• Age: 13 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12

#1 Canadian bestseller!

Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne. The Brontë siblings have always been inseparable. After all, nothing can bond four siblings quite like life in an isolated parsonage out on the moors. Their vivid imaginations lend them escape from their strict upbringing, actually transporting them into their created worlds: the glittering Verdopolis and the romantic and melancholy Gondal. But at what price? As Branwell begins to descend into madness and the sisters feel their real lives slipping away, they must weigh the cost of their powerful imaginations, even as their characters—the brooding Rogue and dashing Duke of Zamorna—refuse to let them go.

Gorgeously written and based on the Brontës’ own juvenilia, Worlds of Ink and Shadow brings to life one of history’s most celebrated literary families in a thrilling, suspenseful fantasy.

Lena Coakley was born near the beach in Milford Connecticut, and she still loves the ocean. Her family tree is crowded with English professors, and the grandmother who raised her founded and directed a cooperative nursery school. How could she help but love children's books?

She studied writing at Sarah Lawrence College in New York and writing for children with Peter Carver in Toronto, Canada. Her first picture book, On the Night of the Comet, was published in 2004, followed closely by Mrs Goodhearth and the Gargoyle in 2005. She has twice won second prize in the Sunday Star Short Story Contest.

Lena is available for school and library visits across Canada and the US. Her website is www.lenacoakley.com.

Lena Coakley's profile page

• White Pine Award Finalist
• CBC Best Book of the Year
• OLA Best Bets
• Sunburst Award for Young Adult Fiction Finalist
• Quill & Quire Best Book

“A luscious, indulgent read about the addictive escapism of writing fiction, with Coakley making inventive and crafty use of her source material. This is part BBC miniseries and part literary Minecraft for the bookiest book lover.” — The Globe and Mail

“An intricate, evocative, and imaginative story that honours [the Brontës’] legacy while expertly building on the foundation of emotionally resonant storytelling at which they were so proficient.” — Quill & Quire (starred review)

“A gripping and innovative story. . . . A strong historical fantasy that will appeal to readers who are already fans of the Brontës’ novels and spark interest among those unfamiliar with their works and lives.” — School Library Journal

“An ingenious premise and a richly drawn cast of characters make for an eerie and compelling read in this fantastical origin story of the Brontë siblings.” — Kenneth Oppel