Overview

From the author of the critically acclaimed The Imaginary comes a powerful story about friendship in the vein of Roald Dahl and Neil Gaiman. A School Library Journal Best Book of 2017 A Wall Street Journal Best Book of 2017 Frank thought her summer couldn't get any worse--until big, weird, smelly Nick Underbridge rescues her from a bully, and she winds up at his house. Frank quickly realizes there's more to Nick than meets the eye. When she's at his house, she hears the strangest, most beautiful music, music which leads her to a mysterious, hidden door. Beyond the door are amazing creatures that she never even dreamed could be real. For the first time in forever, Frank feels happy . . . and she and Nick start to become friends. But Nick's incredible secrets are also accompanied by great danger. Frank must figure out how to help her new friend, the same way that he has helped her. Paired with gorgeous black-and-white illustrations from Levi Pinfold, acclaimed author A. F. Harrold weaves a powerful story about unlikely friendship, strange magic, and keeping the shadows at bay.

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9781681194011

Table of Contents

Reviews

Harrold offers an appealingly childcentric world with hefty doses of scare and malevolence . . . Wonderfully entertaining. - starred review, <i>Kirkus Reviews on THE IMAGINARY</i></p> [An] inventive mix of humor and suspense . . . A great choice for readers who like fantastic tales with a dose of true scariness. - starred review, <i>School Library Journal on THE IMAGINARY</i></p> Most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships. - <i>The New York Times Book Review on THE IMAGINARY</i></p> Pinfold's story has a timeless quality . . . A great pick for storytime, bedtime, anytime. - starred review, <i>Kirkus Reviews on BLACK DOG</i></p> Fear, fun, and just dripping with beauty. - starred review, <i>School Library Journal on BLACK DOG</i></p> Quirky, funny, and often heart-stopping. - starred review, <i>Booklist on BLACK DOG</i></p> Pinfold's interiors are crammed with quirky detail. - starred review, <i>Publishers Weekly on BLACK DOG</i></p>

Pinfold's atmospheric illustrations, darkly menacing and mysterious by turns, add to the contemporary folk-tale atmosphere . . . Captivating. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews Fairy tale, fable, and dream . . . Harrold's incisive, poetic way with words . . . intensifies the vague darkness of his otherworldly imagery. Pinfold's shadowy art deepens the story's air of mystery and threat. - starred review, The Horn Book Magazine Harrold offers an appealingly childcentric world with hefty doses of scare and malevolence . . . Wonderfully entertaining. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on THE IMAGINARY [An] inventive mix of humor and suspense . . . A great choice for readers who like fantastic tales with a dose of true scariness. - starred review, School Library Journal on THE IMAGINARY Most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships. - The New York Times Book Review on THE IMAGINARY Pinfold's story has a timeless quality . . . A great pick for storytime, bedtime, anytime. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on BLACK DOG Fear, fun, and just dripping with beauty. - starred review, School Library Journal on BLACK DOG Quirky, funny, and often heart-stopping. - starred review, Booklist on BLACK DOG Pinfold's interiors are crammed with quirky detail. - starred review, Publishers Weekly on BLACK DOG

Strong characterizations and a good dose of spookiness are standouts in this illustrated novel . . . Hand to fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline, Holly Black's Doll Bones, and other books that balance scariness and substance. - starred review, School Library Journal Pinfold's atmospheric illustrations, darkly menacing and mysterious by turns, add to the contemporary folk-tale atmosphere . . . Captivating. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews Fairy tale, fable, and dream . . . Harrold's incisive, poetic way with words . . . intensifies the vague darkness of his otherworldly imagery. Pinfold's shadowy art deepens the story's air of mystery and threat. - starred review, The Horn Book Magazine Harrold offers an appealingly childcentric world with hefty doses of scare and malevolence . . . Wonderfully entertaining. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on THE IMAGINARY [An] inventive mix of humor and suspense . . . A great choice for readers who like fantastic tales with a dose of true scariness. - starred review, School Library Journal on THE IMAGINARY Most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships. - The New York Times Book Review on THE IMAGINARY Pinfold's story has a timeless quality . . . A great pick for storytime, bedtime, anytime. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on BLACK DOG Fear, fun, and just dripping with beauty. - starred review, School Library Journal on BLACK DOG Quirky, funny, and often heart-stopping. - starred review, Booklist on BLACK DOG Pinfold's interiors are crammed with quirky detail. - starred review, Publishers Weekly on BLACK DOG

