 | Library of unruly treasures (with TX Bluebonnet Logo) Author: Birdsall, Jeanne | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Gwen 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.
| Illustrator: | Phelan, Matt |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.80 Points: 10.0 Quiz: 556581 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (06/01/25)
School Library Journal (+) (07/01/25)
Booklist (+) (12/01/25)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/09/25)
The Hornbook (00/09/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 07/01/2025 *Starred Review* Eleven-year-old Gwen’s parents have let her down so consistently that when she learns that they’ll be sending her off to spend two weeks with a great-uncle she has never met, her reaction is not discomfort or dread but joy. Uncle Matthew proves to be everything that she has hoped for: a good-natured, kind, welcoming relative who is supportive of his niece and the choices she makes. When he learns that she has befriended a mysterious clan of tiny winged people called the Lahdukan at the local public library, he takes it as a sign that she is special, because most children her age can no longer see these magical folk. Gwen, who has agreed to help them merge with a nearby clan, risks her life to ensure that all will go well for them. Gwen is highly respected and even revered by the Lahdukan, whose complex society, traditions, and personal backstories are gradually revealed within the narrative. The present-day American settings tend to make the tale’s supernatural elements more believable. Phelan’s sensitive black-and-white illustrations offer occasional glimpses of the characters. Best known as the author of the Penderwicks series, Birdsall creates a well-paced, original story with intriguing characters and intertwined threads of reality and magic. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
