One of the classic fantastical adventures of all time!William has just received the best present of his life an old, real-looking stone and wooden model of a castle, with a drawbridge, a moat, and a fingerhigh knight to guard the gates. It's the mysterious castle his housekeeper has told him about, and even though William is sad she's leaving, now the castle is his! William can't wait to play with the castle he's certain there's something magical about it. And sure enough, when he picks up the tiny silver knight, it comes alive in his hand! Sir Simon tells William a mighty story of wild sorcery, wizards, and magic. And suddenly William is off on a fantastic quest to another land and another time where a fiery dragon and an evil wizard are waiting to do battle. . . .An IRA-CBC Children's ChoiceA California Young Reader Medal WinnerA Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award WinnerFrom the Trade Paperback edition.
The adventure continues in this exciting companion to The Castle in the Attic.
As William turns twelve, he wonders if Jason is still his best friend. In the past year, Jason has grown a foot taller, while William is still a shrimp. When Jason challenges William to jump the trains, William is terrified. How else can he prove himself to Jason? William gets his answer when his former housekeeper sends him a magic token that once again transports him to Sir Simons castle in the Middle Ages, this time with Jason. There the two friends face a dangerous army of rats and their gigantic leader. Once before, William was a hero in Sir Simons day. Now its up to William to destroy the rats and save the kingdom in the final battle for the castle.From the Trade Paperback edition.
BONUS FEATURES: Exclusive author interview and a profile of Lewis Hine!
1910. Pownal, Vermont. At 12, Grace and her best friend Arthur must leave school and go to work as a “doffers” on their mothers’ looms in the mill. Grace’s mother is the best worker, fast and powerful, and Grace desperately wants to help her. But she’s left handed and doffing is a right-handed job. Grace’s every mistake costs her mother, and the family. She only feels capable on Sundays, when she and Arthur receive special lessons from their teacher. Together they write a secret letter to the Child Labor Board about underage children working in Pownal. A few weeks later a man with a camera shows up. It is the famous reformer Lewis Hine, undercover, collecting evidence for the Child Labor Board. Grace’s brief acquaintance with Hine and the photos he takes of her are a gift that changes her sense of herself, her future, and her family’s future.
What do you when your world is turned upside down? If you're five young rats with music in your soul and dancing in your blood, you head for the Hollow, and the chance to dance at the Boom Boom Room. But not even wise old Uncle Switchtail can prepare Benny, Fletcher, Ella, Woody and Monk for the dangers they'll face on the way to their dream. The kids have talent, grit and determination. Will that be enough to survive unexpected treachery, and a trip to the world of the humans? The Red-Hot Rattoons is filled with laughs, hair-breadth escapes, and enchanting characters. Even better, it vibrates with the key ingredients of all great backstage stories: heart, hope, and the unique joy that comes from chasing a dream with every ounce of strength and courage you possess.
