  | Twelve nights Author: Zurcher, Andrew | |
| Price: $21.88 | ||
Summary:
After their father's mysterious disappearance, Kay and her younger sister Ell set off on an epic quest to find him and, perhaps, to save the world's stories and storytellers, guided by kindly Wraiths.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (10/01/20)
Booklist (+) (11/01/20)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (A) (00/01/21)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/01/2020 *Starred Review* It’s been a bewildering few days for Kay, who crash-landed in a hot-air balloon on an alternate world, where her father and little sister are being held prisoner. Guided by Will and Flip, a pair of locals known as wraiths, she is determined to rescue her family from the land’s tyrannical ruler, Ghast. For centuries, this world was a place where stories were revered, making their creation and telling cherished vocations, but now Ghast has established a cruel, self-serving regime in its place. As Kay dodges dangers, she learns more of this strange world and how her family is connected to it. To further complicate matters, Kay has only 12 days to carry out her mission or her father and sister will be lost forever. Debut author Zurcher writes with surety and panache as he crafts a complex society that essentially overlays our own world. Commendably, he steers clear of sentimentality when describing his story-centric world, casting it as a seat of knowledge and referencing Greek mythology and ancient Egypt. Certain characters’ philosophizing might befuddle readers who aren’t yet in middle school, but those able to keep up with the fast-moving yet dense plot are in for a superb adventure—or at least half of one. Ending with six days left in Kay’s rescue mission, this book guarantees a sequel. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.
