":21321418244175,"sku":"41088","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":39509916254287,"sku":"41842","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/products\/friend-or-fiction-cover.jpg?v=1586795125"},{"product_id":"of-salt-and-shore","title":"Of Salt and Shore","description":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\nBy \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/annet-schaap\"\u003eAnnet Schaap\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e “Schaap’s story of family, friendship, and loyalty is humorous, scary, and filled with goodness.”\u003cbr\u003e —\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor fans of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Hazel Wood\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e, this middle-grade novel takes the dark stuff of fairytales and crafts it into a powerful story of friendship and light.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAsking herself, What if the Little Mermaid left a child behind? Annet Schaap weaves a fantastical story inspired by both the light and the dark of fairytales.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the lighthouse keeper’s daughter, Lampie must light a lantern to warn ships away from the rocks. But when a ship is wrecked, the townspeople are angry, and someone must pay. To work off her debt, Lampie is banished to the Admiral's lonely house, where a monster is rumored to live. The terrors inside the house aren't quite what she thought they would be—they are even stranger. Lampie befriends the neglected son of the admiral, a boy she calls Fish, and the two form a close bond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaving been abandoned by those on land, the two children join up with other misfits, mermaids, and pirates for a daring maritime adventure. Lampie must muster the courage to fight for friendship and the freedom to be different—both on land and in the sea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/rickshaw-girl\"\u003eRickshaw Girl\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Trailer\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe height=\"315\" width=\"560\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OTk3cHicnEM\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1591390571\" alt=\"Of Salt and Shore book cover\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/of-salt-and-shore-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1594823791\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/of-salt-and-shore-discussion-guide.pdf?v=1602614466\"\u003eDownload the Discussion Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnnet Schaap, author \u0026amp; illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnnet Schaap is one of the Netherlands' best-loved illustrators. Her debut novel, \u003cem\u003eLampje,\u003c\/em\u003e now available in the United States as \u003cem\u003eOf Salt \u0026amp; Shore,\u003c\/em\u003e won four prizes, including the best Dutch children's book of 2018. She lives in Utrecht, the Netherlands. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/annet-schaap\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Annet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?18127980511287865543\"\u003e Booklist\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing up in a village by the sea, Emilia, daughter of the lighthouse keeper and thus nicknamed Lampie, has heard the rumors about the monster in the Admiral’s Black House. Now she’s about to experience the Black House firsthand, all because she forgot to get the matches for the lighthouse lamp. As luck would have it, a storm blows in while the lamp is unlit and a ship wrecks on the rocks. Now, to pay off the damages, Lampie must work in the Black House for seven years while her father is locked in the lighthouse for the same period. Once in the mansion, Lampie’s curiosity leads her to a locked tower, where she finds not a monster but Edward, the admiral’s son, who is a merman. What ensues is a friendship that neither Lampie nor Edward ever expected, but one that rescues them for life. Divided into six sections, with intriguing artwork interludes, Schaap’s story of family, friendship, and loyalty is humorous, scary, and filled with goodness. The captivating supporting cast of characters—a mix of realistic, fanciful, and stereotypical—makes for a delightful read. This is the first U.S. edition of Schaap’s book, first published in the Netherlands to wide acclaim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA young girl uncovers an incredible, terrifying secret inside a forbidding, ominous house perched on the edge of the sea. Ever since Lampie’s mother died, lighthouse keeper Augustus has drunk himself into debt and hurls his anger at Lampie. When a ship is wrecked, father and daughter are blamed for carelessly running out of matches to light the lamp. Augustus is imprisoned in his lighthouse, and illiterate Lampie must be a servant for seven years in the sinister Black House, rumored to harbor a monster. What Lampie discovers in the high tower room is not what she expects, but Lampie is her mother’s daughter, with resiliency to survive in the face of relentless cruelty and despair. The story is billed as a sequel to “The Little Mermaid,” but the ties to Han Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale are not apparent until well into it. However, elements of The Secret Garden and “Beauty and the Beast” are evident throughout, enticing readers hungry for new yet classic-feeling books. Translated from Dutch, the third-person narration moves seamlessly, transitioning from character to character, drawing parallels, and setting up juxtapositions that further illuminate the characters’ motivations and growth. Many of the adults in this book are damaged, mentally and physically, and this affects most cruelly the children in their lives. Characters seem to be assumed white. Gritty and suspenseful, this atmospheric fairy tale will capture the hearts of sturdy middle-grade readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Bulletin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Lampie and her drunken father’s negligence of their lighthouse duties leads to a shipwreck, locals lock her father in the