Serafina and the Black Cloak (Serafina Series #1)

by Robert Beatty Narrated by Cassandra Campbell

Overview

"Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul."

Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of Biltmore Estate. There's plenty to explore in her grand home, but she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate's maintenance man, have lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember. She has learned to sneak and hide.

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore's corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore's owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak's true identity before all of the children vanish one by one.

Serafina's hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A #1 New York Times Best-seller
More than 50 weeks on the New York Times best-sellers list
Taught in over 1,000 classrooms nationwide
Winner of the prestigious 2016 Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize for "representing the best in Southern literature."
2016 OKRA Pick from the Southern Independent Booksellers Association (SIBA)
#1 Middle Grade novel of 2015 on Goodreads.com
#5 Readers Choice Award for "Best Debut Novel of 2015"
Finalist for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, which is given to books that best exemplify the spirit of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis
Recommended by A Mighty Girl, Learning Ally, School Library Journal, and many other organizations.
Awarded "Best of 2015" by Powell's Bookstore
Selected for "Battle of the Books" in many states

Kirkus Reviews

2015-04-15
Serafina mostly enjoyed her life at the Biltmore Estate until the other children started disappearing at night. Motherless Serafina has grown up isolated and in secret in the basement of the Vanderbilts' Biltmore Estate. It is close to the machines her father repairs and the rats she catches nightly. As the Chief Rat Catcher, Serafina has uncanny physical abilities that match her peculiar looks and allow her to hunt these sneaky vermin. She applies these talents to find out who or what is snatching children staying at Biltmore, a terrifying encounter with the cloaked child thief forcing her out of hiding to save the other children and herself. The Vanderbilts' orphaned nephew, Braeden, proves to be a great ally, and they work together to stop the kidnapper before they become the next victims. Beatty spins an enchanting mystery through lonely Serafina's golden eyes. As she begins to defy her loving, protective father and involve herself in the estate's doings, she comes ever closer to uncovering the villain and the secret behind her own origins. Each new clue adds another brush stroke to this keenly perceptive portrait of a young girl searching for answers about herself and the world around her. The book leaves readers satisfied with the plot but hungry for more about its unusual heroine. Adults and children will eagerly follow Serafina from the basement into a world of self-discovery, justice, and new friendships. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171991913
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	07/14/2015
Series:	Serafina Series
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

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