First published 2023
Clay wants nothing more than to escape his cramped pandemic life. While his sisters fight over the computer and his parents worry about money, he heads into the woods behind his house. There he meets Elphinore, an elegant small dog wearing an ornate collar who appears among the trees like magic. The dog becomes his guide into hidden parts of the forest Clay never knew existed. Each day Elphinore leads him deeper along secret paths where ancient mysteries hide just out of sight. But the woods hold dangers as well as wonders. Traps and frightening creatures lurk in the shadows, and Clay must stay alert or risk losing his way completely. Through his adventures with this strange companion, Clay discovers that the familiar forest contains worlds within worlds, and that sometimes the most extraordinary journeys begin right outside your door.
Genres: fiction, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, hidden-world
Setting: Woods
Period: Contemporary
241 pages · Kindle Edition · Candlewick Press