Three American siblings on holiday in a small Italian
town encounter an extraordinary creature and find adventure, mystery
and a whole new world of trouble.
AR Quiz # 114000 Book Level 3.6
FROM THE CRITICS
The fantastic and realistic narrative strands merge in the
satisfying conclusion. From the author of Defending Irene (2004),
this child-centered fantasy is nicely grounded in reality and enhanced
by its well-drawn Italian settings.
Booklist
Perceptive characterization, strong sense of place, and a realistic
family dynamic make this sweetly old-fashioned E. Nesbit-style fantasy
successful.
Horn Book Guide Reviews.
“With sweet pen-and-ink illustrations at each chapter
heading, this is a good story….”
School Library Journal
Young middle grade reacers will quickly become engaged in this
fantasy adventure set in present day Italy....This will be a welcome
addition to the fiction section of an elementary school.
Library Media Connection
Italian villas, a cuddly baby griffin, and a story that literally
comes to life. I absolutely love it! And I never thought about having
a pet griffin before, but I'm starting to wonder where I might be
able to find one.
TeensRead
Too
(Also
a pick for their 'Books You Can Safely Recommend to Middle-Schoolers'
List)
Two children, a lost baby griffin, danger and fear make an
exciting tale set in the present day.
Nancy
Polette's Best Junior Novels of Spring, 2007
A delightfully fantastic story, highly recommended for young
griffin lovers everywhere.
Midwest Book Review July, 2007
This is a darling Midgrade YA fantasy about Kate and Michael
who discover a cute little baby griffin in an ornate garden in Italy….In
a pleasant mixture of modern and ancient times—reality and
mythology—and a bit of magical realism mixed with parallel
world concepts, the author stretches young readers’ minds
like rubber bands.
Heartland Books
A fun, fast-paced mystery tale with a twist that will keep
older readers entranced and teach that it's important to have empathy
for others, even if we don't understand them.
The Pet Place
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