Europe

Materials from Europe

Belladonna

A lyrical coming-of-age story about a boy, a girl, and a horse – and how a chance encounter can lead to a life of intrigue and learning, a life beyond imagining. When Thomas Rose first spots the girl hidden by the roadside, she looks as drab as a lark, with only her red kerchief giving her away. But French Helene, who goes by “Ling,” is no ordinary bird. Tiny Ling enchants Thomas with her wild spirit and tales of a circus where she danced atop her beloved horse, Belladonna. But the horse has been sold, and Ling must fetch her back. Now Thomas’s life as a clever but unschooled wheelwright’s son is about to change. Their search leads to painter George Stubbs, who euthanizes ailing animals in order to study their anatomy. Stubbs draws eerie horses that stride as if they could move out of the paper world into the real one – but he assures his young friends that their horse is safe at a nearby estate. As Ling and Thomas devise a risky plan to recover Belladonna, Stubbs hires Thomas as an apprentice, teaching him to read and write as well. In this fascinating story, Mary Finn incorporates a real eighteenth-century artist into a beautifully imagined tale of adventure and young romance.

Kiss of Death

Scarlett thought Dan McAndrew’s murder was long behind her, but when she and her classmates arrive in Edinburgh for a weeklong field trip, she’s startled to be joined by her old St. Tabby’s cohorts–and enemies–who are visiting the area on a field trip as well. Even more startling, Callum, Dan’s surviving twin, is in the area–and his cold treatment leaves Scarlett wondering what’s changed, especially when a series of attacks makes her believe that someone’s out to get her for her past mistakes. Would Callum ever hurt her, though? And what’s Scarlett to make of her conflicting feelings for Callum, now that Jase isn’t around? Even more upsetting, why is her most trusted confidante, Taylor, acting distant and dismissive?

Fly Trap

Having barely escaped the revolution they had a huge (if accidental) part in causing, sharp-eyed orphan Mosca Mye; her guard goose, Saracen; and their sometimes-loyal companion the con man Eponymous Clent, must start anew.

All too quickly, they find themselves embroiled in fresh schemes and twisting politics as they are trapped in Toll, an odd town that changes its entire personality as day turns to night.  Mosca and her friends attempt to fend off devious new foes, subvert old enemies, prevent the kidnapping of the mayor’s daughter, steal the town’s Luck, and somehow manage to escape with their lives- and hopefully a little money in their pockets.

In the eagerly awaited sequel to Fly By Night, acclaimed storyteller Frances Hardinge returns to a vivid world rich with humor, danger, and discovery.

Itsy Mitsy Runs Away

No one likes bedtime, and Itsy Mitsy has had quite enough. So tonight’s the night she’s running away to the perfect place where there are no more bedtimes ever (not even one). But running away isn’t as easy as it seems. There’s a lot to pack: Mitsy’s friendliest dinosaur Mister Roar; a snack for Mister Roar; her dog, Pupcake, to keep the bedtime beasties away from said snack; the list goes on and on. But with a helpful Dad who makes sure Mitsy doesn’t leave anything behind–especially not him–Mitsy might want to run away tomorrow night, too.

Takeshita Demons

Miku Takeshita and her family have moved from Japan to live in the UK, but unfortunately the family’s enemy demons have followed them. Miku knows she’s in trouble when her new supply teacher turns out to be a Nukekubi – a bloodthirsty demon who can turn into a flying head and whose favourite snack is children. That night, in a raging snowstorm, Miku’s little brother Kazu is kidnapped by the demons, and then it’s up to Miku and her friend Cait to get him back. The girls break into their snow-locked school, confronting the dragon-like Woman of the Wet, and outwitting the faceless Nopera-bo. At last they come face to face with the Nukekubi itself – but will they be in time to save Kazu?

Grandma Chickenlegs

In this variation of the traditional Baba Yaga story, a young girl must rely on the advice of her dead mother and her special doll when her wicked stepmother sends her to get a needle from Grandma Chickenlegs.

Anno’s Twice Told Tales

This book presents two tales from the Brothers Grimm, combined with Mr. Fox’s highly unusual interpretations of them.

Willow Pattern Story, The

The author retells a story heard as a child, one of many invented to explain the landscape on willow pattern china, popular for the last 200 years. In this, two young Chinese lovers are punished by one’s cruel mandarin father.

Hubert the Pudge: A Vegetarian Tale

As one of many Pudgies awaiting their trip to the meat factory from the Pudge Processing Farm, little Hubert escapes to the jungle where the animals show him all the good foods he can eat and, as a result, he becomes the first Pudge to achieve full size since ancient times.