lighthouse and indenture Lampie at the mysterious Black House to work off the cost of the lost ship. Despite the warnings of housekeeper Martha, Lampie dares the house’s stinking, ominous tower room to find and eventually befriend the Admiral’s secret merman son, a half-feral boy named Edward (Lampie dubs him Fish). With help from Martha’s sweet neurodiverse son Lenny, handyman Nick, a traveling sideshow, and last-minute pirates, Lampie helps Fish embrace his merman nature instead of trying to be human to please his exacting, emotionally withholding father. While some emotional resolution is missing for both Lampie and Fish in this Dutch import, the various points of view are highly effective, especially Fish’s earliest chapters when he is starving and furious. Watkinson’s translation flows easily, balancing momentum and present-tense narration with an almost folksy tone. Schaap’s illustrator chops are on display in five full-spread section breaks, where tightly sketched figures move through or contemplate vast, ink-washed landscapes and cavernous spaces. This would pair well with Potter’s The Kneebone Boy (BCCB 10\/10) in its combination of bittersweet whimsy, serious undertones, and gothic mystery delights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith this haunting story, author-illustrator Schaap weaves together elements remniscent of Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” and Burnett’s The Secret Garden to construct a gothic fable. After a shipwreck occurs during a storm, 11-year-old lighthouse keeper’s daughter Emilia Waterman, called Lampie, is taken from her father, who is blamed for the wreck. Inhabited by a bare-bones staff serving an absentee admiral, her bleak new cliffside home, the Black House, is reportedly haunted by a monster. Lampie eventually discovers that the “monster” is Edward, the reclusive, abrasive son of the admiral, who has scaly skin and a fish’s tail. Over time, she befriends the boy she nicknames Fish, who’s determined to learn how to walk on land despite his “deformity.” After a visit to a traveling fair reveals clues about Fish’s parentage, Lampie and her new friend wind up in an escapade that will change their lives. Formal language and multiple perspectives result in a narrative distance that, while appropriate for a fairy tale, betrays a lack of focus as the story develops. The inclusion of an era-appropriate “freak show,” though delicately handled, may still disturb some readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-230-6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-344-0\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-63289-998-9 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 10 and up\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 336\u003cbr\u003e5 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 8 \u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\/\u003csub\u003e4\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","brand":"Charlesbridge","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":31969142145103,"sku":"42306","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":42393546948845,"sku":"43440","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/products\/of-salt-and-shore-cover.jpg?v=1612087228"},{"product_id":"monster-vs-boy","title":"Monster vs. Boy","description":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Monstrously magical and delicious!\"\u003cbr\u003e—William Alexander, National Book Award Winner for\u003ci\u003e Goblin Secrets\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/karen-krossing\"\u003eKaren Krossing\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCould she step into the world? \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDawz wants to practice Recipes of Extreme Greatness for the Bakers' Brawl competition and forget all about his mom, who left him and his sister Jayla with their uncle years ago and never came back. He does not want to see a monster in his closet that no one else can see.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMim wants to explore her closet's nooks and crannies and listen to stories through the door. She does not want to share her space with the horrible boy outside the closet.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWhen Mim leaves Dawz's closet for the first time, the two learn they're connected in ways neither can explain. While Mim searches the world for a friend, Dawz searches for a way to get rid of her so that he can be normal. Can they break free of each other without losing who they are?\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"A heartfelt tale of meeting your monsters and setting them free.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Linda Urban, acclaimed author of \u003ci\u003eA Crooked Kind of Perfect\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/worst-case-collin\"\u003eWorst-Case Collin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/of-salt-and-shore\"\u003eOf Salt and Shore\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-way-i-say-it\"\u003eThe Way I Say It\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS] \u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monster-vs-boy-cover.jpg?v=1667585926\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monster-vs-boy-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1667585929\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monster-vs-boy-discussion-guide.pdf?v=1679587247\"\u003eDownload the Discussion Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKaren Krossing, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKaren Krossing wrote comics and poetry as a kid and dreamed of becoming a published writer. Today she is the author of many books for young readers, including picture books \u003cem\u003eSour Cakes \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e One Tiny Bubble\u003c\/em\u003e and novels \u003cem\u003eBog, Cut the Lights, \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e Punch Like a Girl.