by Aubrey Hartman (Author)
A charming middle-grade novel about old magic, new adventures, a winged lion learning to roar, and a young girl fighting to be heard--perfect for fans of classics like The NeverEnding Story.
Poppy Woodlock believes in magic, but so far, she hasn't found any. It's been two weeks since her parents moved their family to Oregon to undertake their biggest project yet: revitalizing the once-grand Lark-Hayes Manor. Her older brother instantly found his place, but after being thrown into middle school midyear, Poppy is feeling...invisible. So she retreats to where she's always felt most at home: books and magic.
And if the fantastic and supernatural exist, certainly they can be found in this mysterious old estate. A late-night prowl leads Poppy to a desperate water nymph, with whom she strikes a dangerous bargain. In exchange for the thing she loves most--her favorite book-- Poppy now has the secret of a lifetime: her very own flying lion. Sampson is exactly what she needs to prove magic does exist and, more importantly, that she is not to be so easily dismissed. But the cost of ancient magic is astronomic.
With every night Sampson grows, another book disappears, and Poppy soon faces the harrowing reality that without their favorite stories, the lives of everyone around her begin to unravel. Fixing the chaos will require Poppy to be clever and bold, and even at her smartest and loudest, she's not sure it will be enough. But she has to try.
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Expected to keep to herself in a family of big personalities, book-obsessed sixth grader Poppy Woodlock actively seeks out magic. When her parents, an architect and a historic preservation officer, take on a fixer-upper in Oregon's Lark-Hayes Manor, Poppy can tell that the house contains not just a hidden past but "a secret present," too. After Poppy encounters an exiled water nymph in the mouldering building's indoor pool, she's granted a wish in exchange for handing over a copy of her favorite book: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Poppy asks for a magical lion, like Narnia's Aslan, and receives a winged lion cub that she names Sampson. But a catch soon reveals itself: for every night Sampson grows in the mortal realm, a book vanishes, and only Poppy will remember it ever existing. At first, the price seems a small one to pay for real magic, but the disappearance of a family journal prompts her to reconsider: in losing the books and memories that shaped them, her loved ones are also losing their passions and inspirations. Tonally reminiscent of classic children's fantasies, Hartman's debut layers slice-of-life concerns--bickering parents, new-kid trials--with a high-concept premise, making for a winning novel focused on literary influence and everyday magic. Poppy and her mother have olive skin; other characters default to white. Ages 8-12. Agent: Molly O'Neill, Root Literary. (May)
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