2022-08-31
A young girl seeks her animal familiar.
In the land of Terrafamiliar, everyone has an animal companion, or familiar, with whom they’re matched up. On Pairing Day, 10-year-olds like Marina all discover their familiars and begin the rest of their lives together. Marina worries that she’ll match with a scary or difficult animal. Puzzlingly, however, she doesn’t connect with any animal at all and soon discovers that she and a handful of other 10-year-old girls from across Terrafamiliar have similarly been left solo, an unprecedented phenomenon. Marina and the others learn that they are Mythics—special kids who have mythical creatures, aka Mythies, as their familiars—and that they must find them in the wild as a team. Marina and the others set out on a journey to reveal her Mythie first. Infused with a mild dose of peril, this straightforward story unfolds with a satisfying earnestness that pays off with an expected but entertaining ending. Readers with anxiety will see themselves in Marina, who deals with stomachaches and racing thoughts throughout the journey. Ember, a Mythic with dark skin and curly hair, was born with one arm, which is addressed in the story. Marina and her family have brown skin and straight hair.
A fun first installment in a new series that will prime readers for more. (Fantasy. 7-10)
"A fun first installment in a new series that will prime readers for more." — Kirkus Reviews
"Readers, prepare to embark on an exciting quest complete with daring adventures, mythical creatures, and an unstoppable group of friends! With THE MYTHICS: MARINA AND THE KRAKEN, Lauren Magaziner unleashes an epic new series about the power of friendship and finding what makes you special." — Booki Vivat, New York Times bestselling author of the FRAZZLED series
"Lauren Magaziner's Mythics is exactly the kind of book I would have wanted as a kid—magical, adventurous, heartwarming, and empowering. I love each of the five heroines, and I adore this series!" — Tae Keller, Newbery Award Winning author of When You Trap a Tiger
“Magical creatures meets the super girl squad meets awesomeness! Full of characters impossible not to love, THE MYTHICS is a witty and action-packed adventure about the power of friendship and embracing who you are.” — Amanda Foody, New York Times bestselling author of the WILDERLORE series
"This swashbuckling adventure is the perfect entry point into a new literary world." — Booklist
PRAISE FOR BOOK 1 IN THE CASE CLOSED SERIES: “The ‘choose your own adventure’ format adds a fun twist, offering readers different options, like whom to interview, what to examine, and which clues to follow. An entertaining romp that will appeal to fans of humorous mysteries.” — School Library Journal
"The characters are real kids dealing with real worries. Carlos is so concerned about money that he takes on the near-impossible task of solving a case for his mother, but it’s this concern that makes him endearing. The various options mean the story takes on a new flavor with every reading. The puzzles are based in learning, so readers work to solve each clue before moving on to the next. Magaziner blends the fun of interactive stories with a suspenseful mystery and delightful characters." — Booklist
PRAISE FOR THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN WITCHES: “Readers will banish themselves from the ordinary world to finish this book in a flash.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“The kids’ slowly forming friendship has real grace and authenticity." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
