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The Labyrinth of Lost and Found
Book #1 of The Whisperwicks
By Jordan Lees
Illustrated by Vivienne To
Table of Contents
About The Book
Doll Bones meets Skandar and the Unicorn Thief in this spooky, illustrated middle grade novel about a boy who doesn’t believe in magic discovering a supernatural world full of danger.
It began with a crack in the wall.
Eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek believes in science, logic, and the power of reason. He definitely does not believe in magic. But when he receives a mysterious doll in the mail—a doll that can transform into a bird—he is led into an impossible (and most definitely magical) realm: Wreathenwold.
Wreathenwold is dangerous and holds many secrets within its labyrinthine walls—magi prowl, Hanged Men stalk, and at the center of its shifting streets lurks the Minotaur, a beastly creature and object of terror. In no time at all, Benjamiah is swept into a perilous adventure with the fierce and brilliant Elizabella, a girl determined to solve the disappearance of her missing brother, who may be caught up in a decades-old conspiracy that could doom them all.
Will Benjamiah ever find his way home? Or will he be lost forever in the labyrinth?
It began with a crack in the wall.
Eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek believes in science, logic, and the power of reason. He definitely does not believe in magic. But when he receives a mysterious doll in the mail—a doll that can transform into a bird—he is led into an impossible (and most definitely magical) realm: Wreathenwold.
Wreathenwold is dangerous and holds many secrets within its labyrinthine walls—magi prowl, Hanged Men stalk, and at the center of its shifting streets lurks the Minotaur, a beastly creature and object of terror. In no time at all, Benjamiah is swept into a perilous adventure with the fierce and brilliant Elizabella, a girl determined to solve the disappearance of her missing brother, who may be caught up in a decades-old conspiracy that could doom them all.
Will Benjamiah ever find his way home? Or will he be lost forever in the labyrinth?
Excerpt
Chapter One: With the Crack in the Wall
ONE WITH THE CRACK IN THE WALL
The dollmaker will come when a baby is born. Into a room she will take the newborn; nobody else, not even a parent, is permitted to be present. Candles will be lit, which smell sweet and wild and otherworldly. Listening at the door, one will hear the dollmaker whisper her strange, trembling words. It is said, in making the doll, that the dollmaker is fashioning the child’s soul.
—A Brief History of Wreathenwold, Archscholar Collum Wolfsdaughter
IT BEGAN with the crack in the wall.
Edwid Cotton found it one morning on his bedroom wall. It was around twelve inches long, a thin black smile in the pale stone. It must have happened sometime in the night, though exactly how was a mystery to Edwid.
There was something instantly sinister about this crack in the wall. Peering in, Edwid saw only darkness, as though the wall were hollow. Cold air threaded out, smelling of dust. Stranger still, he was sure he could hear the faintest whispering from within. A shivering Edwid dismissed this as a figment of his imagination.
Certain Hansel would blame him, Edwid decided to cover it up—he was already in his father’s bad books and didn’t want to make things worse. Parchment sketches of famous Mapmakers covered the walls, so it was straightforward enough to move one over and hide the crack. The moment it was covered, the room felt warmer, Edwid’s mood lifted, and any thought of whispering from within the wall was put down to childish fancy.
Nothing much happened that day or during the night that followed. Edwid slept serenely, dreaming of the adventures he hoped to have in the future.
When he woke the next morning, the crack in the wall had returned.
The covering sketch was torn across the middle, and through it the crack could be seen again. Whorls and curls of parchment had fallen to the floor. And Edwid heard that same whispering once more, faint and menacing, joined by a trickle of wispy laughter. He leaned in and listened.
“What did you say?” he hissed, bringing his ear to the crack. But all he heard was a tangle of whispers, a snake pit of hushed voices.
“What?” he whispered.
ONE WITH THE CRACK IN THE WALL
The dollmaker will come when a baby is born. Into a room she will take the newborn; nobody else, not even a parent, is permitted to be present. Candles will be lit, which smell sweet and wild and otherworldly. Listening at the door, one will hear the dollmaker whisper her strange, trembling words. It is said, in making the doll, that the dollmaker is fashioning the child’s soul.
—A Brief History of Wreathenwold, Archscholar Collum Wolfsdaughter
IT BEGAN with the crack in the wall.
Edwid Cotton found it one morning on his bedroom wall. It was around twelve inches long, a thin black smile in the pale stone. It must have happened sometime in the night, though exactly how was a mystery to Edwid.
There was something instantly sinister about this crack in the wall. Peering in, Edwid saw only darkness, as though the wall were hollow. Cold air threaded out, smelling of dust. Stranger still, he was sure he could hear the faintest whispering from within. A shivering Edwid dismissed this as a figment of his imagination.
Certain Hansel would blame him, Edwid decided to cover it up—he was already in his father’s bad books and didn’t want to make things worse. Parchment sketches of famous Mapmakers covered the walls, so it was straightforward enough to move one over and hide the crack. The moment it was covered, the room felt warmer, Edwid’s mood lifted, and any thought of whispering from within the wall was put down to childish fancy.
Nothing much happened that day or during the night that followed. Edwid slept serenely, dreaming of the adventures he hoped to have in the future.
When he woke the next morning, the crack in the wall had returned.
The covering sketch was torn across the middle, and through it the crack could be seen again. Whorls and curls of parchment had fallen to the floor. And Edwid heard that same whispering once more, faint and menacing, joined by a trickle of wispy laughter. He leaned in and listened.
“What did you say?” he hissed, bringing his ear to the crack. But all he heard was a tangle of whispers, a snake pit of hushed voices.
“What?” he whispered.
About The Illustrator
Vivienne To has illustrated several books, including The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins and the Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective series by Octavia Spencer. As a child, she had two pet mice escape. She currently lives in Sydney, Australia, with her partner and her ginger cat. Visit her at VivienneTo.com.
Why We Love It
“This strange and spooky fairy tale reminds me of all the best fantasy classics. Part Coraline, part Doll Bones, and wholly magical, there is so much in Wreathwold to spark the imagination. I can’t wait for young readers to get lost in this world—though unlike Benjamiah, I don’t think they will want to leave.”
—Alyza L., Editor, on The Labyrinth of Lost and Found
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (May 28, 2024)
- Length: 384 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665950121
- Ages: 8 - 12
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Raves and Reviews
★ "First-time author Lees writes with confidence and fantastic imagination, crafting a complex world that layers both original and classic mythologies. Benjamiah and Elizabella’s antagonistic dynamic evolves in a compelling way, leading to heartbreaking yet necessary revelations. Readers attracted to the dark storytelling of Neil Gaiman and Philip Pullman will adore this captivating first installment in the haunting Whisperwicks series."
– Booklist, starred review
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Activity Sheets
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Labyrinth of Lost and Found Trade Paperback 9781665950121