\u003c\/em\u003e She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and regularly teaches writing workshops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/karen-krossing\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Karen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eForeword Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Karen Krossing’s meaningful novel Monster vs. Boy, a child faces a monster and his own past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEleven-year-old Dawz lives with his sister and their uncle, who adopted the children after their mother disappeared. He is happy, enjoys time with his best friend, and nurtures his passion for cooking. He also suspects that there is a monster in his closet. When he finally sees the monster, he realizes that he cannot tell anyone. He fears they will think that he sounds like his mother, who mumbled about yellow feathers and a scorpion tail. Mim has lived in the closet for years, enjoying her small space and listening to Dawz and his family read. After Dawz sees her, she ends up in search of a new nest, hoping to find friends and the secrets to reading along the way. But Mim and Dawz continue to cross paths; they are connected. A book whose story of a boy hunting a monster is really about mental health and learning to accept the darkest parts of oneself, this story builds as more people join in on Dawz’s search—and as each new character offers him their own support. The adults listen to and reassure him. His uncle shares information about his mother, giving him truths as he is ready to deal with them. Eventually, Dawz is ready to face Mim. The story is set in a small town with a history of monsters; the community expresses ready belief in Dawz’s claims. Stated differences in racial and sexual identities also feed into themes of acceptance and support the idea that Dawz must appreciate everything about himself, just as those around him accept and appreciate each other.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMonster vs. Boy is a supportive novel in which a boy learns to address his trauma—with his community’s support.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA boy wrestles with seeing a monster who shouldn’t be real and with finding a sense of belonging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMorsh’s reputation for once having been home to monsters forms the heart of the town’s booming tourism market. For 11-year-old Dawz, these supposedly mythical creatures are a painful reminder of the monster-obsessed mom who left him and younger sister Jayla to be adopted by their maternal uncle, Pop. (The children have different fathers, but their mother refused to disclose their identities.) Dawz dreams of winning a local baking competition, like Pop before him; baking is a special passion they share. But when he discovers Mim, a small monster with gray fur and purple scales living in his bedroom closet, he worries that makes him weird—like his mom. Mim is struggling with changes, too. She doesn’t remember a time before the closet, but she’s growing larger—and despite her trepidation, she is pulled to explore the world outside this dark, dusty haven. Dawz and Mim discover they have a bond, and they both struggle with learning to accept themselves. In this thoughtful story that deals with serious topics but is lightened by humor, Krossing expertly navigates what it’s like to be young and unsure of yourself through the protagonists’ character arcs. Jayla and Dawz have different skin tones from one another and Pop, who is cued White; their multiracial family is described as “a mismatched crew.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA moving tale of learning to accept yourself, flaws and all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe question of what does and doesn’t make a monster is front and center in this dark yet earnest tale by Krossing (One Tiny Bubble). Eleven-year-old Dawz and his younger sister Jayla live with their uncle in Morsh, a town that was once purportedly the home of monsters, which haven’t been sighted in years—except by Dawz. Though no one else can see or hear it, he knows that within his closet dwells a small monster with gray fur and purple scales named Mim, who is not fond of the boy who lives outside her abode. But Mim develops an appreciation for Dawz and his family when she overhears them reading aloud from books. Their tentative coexistence is upended when Mim—who grows physically larger and exponentially more curious by the day—emerges from the closet on a mission to uncover the magic of books. Krossing employs an omniscient third-person perspective to offer insight into both Mim’s and Dawz’s innermost thoughts. With realistically limned characters, the author explores pensive themes surrounding acceptance of oneself and of others to deliver a sensitive rumination on personhood and kindness. Context clues imply racial diversity among the human characters. Ages 10–up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eCanadian Children's Book Centre\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDawz and Jayla live with their uncle, \"Pops,\" who adopted them when their mom left. Together they live in the town of Morsh, a town known for its connection with monster, which is precisely what Dawz suspects has been hiding in his closet. While Dawz does everything to keep the door locked with the monster safe inside, Mim-- the cub-sized monster-- is growing tired of her nest in the closet. One night, Dawz and his best friend, Atlas, form a plan to trap Mim. However, monster-trapping isn't as easy as they thought, and now Mim is on the loose in Morsh. To save the town, himself, and maybe even Mim, Dawz and Mim must learn to confront their fears.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMonster vs. Boy is written from the perspective of Dawz and Mim as they embark on their individual adventures. Dawz hates that he's the only human who can see Mim, and Mim hates that she can't find a friend who can spin the magic needed to read her the precious books she's discovered. As Dawz desperately tries to hunt down Mim, Mim works just as hard to escape the \"horrible boy\". The story spins a tale of fantasy and action as it follows the fast-paced journey of two characters who, in learning about each other, are, in fact, learning more about themselves. