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mercerislandbooks · 7 months ago

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Book Notes: Impossible Creatures

When I was a kid, my cousins and I watched the ABC mini-series The 10th Kingdom on repeat because we loved it so much. A woman's father is kidnapped by trolls and she has to travel to a land full of all of the fairytale characters we know and love to save him? Sign me up. That's probably why "portal fantasies", where a character goes through a portal into another world more fantastical and magical than our own, often become instant and lifelong favorites of mine. Stardust by Neil Gaiman, The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson, In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis. The list goes on and on. And the newest addition to this engaging subgenre? Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, with gorgeous illustrations throughout by Ashley Mackenzie.

A girl with a flying coat from a world full of magical creatures. A boy with a penchant for animals from our own less obviously magical world. Mal and Christopher both feel the stifling weight of overprotection, a list of things they can't do instead of can: stay in the garden and away from the forest, no birthday candles or potato peelers so they can't hurt themselves. But curious children can't obey all of the rules. So when Christopher goes to the top of the hill he isn't supposed to be on while visiting his eccentric grandfather, he's both shocked and pleased to find a stampede of creatures that shouldn't exist, as well as Mal, a girl who climbed over a wall she shouldn't have climbed. What ensues is the adventure of a lifetime. In a bid to save the magic that is slowly leeching away from Mal's world, they leave on a quest looking for answers, picking up a Berserker, a marine scientist, and a ratatoska (a green, squirrel-like creature) along the way. Sailing through the island nation, encountering magical creatures both helpful and dangerous, a murderer comes ever closer and the urgency rises.

The first book in a new middle grade series, Impossible Creatures is sure to enchant young and old alike. It will be on our shelves this coming Tuesday, September 10. The first printing has sprayed edges and foiling on the cover, and we have several copies that are signed by the author! We can't wait to share this new book by a longtime favorite author with you all. I, for one, cannot wait for the next book and to travel back to the magical land of The Archipelago.

-- Becca

#island books #becca oman #katherine rundell #impossible creatures #portal fantasy #stardust #neil gaiman #the secret of platform 13 #eva ibbotson #the chronicles of narnia #cs lewis #in other lands #sarah rees brennan #inkheart #cornelia funke #ashley mackenzie #book notes

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fardell24b · 9 months ago

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Spider Quinn 10 The New Heroes - Part 3

“Yes, that’s me,” Brittany admitted. She waited to see what SpiderGirl would do next. Whether she would also reveal her secret identity or not.

“I guess I have no choice,” SpiderGirl said. She then pulled off her mask.

“Quinn?” Brittany asked. If she had thought that either of the Morgendorffer girls to be SpiderGirl, it would have been more likely to be Daria.

“So now you know. I’m SpiderGirl,” Quinn said. She produced a web and swung over Brittany. “See!”

“I see,” Brittany said.

“But why did you decide to become Ninja Talon?”

“It’s a long story. You became SpiderGirl after your father died, right?”

“That’s right.”

“As you know, I was already thinking about fighting crime, that night after the agents visited and DeMartino was arrested,” Brittany said as she started into her story.

Flashback – The Lawndale Files

It was our conversation after the rest of the group went home that made me decide that I would help you fight the increasing crime in Lawndale.

Brittany watched as SpiderGirl headed back in the direction they had come from Howard Drive, where the Lane’s lived. As she walked home through Crewe Neck she thought more on what she had asked the superheroine about. ‘What is it like being a hero, fighting crime?’ she had asked.

And the response; “Difficult. But the thanks I get from the people rescued from muggers make it more than worth it.”

That someone had died wasn’t good. Brittany looked around. She was sure she was alone. She then jogged home.

“Brittany? You’re home early,” Ashley-Amber Taylor noted as her stepdaughter entered the lounge room.

“I need to ask you something,” Britttany responded in a serious tone.

“What is it?”

“You know martial arts, right?”

“Yes,” Ashley-Amber answered. “But what brought this on.”

“Nothing in particular.”

“You just want to improve, is that it?”

“Yes,” Brittany answered.

“I’m sure there are Dojos in Lawndale.”

“If not, I could go to the one I went to before in Oakwood, or one in Middlebury.”

“Of course,” Ashley-Amber said. “They’re not too far away.”

Lawndale Sun-Herald

Wednesday, December 2, 1999

Teacher Arrested

Anthony DeMartino, a History teacher at Lawndale High was mysteriously arrested on school grounds yesterday by Federal agents.

Brittany read the article. It didn’t tell her much more about what had happened to DeMartino. ‘I guess I’ll find out at school,’ she thought.

As it turned out DeMartino had been mistakenly arrested. As O’Neill’s rally broke up, she went over to him. “I’m glad you’re back, Mr. DeMartino,” she said.

“Thanks, but you can show your appreciation by trying to be a better student!”

“I guess so!” Brittany responded as she twirled a pigtail

“At least try!”

“You know what? I shall.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” DeMartino responded. “But hanging out with Kevin would not be conducive to it.”

