NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this funny, winning, and unexpected adventure from the New York Times bestselling, National Book Award–winning author of the Penderwicks series, a girl finds herself an unlikely hero when she stumbles upon a big secret about little creatures.
“A tender story whose tone evokes the warmth of a much-needed hug.”—Publishers Weekly, starred reviewGwen MacKinnon's parents are dreadful. Truly, deeply, almost impressively dreadful. So Gwen's not upset at all when she's foisted onto her never-before-seen Uncle Matthew for two weeks. Especially when it turns out he has a very opinionated dog named Pumpkin.
Things take a turn for the weird when Gwen makes a discovery in the local library. A discovery that involves tiny creatures with wings. And no, they're not birds. They're called Lahdukan. But why can only Gwen and the youngest children, gathered for storytime, see them?
The Lahdukan insist that Gwen is destined to help them find a new home. But how can a girl as unwanted, uncourageous, and generally unheroic as Gwen possibly come to the rescue? Pumpkin has a few ideas...
Jeanne Birdsall grew up in the suburbs west of Philadelphia, where she spent most of her time reading and daydreaming. She decided to be a writer when she was ten years old, though she didn’t circle back to that idea until she was all grown up and then some. Her first book was
The Penderwicks, which won the National Book Award and was a
New York Times Bestseller. Four other Penderwicks novels, all of which received glowing accolades and were
New York Times bestsellers, followed to round out the series. She is also the author of several picture books and a chapter book. Jeanne's days involve plenty of time writing, gardening, and chasing around her two mischevious dogs.
Matt Phelan is an award-winning,
New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of picture books, middle grade novels, and graphic novels for young readers. He has received the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (
The Storm in the Barn), the Carolyn Field Award (
Around the World and
Snow White), the Jefferson Cup (
Bluffton), and has been nominated for five Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. In addition to his own books, Matt has illustrated many books by renowned authors, including
Flora's Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall and
The Higher Power of Lucky (winner of a Newbery Medal) by Susan Patron.
★ "
A tender story whose tone evokes the warmth of a much-needed hug." —
Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "Birdsall creates
a well-paced, original story with intriguing characters and intertwined threads of reality and magic." —
Booklist, starred review
★ "
Birdsall is so adept at magical realism that after finishing this book, readers will likely keep an eye out for fairylike creatures the next time they visit a museum or library." —
School Library Journal, starred review
"Birdsall gives the coming-of-age theme a fresh spin in her inventive story, one that’s filled with endearing, quirky characters and delicious intrigue....
Enchanting." —
Kirkus Reviews
"Birdsall’s
endearing fantasy features loving and lovable new friends both human and Lahdukan, with Phelan’s winsome black-and-white illustrations interspersed." —
The Horn Book
