âA first-rate fantasy for middle-grade readers,â declares Booklist in a starred review, comparing Gabriel Finley to Harry Potter, Philip Pullmanâs His Dark Materials series, and The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Â
A tangle of ingenious riddles, a malevolent necklace called a torc, and flocks of menacing birds: these are just some of the obstacles that stand between Gabriel and his father, Adam Finley, who has vanished from their Brooklyn brownstone. When Gabriel rescues an orphaned baby raven named Paladin, he discovers a family secret: Finleys can bond with ravens in extraordinary ways. Along with Paladin and three valiant friends, Gabriel sets out to bring his father home. They soon discover that Adam is being held captive by the evil demon Coraxâhalf man, half raven, and Adamâs very own disgraced brotherâin a foreboding netherworld of birds called Aviopolis. With help from his army of ghoulish minions, the valravens, Corax is plotting to take over the land above, and now only Gabriel stands in his way.
Â
âA vivid, compelling fantasy that sends you off to a world you will not soon forget.â âNorton Juster, author of The Phantom Tollbooth
âA great read for fantasy lovers who have worn out their copies of Harry Potter.â âSchool Library Journal, Starred
âBrimful of antic energy and inventive flair, like the best middle-grade fantasies; readers, like baby birds, will devour it and clamor for future installments.â âKirkus Reviews
9-12 āŠĩāŠ°āŦāŠ·āŠĻāŦ āŠāŠāŠŪāŠ°āŠĻāŠū āŠŽāŠūāŠģāŠāŦ āŠŪāŠūāŠāŦ