The Prince of Nowhere

by Rochelle Hassan (Author)

The Prince of Nowhere
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Roda isn't afraid of the monsters that roam the wilds of the Aerlands. She's safe in her small town, which is surrounded by a wall of freezing, enchanted mist that keeps the beasts away. So when Roda rescues an injured crow on the instruction of her secret pen pal, Anonymous--whose letters arrive without warning and correctly predict the future--she's surprised to learn she's brought one of the so-called monsters home. Because her crow is really a shape-shifting boy named Ignis.

Ignis doesn't remember where he was going before he crashed. But Anonymous brought him and Roda together for a reason--and the only way to find out what Anonymous wants is to follow the trail of baffling clues in Roda's letters. Their perilous journey leads them into the mist and beyond, to a mysterious place called Nowhere. But Ignis has secrets, and the farther they get, the more Roda doubts she can trust him. As a nefarious force closes in, they'll have to put aside their differences and work together. For they might be each other's only defense against an enemy who threatens their past, present, and future.

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Kirkus Reviews

Starred Review
A marvelous blend of fantasy and time-travel speculation with a seasoning of steampunk.

Booklist

The cinematic world building and pacing will enchant readers, and the multiple twists will leave them on the edge of their seats.

School Library Journal

Twelve-year-old Roda remembers perfectly the day she rescued a crow from the mists surrounding her town. The first two notes she'd received from someone known only as Anonymous had been fairly innocuous in their predictions of future events and odd riddles—so when the third told her to save the crow, she never would have guessed how completely that one action would change her life. Now Roda and the crow, actually a shape-shifting boy named Ignis, must follow Anonymous's instructions and venture outside the mists protecting Roda's home on a perilous journey in search of a place called Nowhere. They hope to find a way to save Roda's mother, unlock Ignis's missing memories and possibly travel back in time to prevent the events that led to his family's death. Hassan's debut is a wonderful blend of speculative genres, featuring a rich world and complex characters readers are sure to love. Roda and her family are white; other characters present more diversely, in a fantasy context. VERDICT A highly recommended purchase, excellent for fans of Studio Ghibli, Rick Riordan, and Madeleine L'Engle alike.—Kaitlin Frick

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780063054608
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
HarperCollins
Publication date
May 20, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV052000 - Juvenile Fiction | Monsters
Library of Congress categories
Adventure and adventurers
Adventure stories
Voyages and travels
Fantasy fiction
Monsters
Shapeshifting
Action and adventure fiction

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