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The Vanishing Orphans of Alvanor
Aladdin/Simon & Schuster | Ages 8-12 | Grades 3-7
A young thief risks everything to save her friends when a mysterious force begins hunting orphans in this Dickensian steampunk middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The School for Thieves, Between Monsters and Marvels, and Oliver Twist.
Bandit Brambleton is one of the many orphans of Alvanor. After the Shattering--when the country lost the magics that helped it prosper--children with no parents or home or papers became all too common. Forgotten and ignored by Alvanor, orphans banded together to survive. But Bandit isn’t just an orphan. She has a title, a reputation, a mystique.
She is the Ghost of Halcyon.
Bandit picks pockets and break into homes with ease, but steals only what she needs to survive. As long as she has her sister, Rika, a stub of charcoal for drawing, and a semi-full stomach, she has plenty. But when the Tikari--a terrifying duo who thrive on cruelty--arrive in the city and orphans begin disappearing, Bandit will have to pull off her greatest scheme yet to protect Rika and save the Vanished... and possibly all of Alvanor.
Cover art by Matt Schu
Aladdin/Simon & Schuster | Ages 8-12 | Grades 3-7
In this riff on Arthurian legend, a wizardess who is still mastering her powers goes on an epic quest to save her brother from an evil wizard! Perfect for fans of Impossible Creatures, Witchings, and Skandar and the Unicorn Thief.
The great wizard Merlyn prophesized that his seventh descendant would do wonderful, miraculous things—baffling everyone when his great-great-many-times-great grandchild turns out to be twins. Soon enough, however, it becomes clear which sibling is the Septimum Genus: Percy is a natural with magic. Merlynda (to put it simply) is not.
But Merlynda doesn’t mind. Percy has always been by her side to cheer her up (and clean up) after her magical bungles—until the twins attempt a forbidden spell to help her control her magic, and Percy vanishes through a portal and straight into the clutches of the magic-stealing, mythical Hollower.
Aided by her best friend (who longs to be a knight), a wandering musician (who is fleeing from his past), and her brand-new, fierce familiar (who yearns for a taste of funnel cake), Merlynda sets off on a quest to rescue her brother. But to defeat this ancient evil, she must discover and embrace her true powers—or else lose her brother for good.
Cover art by Kristy De Guzman
Reviews for The Hunt for the Hollower:
"Colorful, amusing, and action-packed... A rousing romp with deep themes. – Kirkus Reviews
"The enthralling story is as heartening as it is thrilling." – Booklist
“This is a tale, not only of magic, but of what is possible, of the ability to change and grow, of the realization of one’s own powers. This is storytelling at its utter best.” – Kathi Appelt, author of Newbery Honor-winner and National Book Award finalist for The Underneath
“Sweet and fun and sizzling with magic.” – Adam Rex, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author
Aladdin/Simon & Schuster | Ages 8-12 | Grades 3-7
A descendant of the great wizard Merlyn must atone for the harm he caused in this second adventure in the A Quest of Great Importance middle grade series! Perfect for fans of Impossible Creatures, Witchings, and Skandar and the Unicorn Thief.
The wizard Percy used to be sure of three things: he’s a magical prodigy, he’s destined to do extraordinary things (as prophesied by his ancestor, the wizard Merlyn), and he would do anything for his twin, Merlynda. But that was before Merlynda was revealed to be the subject of the prophecy, and before Percy became the Hollower, stealing magic for the wicked Morgan le Fey.
Six months have passed since Percy and Merlynda defeated the sorceress, but Percy hasn’t been able to reconcile who he is with what he’s done. And he carries a dark secret: despite her banishment, Morgan le Fey can still speak to him.
When the mysterious Round Table discovers newly Hollowed objects, Percy is blamed. He escapes on a quest to clear his name but also to make sure whoever is responsible never Hollows anyone again. Joined by Merlynda and Neci (now a royally dubbed knight), an anxious warlock (who seeks to break a curse), and a nonmagical sugar glider (who longs to be a familiar), Percy must defeat this new foe not only to face his past, but to decide what kind of wizard he’ll be in the future.
Cover art by Kristy De Guzman
"A thrilling magical romp with a heartfelt message." – Kirkus Reviews