The Midnight Palace

La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One

The Secret of Skeleton Island

Jack Splash

Dinosaur Club: Flight of the Quetzalcoatlus

The Messenger Bird

The Danger Gang

Famous Five: Five Go to Demon's Rocks

Niebla

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a haunting young adult novel set during World War II. The story follows a boy named Max Carver, who moves with his family to a small coastal town to escape the turmoil of war. The Carvers settle into a house that was once owned by a wealthy doctor and his wife, who lost their son, Jacob, in a tragic accident at sea.   As Max and his sister, Alicia, explore their new surroundings, they encounter peculiar phenomena, such as statues in the garden that appear to move and an eerie presence in the house. They befriend a local boy, Roland, who helps them unveil the dark past of the town and the sinister figure known as the Prince of Mist—a diabolical entity that had made a deal with the previous owner of the house, involving the sacrifice of his firstborn son, Jacob.  Through a series of chilling events and discoveries, including old film reels showing a sunken ship and a cursed lighthouse, the three friends learn that the Prince of Mist is back to collect what he was promised. The story culminates in a suspenseful showdown where Max and his friends face their fears and confront the Prince of Mist in an attempt to put an end to his reign of terror and the curse that he has cast over the town. Themes of bravery, friendship, and the importance of facing one's past resonate throughout this supernatural thriller.

Discover Your Child's Next Read

The Midnight Palace

Carlos Ruiz Zafón, 1994

La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One

Philip Pullman, 2017

The Secret of Skeleton Island

Robert Arthur, 1966

Jack Splash

Tom Daley, Simon James Green, 2023

Dinosaur Club: Flight of the Quetzalcoatlus

Rex Stone, 2008

The Messenger Bird

Ruth Eastham, 2012

The Danger Gang

Shane Devries, Tom Fletcher, 2020

Famous Five: Five Go to Demon's Rocks

Enid Blyton, 1961