Parts of the book are like an extended bestiary, others a coping manual for grief. The detailed quasi-Dickensian setting and memorable characters give Wishingrad’s complex world the guardrails it needs to succeed. — School Library Journal (starred review)
"Wishingrad (The Verdigris Pawn) tackles themes of exploitation, perception, reality, and trust in this high-stakes tale. An engaging and optimistic exploration of how power and privilege can be wielded for both good and bad, as observed by one take-charge heroine who seeks to define her place in the world."
— Publishers Weekly
A twisty, crafty, creepy tale with a wonderfully warm heart. — Jacqueline West, award-winning author of Long Lost
Dare has an outwardly cantankerous nature that hides a desire for acceptance. This works to endear her to readers even as her thorny exterior provides entertainment. Dare’s true nature reveals itself piece by piece, like the clues dropped in every so often that help expand the worldbuilding as well as the moral conundrums Dare becomes embroiled in. Questions of what constitutes a monster and who decides what’s true add depth to an already feisty caper.A quirky examination of true monstrousness with a memorable protagonist. — Kirkus Reviews
In a world abound with monsters, a spiky, independent girl named Dare dares to unearth the truth about her father’s death. At once a mystery, a fantasy, and a good, old-fashioned yarn, BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS will keep kids turning the pages until the last secret—and the most dangerous monsters of all—are revealed. — Laura Ruby, National Book Award Finalist and Author of the York Series
"A stunningly original fantasy. A richly built world of intrigue and illusion. Alysa Wishingrad's brilliant Dare is an entirely unique protagonist who braves deceptions at every turn as she tries to distinguish the monstrous from the marvelous.” — Kate Albus, award-winning author of A Place to Hang the Moon
"Enriched by incredible world-building and extraordinary creatures, this riveting book kept me turning pages way past my bedtime and resentful of anything that distracted from reading.” — Megan E. Freeman, award-winning author of Alone
"A pitch-perfect fantasy, a book to savor, with a new kind of tough girl hero. Dare is unafraid to be different, and uses her sharp edges to cut through the lies of history and power. She and the inventive creatures that fill this twisty, engaging narrative will make it a classroom favorite.” — Diane Magras, author of Secret of the Shadow Beasts
"I do not usually read fantasy books, but I think Alysa Wishingrad may have changed my thinking on this after reading Between Monsters and Marvels! I completely loved this story!" — Cindy Schwind, EDU and #BookPosse Member
I adored this fantastical tale of Dare, a girl whose drive and determination match her name. She struggles to uncover the truth of her beloved father’s life and death, the allegedly long gone monsters, the definitely present marvels and the frustrating, gray and dangerous nuance in between. Like her debut, The Verdigris Pawn, Wishingrad again takes us through a journey of friendship and trust, class and power, and the stakes of life or death. Layered action will keep readers turning the pages as Dare navigates the world in between, while remaining true to herself. — Nicole D. Collier, Author of The Many Fortunes of Maya and Just Right Jillian
BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS is the best kind of story, one that leaves you aching to be a better human. And nobody writes twists and turns better than Alysa Wishingrad, who takes readers on an unforgettable journey alongside Dare, a character who is as unique as she is clever. If you start this book, be prepared to have a lot of trouble putting it down! — George Jreije, author of the Shad Hadid series
Dare’s world is full of magic and theater and life and makes you feel like you’re walking right down the street with her and her wonderful companions. (Nell and Beastie are an absolute delight!) Between Monsters and Marvels is a truly exquisite MG fantasy and one of my favorite reads of the year. Another wonderful book from Alysa Wishingrad. Highly recommend! — Isi Hendrix, Author Adia Kebara and the Circle of the Shamans
A rich fantasy setting akin to a magical Victorian London. . . starkly divided by class, rife with crime, the filth of industrialization, and - whether people want to admit it or not - monsters. Colorful characters and genuine friendships make the mystery's darker themes easier to swallow as Dare confronts what actually makes something a monster. Hand to fans of Thomas Taylor's Eerie-on-Sea series. — Booklist
A four-star book. Alysa Wishingrad is one to watch. — Independent (UK)
★ 10/06/2023
Gr 5 Up—Dare Coates is a contrary, Mary Lennox-like child living on Barrow's Bay island in an alternative 19th-century society where her father serves in the antiquated role of Captain of the Guard. After all, there are no beastly monsters left to battle. When her sainted father is murdered in a highly telegraphed event, Dare's world crumbles. Her society-minded mother quickly remarries the island's governor, and Dare is shipped off to the mainland City-on-the-Pike to live with her retired, theatrical Aunt Emily. In the industrial port city, she meets various individuals, sailors, and theatre owners who knew her father. During her adventures, Dare discovers monsters still exist, and their activities may relate to her father's death. Dare's new friends, Gil and Nell, help Dare uncover a corrupt cabal tied to animal cruelty. Dare, described as having ashy brown hair and an angular nose, is admirably unpleasant in a way every child will appreciate. Her scrappy me-against-the-world attitude will have readers gleefully following her perilous scrapes, despite her stubbornness and emotional outbursts. The third-person limited perspective helps maintain the story's secrets, although anyone who has seen The Sixth Sense will quickly have suspicions about Gil. Parts of the book are like an extended bestiary, others a coping manual for grief. The detailed quasi-Dickensian setting and memorable characters give Wishingrad's complex world the guardrails it needs to succeed. VERDICT Hand sell this to its delighted readers—children who like Fantastic Beasts and animal rescue stories.—Caitlin Augusta
2023-07-13
After her father dies, a girl must harness both her temper and innate abilities to find his killer and prove it’s a monster.
Dare Coates is willful, surly, and unrepentantly nonconforming: “an awful girl.” Only her father truly understood and loved her, but he was often busy patrolling for monsters on the island where they live, even though one hasn’t been seen there for over 20 years. After his violent murder, her mother marries the island’s pompous and secretive governor, who then sends Dare to the mainland to live with her father’s aunt. From the moment her journey begins, Dare finds connections to her father through his past associates and the guild emblem on his special wooden box. The more she learns about him, the more peril Dare finds herself in, especially as she realizes the connection both she and her father have with so-called monsters. Dare has an outwardly cantankerous nature that hides a desire for acceptance. This works to endear her to readers even as her thorny exterior provides entertainment. Dare’s true nature reveals itself piece by piece, like the clues dropped in every so often that help expand the worldbuilding as well as the moral conundrums Dare becomes embroiled in. Questions of what constitutes a monster and who decides what’s true add depth to an already feisty caper. Characters read white.
A quirky examination of true monstrousness with a memorable protagonist. (Fantasy. 9-12)