Brittany rolled her eyes. The rest of the school day went as usual, with the rumors around DeMartino’s arrest and Quinn, Stacy and Tiffany dressing unusually quashed. However, Brittany noticed that one of her fellow cheerleaders, Angie Zammit seemed preoccupied with something. She tried to ask her what was up as school finished for the day, but she blew her off.

“Angie? What’s wrong?” Brittany asked.

“What makes you think something’s wrong?” Angie asked.

“You seem preoccupied today,” Brittany answered.

“Are you sure?” Angie asked. “Anyway I have to go, I need to prepare for a date with Robert tonight.”

“OK,” Brittany said. She knew that Angie and Robert had started dating a few weeks earlier.

Leaving school she headed to the Pizza place to hang out with Kevin, Mack and Jodie.

“What did you talk to SpiderGirl about last night?” Jodie asked once she had ordered her pizza.

“Um, about what she’s doing for Lawndale, why she’s doing it,” Brittany answered.

“Crime has been going up,” Mack noted.

“Including Mr. Morgendorffer’s death,” Jodie noted. “Daria says that Quinn was affected much more than she was,”

“Wasn’t that what Stacy said this morning, that she and Tiffany were supporting Quinn?” Mack asked.

Jodie nodded. “Yes.”

“Anyway. SpiderGirl was motivated to stop Lawndale getting worse,” Brittany added.

“But Lawndale’s cool,” Kevin said.

Brittany glared at her boyfriend.

“Isn’t it?” he asked.

“No,” Mack said. “People have been dying.”

“So, not cool.”

“No,” Brittany said.

“Oh!”

“What else?” Jodie asked Brittany.

“Not much else,” Brittany answered.

“Are you sure?” Jodie asked.

“That’s it,” Brittany answered. She wasn’t sure how they would take the news that she had taken her over roofs and through trees.

“Right,” Jodie said.

‘She probably does suspect that there is more,’ Brittany thought.

After a while, Brittany then headed home. Ashley-Amber was waiting for her. “Ashley-Amber?”

“I have found several dojos for you,” her stepmother said as she handed over a notepad.

Brittany saw several addresses, with two in Lawndale and others in Oakwood and Middleberry. “Thanks.” She decided to look at them the next day.

Lawndale Sun-Herald

Thursday, December 3, 1999

Teacher Falsely Accused

Anthony DeMartino claims that he was falsely accused of being an illegal immigrant prior to his arrest on Tuesday.

…

‘Not much more information,’ Brittany thought. She put the paper aside and continued towards school.

“Brittany!”

“Morning, Donna.”

“Have you seen Angie lately?” Donna Bolton asked.

“Come to think of it…” Brittany thought. “I saw her yesterday. I asked her whether something was wrong. She didn’t tell me anything. We may have to ask Robert.”

“I agree,” Donna said.

“She’ll come to us when she’s ready.”

“I hope so.”

Brittany wasn’t sure what was up with Angie, but no one else came to her about what it might be that day.

When she got home she called each of the dojos, to find one that might suit. She found that one of the ones in Lawndale had an opening early the next week. “Thanks,” she said as she finished the second call. She saw Ashley-Amber enter. “I found one,” she said.

“That’s good!” Ashley-Amber said. “But I’m wondering; why the sudden interest.”

“You know what’s been happening in Lawndale,” Brittany said, with a twirl of a pigtail. “With the crime…”

“You want to be able to protect yourself,” Ashley Amber concluded.

“Yes,” Brittany said carefully.

“I understand,” Ashley-Amber said. “I have felt unsafe many times recently while out and about.”

Lawndale Sun-Herald

Monday 7 December 1991

More SpiderGirl sightings

‘Is it a slow news day?’ Brittany wondered. She wasn’t sure. She headed to school, certain that nothing of note would happen.

Brittany saw Sandi storming along the corridor after lunch. It was obvious that something had happened. It was in the next class that she heard the first rumor regarding the dissolution of the Fashion Club. ‘None of my business,’ she thought.

“Did you hear?” Nikki asked.

“What?”

“The Fashion Club has been dissolved.”

“Has it?” Brittany asked.

“Apparently, Sandi went too far in trying to keep Quinn and the others under her thumb.”

“Oh!”

“So, Quinn rallied the others and had the club dissolved,” Nikki explained.

“Right,” Brittany responded. But she had to find out more.

After school, Brittany headed to one of the Lawndale dojos.

“So, Ms. Taylor, what experience do you have?” the Sensei asked once she had signed up for twice weekly lessons.

“I took Judo and Karate when I was younger and I have continued to practice,” Brittany answered,

“You want to do more?”

“To defend myself against the crime in this town!”

“It has been getting bad,” the sensei responded. “I still don’t know what to make of SpiderGirl.”

“She’s doing something.”

“That’s true, Ms. Taylor, but I don’t know where she gets her skills from. It seems she’s mostly self taught. In any case, what art would you want to start off with today?”

“Karate?” Brittany asked, looking at the information sheet.

