A remarkable and ultimately heartwarming story of grief, family, kindness, and being true to yourself. Multiple starred reviews and a rave from the New York Times Book Review, which praised it as "incredibly hopeful."
Part gothic thriller and part seafaring coming-of-age story, this new illustrated middle grade fantasy from award-winning author Frances Hardinge and acclaimed illustrator Emily Gravett is about a strange island filled with ghosts and long-buried secrets.
On the island of Merlank, the Dead must not be allowed to linger. The very sight of their ghosts can kill you. When young Milo is thrust into the role of Ferryman following his father's sudden death, he is the one who must carry away the Dead.
Pursued by a vengeful lord and two malignant magicians, Milo must navigate strange and perilous seas where untold threats whisper in the mist. Does he have the courage and imagination to complete his urgent mission?
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Boston Globe Best Book of the Year
A Horn Book Fanfare List selection
Praise
***STARRED REVIEW***
"Gravett’s spectacularly misty, atmospheric illustrations, all in shades of indigo, heighten what is most elusive and poignant about Hardinge’s story—the sorrow of endings, the significance of last messages, and the inexorability of mortality. Hardinge’s own poetic language...brings multiple shimmering layers to both plot and imagery in this melancholic, fantastical tale."
—Kirkus Reviews
***STARRED REVIEW***
"Gravett’s spectacularly misty, atmospheric illustrations, all in shades of indigo, heighten what is most elusive and poignant about Hardinge’s story—the sorrow of endings, the significance of last messages, and the inexorability of mortality. Hardinge’s own poetic language...brings multiple shimmering layers to both plot and imagery in this melancholic, fantastical tale."
—Horn Book Magazine
***STARRED REVIEW***
"Using spare, evocative prose, Hardinge weaves a nuanced and affecting tale about grief, compassion, and the importance of living life fully. Gravett (A Song of Gladness) enhances the otherworldly tone with black, white, and light blue illustrations that are by turns bold and ethereal."
—Publishers Weekly
"[P]owerful...a compelling, engaging pace...Gravett’s stylishly intricate illustrations are melancholy and eerie...Contemplative fantasy readers not ready for Hardinge’s longer works will appreciate this introduction."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"The moody story, with all the feel of a real folktale, deftly manages to be both a thrilling sea chase and a touching story of loss and coming of age. Sweetly macabre."
—Booklist Reviews
