The Tears of the Salamander

Pashmina

Swan Boy

The Firefly Summer

Summer's Dream

Chig and the Second Spread

It Was September When We Ran Away the First Time

Fork-Tongue Charmers: The Luck Uglies

An unusual and moving story about the magical bond between a boy and his grandfather.

Does it just happen that Gavin and Grandad see the seal while they are fishing in the harbor? Just happen that Grandad talks about the selkies, the seal people who can leave the water and take human form? Just happen that Grandad is finishing the beautiful miniature boat he’s making for Gavin’s tenth birthday, and Gavin decides to call her Selkie? And at that moment, Grandad has his stroke. Could the selkies have something to do with all this?

Day after day at the hospital, Gavin tries to get through to helpless and speechless Grandad, trying to reach him, explain what’s happened to him. Everyone else has given up. But Gavin will try anything. Even asking the selkies to help. To do that, he must give them something to show them how much it matters. What is the dearest thing he owns?


From the Hardcover edition.

Discover Your Child's Next Read

The Tears of the Salamander

Peter Dickinson, 2003

Pashmina

Nidhi Chanani, 2017

Swan Boy

Diana Hendry, 2004

The Firefly Summer

Morgan Matson, 2023

Summer's Dream

Cathy Cassidy, 2012

Chig and the Second Spread

Gwenyth Swain, 2003

It Was September When We Ran Away the First Time

D. James Smith, 2008

Fork-Tongue Charmers: The Luck Uglies

Pétur Antonsson, Paul Durham, 2015