The first novel from Kelly Barnhill since her bestselling Newbery Medal winner The Girl Who
Drank the Moon is another instant fantasy classic. The once-lovely town of Stone-in-the-Glen
has fallen on hard times. After relentless fires floods and other calamities they've lost
their library their school their park their prosperity. Even their neighborliness is lost.
Only the wise and clever children of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress who lives quietly
at the edge of town see clearly how dire things are. The people of Stone-in-the-Glen have put
their faith in their Mayor a dazzling fellow with a bright shock of yellow hair and white
teeth who promises that he alone can solve their problems. After all he is a famous dragon
slayer! At least no one has ever seen a dragon in the Mayor's presence. One terrible day a
child goes missing from the Orphan House and the townspeople vow to find her. Thanks to the
Mayor's insidious suggestion all eyes turn to the Ogress. The Orphans know this can't be: it's
the Ogress assisted by a particularly excellent flock of crows who secretly delivers
much-needed gifts to the suffering humans. But how can the Orphans tell the story of the
Ogress's goodness to people who listen only to themselves? And how can they make their enraged
deluded neighbors see the real villain in their midst?