""A.F. Harrold's work is masterfully paced and stunningly crafted . . . Levi Pinfold's striking black-and-white illustrations add mood, creating a reading experience similar to Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls with the chills and growing terror of Neil Gaiman's Coraline."" --starred review, Shelf Awareness ""Strong characterizations and a good dose of spookiness are standouts in this illustrated novel . . . Hand to fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline, Holly Black's Doll Bones, and other books that balance scariness and substance."" --starred review, School Library Journal ""Pinfold's atmospheric illustrations, darkly menacing and mysterious by turns, add to the contemporary folk-tale atmosphere . . . Captivating."" --starred review, Kirkus Reviews ""Fairy tale, fable, and dream . . . Harrold's incisive, poetic way with words . . . intensifies the vague darkness of his otherworldly imagery. Pinfold's shadowy art deepens the story's air of mystery and threat."" --starred review, The Horn Book Magazine ""A haunting, sorrowful story tinged with magic and hope."" --Wall Street Journal ""Friendship, acceptance, trust, and decency weave their magic throughout Harrold's tale . . . Lush black-and-white illustrations by Pinfold enhance the secrecy, wonder, and mood of the story."" --Booklist ""British poet Harrold writes with an engaging voice rich with character . . . Spot illustrations and immersive double-page black and white drawings are captivating in their intricacy and melancholy, blending perfectly with the poignant tone that resonates through the whole novel."" --BCCB ""Harrold offers an appealingly childcentric world with hefty doses of scare and malevolence . . . Wonderfully entertaining."" --starred review, Kirkus Reviews on THE IMAGINARY ""[An] inventive mix of humor and suspense . . . A great choice for readers who like fantastic tales with a dose of true scariness."" --starred review, School Library Journal on THE IMAGINARY ""Most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships."" --The New York Times Book Review on THE IMAGINARY ""Pinfold's story has a timeless quality . . . A great pick for storytime, bedtime, anytime."" --starred review, Kirkus Reviews on BLACK DOG ""Fear, fun, and just dripping with beauty."" --starred review, School Library Journal on BLACK DOG ""Quirky, funny, and often heart-stopping."" --starred review, Booklist on BLACK DOG ""Pinfold's interiors are crammed with quirky detail."" --starred review, Publishers Weekly on BLACK DOG

