{"product_id":"the-little-grey-girl-isbn-9781536201512","title":"The Little Grey Girl","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn the second book of the Wild Magic trilogy, courageous young Mup and her family are trying to heal and restore the kingdom when they uncover an ancient and powerful anger.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe old queen and her raggedy witches have fled Witches Borough, and Mup’s family has moved into the cold, newly empty castle. But the queen’s legacy lingers in the fear and mistrust of her former subjects and in the memories that live in the castle’s very walls. While Mup’s mam tries to restore balance to a formerly oppressed world, Mup herself tries to settle into her strange new home with her dad, Tipper, and Crow. When an enchanted snow blankets the castle, Mup’s family is cut off from the rest of the kingdom, and the painful memories of the old queen’s victims begin to take form, thanks to a ghost whose power may be too much for even Mup and Mam to handle. Celine Kiernan weaves a timely and essential truth into the second book of her trilogy: that dismantling oppression means honoring the pains of the past, and perhaps the most potent magic of all is encouraging joy and hope wherever possible.In this sequel to \u003ci\u003eBegone the Raggedy Witches\u003c\/i\u003e (2018) Kiernan digs into the trope of the fairy-tale ending to expose its messy tangle of roots. There is admirable trust placed in readers to grapple alongside Mup with both her desire to end a kingdom's suffering and the complex processes of bearing witness and healing...consistent characterization and thoughtful development continues. A breath-stealing second installment to read and reread in anticipation of the third.\u003cbr\u003e—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA strong and satisfying follow-up that continues to explore timely, real-world issues in a highly engaging fantasy setting.\u003cbr\u003e—School Library Journal\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA stunning tale of family and friendship with themes of oppression, new beginnings, bravery, and hope.\u003cbr\u003e—Booklist Online\u003cb\u003eCeline Kiernan \u003c\/b\u003eis the award-winning author of several novels for young people, including \u003ci\u003eInto the Grey, \u003c\/i\u003ewhich won the Children’s Books Ireland's Book of the Year Award, the Moorehawke trilogy, and \u003ci\u003eBegone the Raggedy Witches,\u003c\/i\u003e the first book in the Wild Magic trilogy. Celine Kiernan lives in Ireland.\u003cb\u003eOver the Border to the Glittering Land\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe old queen was not dead. That much was certain. No one knew where she was or how many of her witches were with her or what her plans might be — but everyone agreed that she could not be far away. \u003cbr\u003e Some said she had become a storm cloud above Witches Borough, spying on everyone who spoke against her. Some said she hid behind the faces of ordinary animals, listening and watching and remembering.\u003cbr\u003e Her defeat had been a trick, they said. \u003cbr\u003e She was only testing them. \u003cbr\u003e She would be back. \u003cbr\u003e And when she returned, woe betide anyone foolish enough to have sided with her daughter.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e ***\u003cbr\u003e Mam would not allow any of these rumours to stop her. In the weeks that followed the queen’s defeat, she strode through all the doubts and fear with grave determination, coming and going across the border, carrying on with her plans. Finally it was time to move, and Mam came home one last time, ready to bring Mup and Dad and Tipper across the border. Ready to start their new life in the Glittering Land.\u003cbr\u003e She had told Mup to bring her favourite things with her when she moved. “My mother’s castle is a strange, cold place, Mup. If we are to live there, you should take some of your old life with you — to make things easier.” \u003cbr\u003e Mup chose her pink-and-yellow bed. She chose the writing desk and chair that Dad had made for her and that were painted with butterflies and flowers. She chose her bookcase and all her many books. She chose a mountain of multicoloured cushions and her wardrobe overflowing with rainbow-bright clothes. \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eThat should be enough,\u003c\/i\u003e she thought, staring at the colourful jumble piled in the frosty garden. \u003ci\u003eEnough things to fill a bedroom and make a place of my very own.