Smoky knows only one way of life: freedom. Living on the openrange, he is free to go where he wants and to do what he wants. Andhe knows what he has to do to survive. He can beat any enemy,whether it be a rattlesnake or a hungry wolf. He is as much a partof the Wild West as it is of him, and Smoky can't imagine anythingelse. But then he comes across a new enemy, one that walks on twolegs and makes funny sounds. Smoky can't beat this enemy the way hehas all the others. But does he really want to? Or could giving upsome of his freedom mean getting something in return that's evenmore valuable?
In the town of Zombay, there is a witch named Graba who has clockwork chicken legs and moves her house around—much like the fairy tale figure of Baba Yaga. Graba takes in stray children, and Rownie is the youngest boy in her household. Rownie’s only real relative is his older brother Rowan, who is an actor. But acting is outlawed in Zombay, and Rowan has disappeared. Desperate to find him, Rownie joins up with a troupe of goblins who skirt the law to put on plays. But their plays are not only for entertainment, and the masks they use are for more than make-believe. The goblins also want to find Rowan—because Rowan might be the only person who can save the town from being flooded by a mighty river. This accessible, atmospheric fantasy takes a gentle look at love, loss, and family while delivering a fast-paced adventure that is sure to satisfy.
Newbery Honor book AFTERNOON OF THE ELVES is now back in paperback with bonus After Words content Sara-Kate is known as the meanest girl in school. Her clothes don't match and her hair's a mess, and she's always stomping around in ugly, giant work boots. But Hillary isn't so sure she believes the rumors about her neighbor. If Sara-Kate is as awful as everyone says, how could she take such good care of the elf village in her backyard? Hillary and Sara-Kate spend entire afternoons fixing the tiny stick houses and miniature Ferris wheel for the elves. But the more time Hillary spends with Sara-Kate, the more mysteries there seem to be. How come they never go inside Sara-Kate's house? And why hasn't Hillary ever seen Sara-Kate's mom? Janet Taylor Lisle's captivating Newbery Honor book explores the magic and mystery of friendship between even the most unlikely of friends.