Strong characterizations and a good dose of spookiness are standouts in this illustrated novel . . . Hand to fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline, Holly Black's Doll Bones, and other books that balance scariness and substance. - starred review, School Library Journal Pinfold's atmospheric illustrations, darkly menacing and mysterious by turns, add to the contemporary folk-tale atmosphere . . . Captivating. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews Fairy tale, fable, and dream . . . Harrold's incisive, poetic way with words . . . intensifies the vague darkness of his otherworldly imagery. Pinfold's shadowy art deepens the story's air of mystery and threat. - starred review, The Horn Book Magazine British poet Harrold writes with an engaging voice rich with character . . . Spot illustrations and immersive double-page black and white drawings are captivating in their intricacy and melancholy, blending perfectly with the poignant tone that resonates through the whole novel. - BCCB Harrold offers an appealingly childcentric world with hefty doses of scare and malevolence . . . Wonderfully entertaining. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on THE IMAGINARY [An] inventive mix of humor and suspense . . . A great choice for readers who like fantastic tales with a dose of true scariness. - starred review, School Library Journal on THE IMAGINARY Most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships. - The New York Times Book Review on THE IMAGINARY Pinfold's story has a timeless quality . . . A great pick for storytime, bedtime, anytime. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on BLACK DOG Fear, fun, and just dripping with beauty. - starred review, School Library Journal on BLACK DOG Quirky, funny, and often heart-stopping. - starred review, Booklist on BLACK DOG Pinfold's interiors are crammed with quirky detail. - starred review, Publishers Weekly on BLACK DOG Pinfold's atmospheric illustrations, darkly menacing and mysterious by turns, add to the contemporary folk-tale atmosphere . . . Captivating. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews Fairy tale, fable, and dream . . . Harrold's incisive, poetic way with words . . . intensifies the vague darkness of his otherworldly imagery. Pinfold's shadowy art deepens the story's air of mystery and threat. - starred review, The Horn Book Magazine Harrold offers an appealingly childcentric world with hefty doses of scare and malevolence . . . Wonderfully entertaining. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on THE IMAGINARY [An] inventive mix of humor and suspense . . . A great choice for readers who like fantastic tales with a dose of true scariness. - starred review, School Library Journal on THE IMAGINARY Most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships. - The New York Times Book Review on THE IMAGINARY Pinfold's story has a timeless quality . . . A great pick for storytime, bedtime, anytime. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on BLACK DOG Fear, fun, and just dripping with beauty. - starred review, School Library Journal on BLACK DOG Quirky, funny, and often heart-stopping. - starred review, Booklist on BLACK DOG Pinfold's interiors are crammed with quirky detail. - starred review, Publishers Weekly on BLACK DOG Fairy tale, fable, and dream . . . Harrold's incisive, poetic way with words . . . intensifies the vague darkness of his otherworldly imagery. Pinfold's shadowy art deepens the story's air of mystery and threat. - starred review, The Horn Book Magazine Harrold offers an appealingly childcentric world with hefty doses of scare and malevolence . . . Wonderfully entertaining. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on THE IMAGINARY [An] inventive mix of humor and suspense . . . A great choice for readers who like fantastic tales with a dose of true scariness. - starred review, School Library Journal on THE IMAGINARY Most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships. - The New York Times Book Review on THE IMAGINARY Pinfold's story has a timeless quality . . . A great pick for storytime, bedtime, anytime. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on BLACK DOG Fear, fun, and just dripping with beauty. - starred review, School Library Journal on BLACK DOG Quirky, funny, and often heart-stopping. - starred review, Booklist on BLACK DOG Pinfold's interiors are crammed with quirky detail. - starred review, Publishers Weekly on BLACK DOG Harrold offers an appealingly childcentric world with hefty doses of scare and malevolence . . . Wonderfully entertaining. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on THE IMAGINARY [An] inventive mix of humor and suspense . . . A great choice for readers who like fantastic tales with a dose of true scariness. - starred review, School Library Journal on THE IMAGINARY Most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships. - The New York Times Book Review on THE IMAGINARY Pinfold's story has a timeless quality . . . A great pick for storytime, bedtime, anytime. - starred review, Kirkus Reviews on BLACK DOG Fear, fun, and just dripping with beauty. - starred review, School Library Journal on BLACK DOG Quirky, funny, and often heart-stopping. - starred review, Booklist on BLACK DOG Pinfold's interiors are crammed with quirky detail. - starred review, Publishers Weekly on BLACK DOG

Author Information

A.F. Harrold is an English poet and author who writes and performs for both children and adults. His novel The Imaginary was a Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book. He is the owner of many books, a handful of hats, and one beard. He spends his spare time showing off onstage, in schools, and at home, and his non-spare time sitting around, stroking his beard and writing things down. He lives in Reading, England, with a stand-up comedian and two cats. www.afharroldkids.com Levi Pinfold has been drawing from imagination for as long as he can remember. He is the author and illustrator of The Django, The Greenling, and Black Dog, which won the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. Born in the Forest of Dean, he has somehow found himself living in northern Australia. He likes paintings, books, music, and some cats. www.levipinfold.com

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