In the tradition of Edward Eager and E.L. Konigsburg, a novel about the excitement—and the dangers—of wishing.
Tess and her brother, Max, are sent for the summer to their aunt’s sleepy village in the English countryside, where excitement is as rare as a good wifi signal. So when Tess stumbles upon an old brass key that unlocks an ornately carved gate, attached to a strangely invisible wall, she jumps at the chance for adventure. And the world beyond the gate doesn’t disappoint. She finds rose gardens, a maze made of hedges, and a boy named William who is just as lonely as she is.
But at William’s castle, strange things begin to happen. Carnival games are paid for in wishes, dreams seem to come alive, and then there's William's eerie warning: Beware of the hawthorn trees. A warning that chills Tess to the bone.
In a magical, fantasy world that blurs the line between reality and imagination, readers are left to wonder exactly what they’d wish for if wishes could come true. Perfect for fans of Half Magic and The Secret Garden—and for anyone who's ever wondered if magic is real.
Best-selling author Amy Ephron talks to Bay Sunday’s host Kenny Choi about her new book for young readers, ‘The Castle In The Mist.’
Laraine Newman narrates the audio book
Listen to an exerpt
Praise for The Castle in the Mist audiobook:
“…the magic seems quite real, thanks in large part to Newman’s accents, pacing, and inflection.”
—Booklist
“Newman’s versatile and lively reading will capture the minds of young listeners.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Narrator Laraine Newman infuses magic into this story about children who discover a friendship that goes beyond time and place.”
—AudioFile
Amy Ephron has always been a magical storyteller….In “Carnival Magic” … Tess and Max are teaching children and their parents about the power of thoughtful decision-making, loyalty, and self-confidence. Life lessons and carnival rides? Sounds like the perfect beach read for all ages. 