“That’s a good choice.”

“Karate?” Ashley-Amber asked once Brittany got home later.

“That’s right,” Brittany answered with a nod.

“It’s a good choice.”

Lawndale Sun-Herald

Tuesday December 8, 1999

SpiderGirl helps capture thieves.

‘It’s good that she’s doing that,’ Brittany thought. ‘Time to see what the fallout is.’ She knew that there would be rumors regarding the Fashion Club’s demise.

There were indeed rumors about the Fashion Club ending, but there weren’t all that many as of yet. But what Brittany was concerned about was Angie. She quickly found Donna. “I haven’t seen her yet?”

“Not yet,” Donna admitted.

“I see.”

The day went as usual, but Angie looked as preoccupied as she did the day before.

Brittany thought on that as she drove home at the end of the day. She still wasn’t sure that anything was actually up with her. ‘I’ll ask her tomorrow.’

That evening she practiced the moves she learned the previous day.

The next morning, Brittany tried to find Angie. However, she found herself distracted by the various rumors about the Fashion Club’s demise. ‘I’m sure Sandi is behind some of them,’ she thought as she entered History.

…

Brittany paused, uncertain whether to proceed. She did find out what was going on with Angie, and she knew that Quinn had been involved as SpiderGirl. “Um…”

“That’s a good start,” Quinn said.

“Thanks. But you know how it went with Angie.”

“That’s true, but you’re her friend…”

“Some friend! I got busy with things, including my martial arts. I didn’t know she was struggling! I’m closer to Donna, Jodie, Mack, Kevin, and Nikki,” Brittany groused.

“We’ll she’s getting help now.”

“That’s true. But what about that gang? Do you know how they managed to pull off those robberies?”

“No,” Quinn admitted. “I haven’t found out anything, and as far as I know; Mr. Osborn hasn’t either.”

“Any idea why he moved to Lawndale?” Brittany asked as she twirled some loose hairs.

Quinn shook her head.

“Right. What can you tell me about what you’re doing with those three? Did the hypochondria guy really get bit by a snake? Did you actually drive the bus?”

“One at a time!”

“Sorry,” Brittany said. “Was the guy bit by a snake?”

“Yes, and I also drove the bus to the hospital.”

“Ms. Li must have been mad!”

“She was,” Quinn said with a slight giggle.

“So, what are you doing with them?”

“Just getting to know them, so that I can help them.”

“Oh!” Brittany said.

“So, you continued to learn Karate and Judo?”

“Yes, including over the holidays.”

“So, was it what happened with Angie and that gang?” Quinn asked.

“Yes,” Brittany answered. “I realise how close that came to disaster for her. If she got caught she could have went to jail!”

Quinn nodded and then somersaulted down from where she had been hanging while Brittany had been telling her story. She stretched as she walked over. “But now we need to talk about what to now?”

“What do you mean.”

“I mean I’m the one with powers. I don’t want you putting yourself in danger,” Quinn said.

“I can handle myself. You’ve seen that.”

“Definitely. Like, I’m saying that I have the great power, therefore I have the great responsibility,” she paused. “But I do need help. So, you can continue what you were doing before I tried to interfere.”

“Does this mean that we’re working together?” Brittany asked, twirling some loose hairs.

“Yes,” Quinn answered with a nod. “From time to time.”

“That’s fine,” Brittany said as she hugged the other heroine.

“And now we have wasted enough time,” Quinn said. She pulled her mask back on.

Brittany did the same.

SpiderGirl then left saying that there were sirens in the distance, somewhere in town. Ninja Talon then tried to follow, but found that the superheroine was much faster.

SpiderGirl found that there had been a high speed chase on the Interstate. A drunk driver. “We have it in hand, SpiderGirl,” Peterson said. “Thanks for coming anyway.”

“That’s fine. I’ll see you later,” she responded before leaving.

Ninja Talon continued her activities for another hour before heading home.

Lawndale Sun-Herald

Wednesday January 17, 2000

Increase in DUI cases

SpiderGirl put the paper aside. There wasn’t much she could do about people’s drinking habits. ‘Better get to school!’ she thought. She was late enough already.

Brittany got to school on time. She didn’t get much sleep as the conversation with Quinn took longer than she had realised. She yawned as she entered Homeroom.

“Tired, Brittany?” Angie Zammit asked.

“A little,” Brittany said as sat next to her friend. “How are you holding up?”

“Well enough. Like I’ll figure out another way to be able to leave Lawndale if my marks don’t improve.”

“We are Juniors, plenty of time to improve.”

“I guess that’s true,” Angie said.

But Brittany still wasn’t sure Angie believed that. ‘Maybe I’ll ask Quinn or Daria if they could help?’ she wondered, knowing that she probably wouldn’t get anywhere with Jodie.

#anthony demartino #ashley-amber taylor #brittany taylor #daria #fanfic #jodie landon #kevin thompson #michael 'mack' mackenzie #quinn morgendorffer #spider-man

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