by Mat Tonti (Author) Mat Tonti (Illustrator)
This exciting graphic novel presents a series of puzzling mystical Jewish stories weaving together a daring adventure tale, following siblings Rose and Ben as they search for their missing grandparents, aided only by a mysterious book, a lantern, and their wits.
Anticipating danger, the kids' grandmother, Bubbe, appears to the twins in a cloud of flour and tells them to find a package that contains a book. The midrash stories they find--about the flying Ziz, the giant Og, the gatekeeper at a maze, and a treasure-seeker who lives in a mushroom hut--provide insights into defeating the creepy sorceress scheming to take the book. As the mystery deepens, the siblings must follow the Lamplighter's wise advice, slip past a guard into a maze, reunite with their grandparents, and learn why they have inherited the responsibility to protect the book--and the Jewish people.
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"This unique title is a fine read for a wide variety of kids and a contender for a Sydney Taylor Honor Award or perhaps even a Sydney Taylor Book Award. It has strong and authentic Jewish content that introduces readers to stories from diverse time periods and origins and experiences. Tonti is a Rabbi, teacher, and trained as a scribe, providing solid Jewish scholarship and research as a foundation for his fantastical tale. While the style of art is unusual and the story unconventional, the awards committee may just have a taste for something different this year, and will send the The Book of Secrets to the top of their list!"— Gigi Pagliarulo