Mischief Season
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
The first book in an exciting new chapter book series by John Bemelmans Marciano and Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall.
Welcome to Benevento, an ancient town famous for its witches!
The children of Benevento have to be careful and clever to evade the clutches of such witches as the Manalonga, the Janara, and the Clopper, who hide in wells and under bridges, fly at midnight, and play tricks during Mischief Season.
Five cousins – Primo, Emilio, Rosa, Maria Beppina, and Sergio – share adventures and narrow escapes, and discover astonishing secrets as they outwit the witches in each exciting story.
Book #1
Mischief Season: a Twins Story
The Janara are wrecking the farm with their nightly mischiefs. Father blames Rosa for everything that goes wrong, and it’s up to the Twins and their friends to find a way to stop the Janara. Will some mysterious advice from an unexpected source be the solution to their problems?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Marciano and Blackall, who previously collaborated on The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield, inaugurate the Witches of Benevento series by introducing twins Rosa and Emilio, who live in a small Italian village where demons, witches, and ghosts run rampant. The Janara are supernatural creatures that visit in the night and enact mischief; Rosa has long blamed her own mischief on the Janara, an excuse that has worn out. With the help of friends, the twins set out to find a solution to the increasing woes on the family farm. Marciano's simple, fablelike sentences will be readily accessible to younger readers, though more complicated words and topics (tarot cards, outdated Italian currency) may prompt questions or investigation. Caldecott Medalist Blackall's two-color illustrations aid in decoding some of the references, while adding a sweet, playful touch and occasionally calling to mind the work of Wanda G g. An old-world atmosphere and prickly sibling rivalry make the book read like a classic fairy tale, while an undercurrent of mystery paves the way for future books. Available simultaneously: The All-Powerful Ring. Ages 7 9.
