A perfect middle-grade fantasy read, with elements of magical adventures and animals, sinister forces, and heartwarming friendships. A daydreaming girl, a mute canary, and a musically talented dog must use both their courage and wit to take down an ancient force for not only the sake of their lives but also the world as they know it. Hazel, a girl who almost always has her head stuck in the clouds, never imagined the turn her life would take after the kidnapping of her piano teacher. But even though nobody else seems to acknowledge his disappearance, Hazel is determined to find out the truth. Alongside Enrico, a mute bird, and Old Boy, a clarinet-playing mutt, she stumbles upon three magical objects with mysterious origins. Upon doing so, the trio find themselves in the midst of a forest, the place where reality ends and fantasy begins. As Hazel, Enrico, and Old Boy continue on their perilous journey, they face against many hardships, such as malicious serpent and an eternal winter. But none of these can compare to what comes next. Lurking in the shade of the trees, a sinister force is watching their every move, plotting its rise to power. With each step further into the forest, the trio is brought closer to its trap-something that will destroy both themselves and the real world. Little do they know that nothing else will test their courage and wit more than this final encounter. Don't miss young author Sophie G. Yu's other work: Simple Paragraphs: A 100-Day Writing AdventureThe Tale of Ms. GrumpsSky: The Adventure of a Duck