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e But was it enough? Would any cushion be comfy enough to soften the cold rooms of the old queen’s palace? Would any painted chair be bright enough to cancel out the darkness there?\u003cbr\u003e Dad squeezed her shoulder and smiled his warm smile. “Come on, Mup. Lots to do.”\u003cbr\u003e He and Mup and Mam spent that whole morning staggering up and down the lawn, carrying all their things. They brought them through the dark trees at the end of their garden and down to the edge of the river, which Mup had once thought was just a stream, but which she now knew was the border to Witches Borough. \u003cbr\u003e There was a raft floating there and they heaped their belongings onto it. The two steers-folk — natives of Witches Borough — leaned on their poles and eyed the growing pile as if the beds and chairs and books and blankets were the strangest things they’d ever seen.\u003cbr\u003e Overhead, the branches rustled with sharp-eyed ravens. All around them the shadows flowed with watchful cats. Mup knew these were \u003ci\u003eClann’n Cheoil\u003c\/i\u003e — the music people. She knew they were there to protect Mam and keep her safe. But on this side of the border the \u003ci\u003eclann \u003c\/i\u003einsisted on staying in their animal forms, and — ashamed as she was to admit it — Mup couldn’t tell one of them from the other. \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eYou could be anyone,\u003c\/i\u003e she thought, eyeing each cat \u003cbr\u003e and raven as she approached them. \u003ci\u003eYou could even be a raggedy witch.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mup’s newfound suspicion gave her friend Crow no end of grumpy amusement. But Mup wasn’t willing to take any chances. Particularly when her little brother, Tipper, was still so young and her dog, Badger, was so old. Particularly when Dad hadn’t a trace of magic with which to defend himself. (And as for Crow, he needed protecting too; no matter \u003ci\u003ehow\u003c\/i\u003e loudly he protested otherwise.) \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eJust let someone try something, \u003c\/i\u003eMup thought. \u003ci\u003eJust let them try. Me and Mam will sort them out.\u003c\/i\u003e After everything that had happened, Mup was determined her family would never be hurt again.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e At last, there was only Tipper’s cot left to carry and all his baby things. \u003cbr\u003e Mup helped Dad with them while Mam stood by the back door of their house, speaking with Fírinne, the leader of\u003ci\u003e Clann’n Cheoil\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e “People will never accept you as queen if you insist on lugging your own furniture about,” grumbled Fírinne.\u003cbr\u003e “I’ve told you before,” said Mam. “I am not a queen.”\u003cbr\u003e Fírinne tutted in impatience. “If they can’t bow to you, Stella, they’ll look for someone else to bow to. You \u003cbr\u003e need to take control. \u003ci\u003eNow\u003c\/i\u003e. While they’re all still afraid of you.” \u003cbr\u003e Carrying Tipper’s cot down the garden with Dad, Mup craned her neck to keep Fírinne in sight. The tall, silver-haired woman was the first friend Mup could ever remember Mam having. For all her talk of bowing, there was something fierce and proud and unbending about her. Mup liked her. \u003cbr\u003e Mam gestured as if to assure her friend that she would be all right. With another tut, Fírinne stretched, transformed into a cat, and prowled grouchily off into the shadows. \u003cbr\u003e Mam was left on her own, looking thoughtful.\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eShe’ll be OK,\u003c\/i\u003e thought Mup with a twist of pride. \u003ci\u003eShe’s Mam. Nothing can hurt her.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Down on the raft, Tipper was sitting to attention with Badger, ostentatiously guarding the heap of belongings. When Mup and Dad emerged into the sunshine, carrying his things, he barked excitedly. \u003cbr\u003e “I don’t needs any of them stuffs now, Daddy!” he barked. “Remember? I’m’s a dog!”\u003cbr\u003e Dad chuckled and bent from his great height to scratch his son between his ears. “You never know what you might want to be, Tip. Don’t limit your possibilities.” \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e  ","brand":"Candlewick","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304610451685,"sku":"NP9781536201512","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781536201512.jpg?v=1767740271","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-little-grey-girl-isbn-9781536201512","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}