First published 2020
Arthur and Wally need money fast. Arthur's father owes loan sharks, and Wally's brother faces mounting hospital bills. The twelve-year-old thieves work for the Black Feathers gang, pulling small jobs while dreaming of bigger scores. When Arthur sees well-dressed strangers leaving what looks like an abandoned mansion, he convinces Wally they've found their big break. The boys break into Weirdwood Manor, not knowing it serves as headquarters for a secret magical order. This group protects the Balance between the Real and Imaginary worlds. The theft triggers something catastrophic. Nightmarish creatures with giant tentacles attack Kingsport. Heroes from adventure stories materialize in the streets. Arthur and Wally realize their crime has unleashed chaos on their city. Now these two young thieves must find a way to stop the monsters they accidentally released.
Genres: fiction, adventure, mystery, fantasy, young-adult
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, found-family, unlikely-heroes
Setting: Kingsport, Weirdwood Manor
335 pages · Hardcover · Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)