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThough rich with fantasy, the novel explores the definition of family and the power of friendship, and the healing that comes from confronting the trauma we may have locked behind closed doors. \n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEleven-year-old Dawz is haunted by memories of his mother. He doesn’t want to be like his mother who saw monsters before she disappeared. He wants to be normal like his uncle who adopted him and his sister. Yet, a niggling prickle at the edge of his left eye tells him there is a monster in his bedroom closet. And he is not wrong. The monster’s name is Mim and she is smaller than a bear cub. Mim has her own problem. She is lonely. She peaks through the keyhole to spy on Dawz but is afraid to show herself to him. Her favorite time is bedtime when the grownup comes to read to Dawz and his little sister. To Mim, books are magical. The words build stories that live inside her and keep her company. And Mim is determined to find out how the magic of a book works. This well-written middle grade novel explores what it means to be a family, and why we try to hide the monster within us from those we love and who love us. Throughout the book both Dawz and Mim struggle with wanting everything to be normal. Dawz worries that his mismatched family is not a normal family and therefore not a real family. He worries that no one will love him if they see he is part monster because he hates his mother. Mim names him Dawz the Horrible. Is he? When Dawz learns that his family and friends still love him even when they can see he is part monster, he learns to accept himself and takes a first step toward forgiving his mother. Highly recommended for classroom read aloud or as a personal reading choice this is a sometimes touching sometimes funny story of self-acceptance and the magic of words. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-356-3\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 10 and up\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 246\u003cbr\u003e5\u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e 8\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csup data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e4\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","brand":"Charlesbridge","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43471577448685,"sku":"43563","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/products\/monster-vs-boy-cover.jpg?v=1667846999"},{"product_id":"monsters-of-fife-sea-dragons","title":"Monsters of Fife: Sea Dragons","description":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/jane-yolen\"\u003eJane Yolen\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/celia-lowenthal\"\u003eCelia Lowenthal\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMeet Cat Douglas—monster hunter.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCat Douglas is a monster hunter, and in the 1890s, the Scottish countryside is filled with monsters. In Ansthruther, one of the oldest villages of Fife, you can see small sea dragons swimming by looking like small Viking ships, but never anything bigger . . . until now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Maggie McGonagal races up to the schoolhouse screaming she’s seen a dragon, everyone is sure it is a trick of her imagination. But what if it’s real? What if a sea dragon has gotten beyond the wall that protects the village? The local chapter of a Scottish monster-hunting society, called the Royal and Ancient, must prepare for battle. This includes Cat, who is new to the society and will be the bait for the sea dragon!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoin Cat and her friends as they adventure through a fantastical and historical Scotland in this first installment of the Sea Monsters series. Graphic novel panels are interspersed throughout the novel, making it an engaging read and the three books in the series have collectible posters that can be pieced together to create one big poster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n[TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monsters-of-fife-sea-dragons-spread.jpg?v=1731092504\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monsters-of-fife-sea-dragons-cover.jpg?v=1731092506\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monsters-of-fife-sea-dragons-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1731092509\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monsters-of-fife-readers-guide-and-activity.pdf?v=1747836360\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Readers Group Guide and Make Your Own Graphic Novel Activity\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJane Yolen, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJane Yolen is the award-winning author of nearly four hundred children's books, including\u003cem\u003e Plymouth Rocks; Last Laughs; A Kite for Moon; \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e Bad Girls\u003c\/em\u003e. She has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of the Americas. Jane lives in Western Massachusetts and Scotland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/jane-yolen\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Jane.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this lively historical fantasy set in 1890 Fife, Scotland, 14-year-old Cat Douglas is training as a member of monster hunting society the Royal \u0026amp; Ancient to defend her home from the creatures that terrorize the land. As the first girl to serve in her town’s R\u0026amp;A chapter, Cat feels as if she has a lot to prove, and as the smallest, she acts as bait, luring the monsters in for the kill. Things are going well until the R\u0026amp;A is dispatched to handle reports of a treacherous sea dragon, the likes of which hasn’t been seen for many years. The monster hunters are shocked to learn, however, that where there’s one sea dragon, there are likely more, sending Cat and her crew on a high-stakes mission to save the village. Cat’s lilting first-person narration adds a potent sense of identity to this atmospheric action-adventure series starter by Yolen (The Scarlet Circus). Poppy saturated comics pages by Lowenthal appear throughout, evocatively rendering Cat’s world and the fearsome creatures that inhabit it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eChildren's Literature db\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLovers of historical fantasy will not want to miss Jane Yolen’s newest book. Set in 1880s Scotland, Cat Douglas is a monster hunter. When a student comes racing into the school to say a monster is in the forest, Cat and her comrades spring into action. The countryside has been filled with monsters, which is why her school exists. The question is, is there really a sea monster there that has escaped? Cat is going to be the bait, and she’s ready! This first installment of the series is a great, short read for students who enjoy complex text and writing. The author uses Scottish accents within the story, so readers can imagine characters speaking. The book also includes graphic inserts. The pictures are excellent and portray the story well, but need to be more consistent through the novel. The plot moves along at a quick pace. This book is best for upper elementary students.