The Crosswood, a short high-interest fantasy novel, follows the adventures of 14-year-old Blue Jasper and his highly energetic younger twin siblings, Indigo and Violet. Life is isolating: the family lives off grid, the kids are home-schooled, and their mother never leaves the twins unattended. Blue suggests taking the twins for a walk, but they move too quickly for anyone to keep up. The twins head toward the forest and are last seen disappearing into the brush. As Blue searches for the twins, Faerie Queen Olea of Nearwood appears, claiming to be the actual mother of the twins. She explains that with the disappearance of the children, a pact between herself and Blue’s mother has been broken, placing his mother’s life in danger if Blue cannot find the twins before sunset. Blue Jasper enters the magical forest of the Crosswood without a plan or knowledge of the rules of the land.

120 pp., 5 × 7.5"

Source: Association of Book Publishers of BC - BC Books for Schools (2021-2022)

Gabrielle Prendergast is a UK-born Canadian/Australian who lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband and daughter. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. Gabrielle is the author of the verse novels Capricious and Audacious, which was shortlisted for a CLA Award, and The Frail Days in the Orca Limelights and the middle-grade novel Pandas on the Eastside. For More information, visit www.angelhorn.com.

Gabrielle Prendergast's profile page

• Nominated, Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards - Diamond Willow
• Short-listed, Chocolate Lily Book Awards
• Commended, BC Books for BC Schools
• Commended, Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection

“Readers will appreciate Prendergast’s clever ideas…A solid plot.”

School Library Connection (SLC)

“Excellent…A fast-moving urban fantasy with a likeable hero trying to do his best in an untenable situation...The Crosswood is a great high interest addition to the fantasy genre. Highly Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials