Children's Fiction Fantasy & Magic
Curse of the Dream Witch
- Publisher
- Scholastic Canada Ltd
- Initial publish date
- Sep 2013
- Category
- Fantasy & Magic, General, General
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781443119375
- Publish Date
- Sep 2013
- List Price
- $7.99
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781443128490
- Publish Date
- Sep 2013
- List Price
- $7.99
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 9 to 13
- Grade: 4 to 8
Description
An exhilarating fairytale adventure from the author of the Governor General's Award nominated The Grave Robber's Apprentice.
The Dream Witch haunts the forest beyond the kingdom of Bellumen, waiting to collect on a horrible debt owed by the king and queen — the heart of their only daughter, Princess Olivia. Until she has it, none of the kingdom's children are safe.
As Olivia's thirteenth birthday approaches and the witch's deadline draws near, her desperate mother seeks help from Prince Leo of neighbouring Pretonia. But the treacherous prince seizes their castle instead, determined to marry Olivia and take over the kingdom.
So Olivia makes a daring escape from the castle, two friends by her side: the peasant boy Milo and a curious talking mouse with a surprising past. Together, the friends face certain danger and fantastical adversaries to save their families and rescue a kingdom.
About the author
Allan Stratton
est l'auteur de renommée internationale du roman Le secret de Chanda, un livre sur la liste d'honneur Michael L.
Printz. Son adaptation cinématographique, Life Above All, a
remporté le prix François Chalais au Festival de Cannes. Son dernier roman
thriller pour jeunes adultes, Les chiens, a gagné le prix Red
Maple de l'Association canadienne des bibliothèques et a été mis en
nomination pour le prix Arthur Ellis et le prix Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz.
Allan habite à Toronto, en Ontario.
Allan Stratton is an acclaimed playwright and author, who began his career acting at the Stratford Festival and regional theaters across Canada. His plays include "Nurse Jane Goes to Hawaii" and "Rexy!," winner of a Chalmers Award, the Dora Mavor Moore Award and the Canadian Author's Association Award. Leslie's Journal is Allan's first novel for teens. Allan now lives in Toronto with his partner, a dog, three cats and any number of fish.
Awards
- Short-listed, Rocky Mountain Book Award (Alberta Children's Choice)
- Short-listed, Diamond Willow Award (Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice)
- Short-listed, Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy
- Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre
- Short-listed, OLA Silver Birch Award, Fiction
- Short-listed, Red Cedar Award (BC Young Readers' Choice)
- Winner, Canadian Library Association Book of the Year For Children
- Commended, Resource Links, Best of the Year
Excerpt: Curse of the Dream Witch (by (author) Allan Stratton)
From Curse of the Dream Witch:
On the other side of the staircase wall, she could hear the life of the castle. It seemed to come from far away, like what she'd heard when she was little and stuck her head in the courtyard rain barrel. She tried to hear and not hear at the same time — eager and afraid to know what was happening. The clomping on the stairs, the rumble of voices — what were they about? Had Leo found her missing? Was there news about her parents?Ephemia read her mind. "What's happening there is happening there. Keep your mind on the here and now, or you'll tumble down and have nothing to think about ever."Olivia concentrated hard. One step at a time. One step at a time. Before she knew it, what had seemed impossible had become real. She'd reached a dingy alcove above two squat pillars, eight feet from the dungeon floor.Olivia shivered. Before she'd been locked away, she'd played hide-and-seek in the cells with the servants' children. One day, she'd nearly tripped into an open well. Her parents were horrified. They said she'd have disappeared into the underground river that ran beneath the castle.Ephemia saw Olivia's hesitation. "There's only one way down."Olivia said a prayer, hung from the alcove, and dropped into the dungeon.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for The Grave Robber's Apprentice:
Shortlist, Governor General's Literary Award, 2012Honour Book, CLA Book of the Year for Children, 2012Nominee, Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award, 2013Nominee, OLA Silver Birch Award, 2013OLA Best Bets, 2012CCBC Best Books for Kids and Teens, 2012
"A rollicking and enchanting fairy tale for the 21st century." —Kenneth Oppel, author of Half Brother and the Silverwing Saga
*"Arch, winning fantasy. The Grave Robber's Apprentice is funny, imaginative, just thrilling enough, and doesn't take itself too seriously." —Quill & Quire, starred review
"A classic adventure story . . . This clever tale hits all the right notes." —Publishers Weekly