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-473-7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 8–11\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 128\u003cbr\u003e5\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 8\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e4\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: June 3, 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","brand":"Charlesbridge","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":47336990343405,"sku":"44737","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monsters-of-fife-sea-dragons-cover.jpg?v=1731092506"},{"product_id":"monsters-of-fife-terror-birds","title":"Monsters of Fife: Terror Birds","description":"\u003ch6\u003eComing July 14, 2026. Pre-order today!\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/jane-yolen\"\u003eJane Yolen\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/celia-lowenthal\"\u003eCelia Lowenthal\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eMeet Cat Douglas—monster hunter.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s been a quiet seven months in 1890s Scotland since their encounter with the fearsome sea dragons, and Cat, Jamie, Calum, and their teacher, Mr. Harris, are nearing the end of the school term. Then Cat finds  dog collar on the beach, and that night she dreams of a huge, howling black dog—warning of a new kind of monster that threatens the village of Anstruther.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn a reconnaissance mission, the team spots a gigantic bird—could it be related to the ancient terror birds that Jamie’s pa wrote about in his research papers? The hunt for the terror birds is on, and Cat, Jamie, Calum, and Mr. Harris must figure out what’s going on before the next attack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoin Cat and her friends as they adventure through a fantastical and historical Scotland in this second installment of the Monsters of Fife series. Graphic novel panels are interspersed throughout the novel, making it an engaging read. The three books in the series have collectible posters that can be pieced together to create one big poster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/monsters-of-fife-sea-dragons\"\u003eMonsters of Fife: Sea Dragons\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monsters-of-fife-terror-birds-spread.jpg?v=1764096665\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monsters-of-fife-terror-birds-cover.jpg?v=1764096667\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monsters-of-fife-terror-birds-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1764096685\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monsters-of-fife-terror-birds-readers-group-guide.pdf?v=1771336501\"\u003eDownload the Readers Group Guide\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJane Yolen, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJane Yolen is the award-winning author of over 400 books for children and adults, including \u003ci\u003eOwl Moon, The Devil’s Arithmetic\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eHow Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?\u003c\/i\u003e Her work has earned her the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, three World Fantasy Awards, the Science Fiction Writers of America’s Grand Master Award, and the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award, among many others. Known for her poetry, fantasy, and storytelling, she has received six honorary doctorates and is a beloved voice in children’s literature. Visit her website for essays, poems, FAQs, and resources for teachers and writers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/jane-yolen\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Jane.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCelia Lowenthal, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCelia Lowenthal is a New York-based fantasy illustrator and comics writer\/artist. She graduated summa cum laude from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2016 with a BFA in illustration and a minor in literary studies. She was the 2015 recipient of the Will Eisner Scholarship Award from the Society of Illustrators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/celia-lowenthal\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Celia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-476-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePaperback\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-791-2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 8–11\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 160\u003cbr\u003e5\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 8\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e4\u003c\/sub\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublication date: July 14, 2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","brand":"Charlesbridge","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":49221464064237,"sku":"44768","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":49221568921837,"sku":"47912","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/monsters-of-fife-terror-birds-cover.jpg?v=1764096667"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/collections\/fantasy.oembed","provider":"Charlesbridge","version":"1.0","type":"link"}