Product DescriptionThe adventures of Happenstance and Umber reach their epic, surprising, and emotional conclusion. As Happenstance struggles to master his unusual abilities, he realizes that time is running out -- because Umber's rivals threaten to undo all the good he has achieved, while an unexpected new enemy with terrible destructive power approaches the kingdom. About the AuthorP. W. (Paul William) Catanese was born in New York and grew up in Connecticut, where he lives with his wife and three children. When he's not writing books, he draws cartoons and works for an advertising agency. Interestingly, the letters in "P. W. Catanese" can be rearranged to spell "want escape?" Paul figures that's why people read books like his.

"Seven at one blow!" That's what they say about the Brave Little Tailor -- he killed seven foes with one blow. But no one can prove it's even true. Besides, that took place a long time ago, and the Brave Little Tailor is now an old man. So what happens when an army of angry trolls invades his kingdom?Meet Patch Ridlin. He's a tailor's simple apprentice in the remote village of Crossfield. He's a hard worker who's never wanted for much, except maybe a little adventure. But when he rescues his friend Osbert from an aging and decrepit troll, Patch finds himself something of a town hero. Word of his bravery quickly spreads throughout the countryside, and Patch is summoned to the king's castle. King Milo needs his help to wage war on a gang of trolls threatening to destroy the kingdom. Soon Patch finds himself engaged in an all-out battle against the trolls. With only the help of a fool named Simon and a maddening riddle, can Patch figure out the troll's fatal flaw? Or is the kingdom destined to perish?From School Library JournalGrade 4-6–Just 50 years after the Brave Little Tailor killed his giant (but was it really seven at one blow?) the kingdom is in need of another hero. Loathsome giant trolls have begun venturing out of their usual habitat, the Barren Gray, and killing everything in their path. Then word comes that Patch, a young tailor's apprentice, has killed one of the trolls. Not long after that, a party of knights and nobles take him to the king's castle. In truth, Patch only confronted the troll to defend a beloved old friend and managed to topple him off a bridge into a river where he drowned, but the king still hopes that Patch will help find a solution to his problem. In the end, his kindness and cleverness help him find an answer when their brawn and breeding cannot, but only after several mistakes almost cost him his life and that of others. This brief novel has the themes and motifs of an expanded fairy tale with a brave young hero, a wise fool, a kind king and a brave and forthright queen, and some really horrific trolls with various oozing bodily fluids and gross habits. The plot and the language are sometimes predictable, but the characters are interestingly depicted. Fans of fairy-tale-styled novels like Donna Jo Napoli's Crazy Jack (Delacorte, 1999) and The Prince of the Pond (Puffin, 1994) will enjoy this story.–Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. About the AuthorP. W. (Paul William) Catanese was born in New York and grew up in Connecticut, where he lives with his wife and three children. When he's not writing books, he draws cartoons and works for an advertising agency. Interestingly, the letters in "P. W. Catanese" can be rearranged to spell "want escape?" Paul figures that's why people read books like his.

Everyone has heard the story -- the dwarves, the talking mirror, the evil witch. But this tale doesn't belong to Snow White anymore.... Bert and Will, the twin sons of the baron of Ambercrest, are best friends. They do everything together and can't help it if trouble just seems to...find them. But the baron is fed up and has decided that separation will keep them out of mischief. One twin, he proclaims, will stay in Ambercrest for the summer, while the other will be sent to The Crags -- a foreboding, rocky outpost on the edge of the kingdom. It is there, hidden in a forbidden black chamber, that one of the boys discovers a bejeweled and mysterious mirror. What is the precious object? And why does it make him feel so...powerful? Soon the twins' kinship is replaced by dark magic and deceit, and a kingdom hangs dangerously in the balance. What becomes of one who is ruled by the forces of evil? And can brotherly love conquer a consuming quest for power?From School Library JournalGrade 4-7–In this accessible entry in the series, Catanese imagines events many years after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ends. Mischievous Bert and timid Will, twin sons of the baron and constantly in trouble, are separated by their parents to keep them out of trouble. Bert is sent to The Crags, the former castle of the Witch-Queen of the Grimms' story, and now ruled by his Uncle Hugh and Aunt Elaine. He finds the enchanted mirror and is bewitched by it, deciding to kill his brother whom he believes is likely to inherit the barony from their father. While the plot starts a little slowly, it quickens and does not lag until the exciting and action-filled climax. The human characters have a contemporary feel, which is especially evident in their dialogue. This limits the magical and historical elements of the story, but makes it more accessible to reluctant readers. While Bert undergoes some soul-searching, the transformations in the boys over the course of the story are predictable and two-dimensional. The dwarves, or Dwergh, are the most successfully drawn and interesting characters. The mirror itself is far more evil than that in the original fairy tale, and, as the title suggests, this is really its story. Buy where there is a demand for fast-paced, easily read adventure fantasy.–Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. About the AuthorP. W. (Paul William) Catanese was born in New York and grew up in Connecticut, where he lives with his wife and three children. When he's not writing books, he draws cartoons and works for an advertising agency. Interestingly, the letters in "P. W. Catanese" can be rearranged to spell "want escape?" Paul figures that's why people read books like his.

From Publishers WeeklyStarred Review. Catanese (the Further Tales Adventures) dazzles in the first of the planned Books of Umber series by wittily subverting genre tropes. Happenstance, a boy with strange green eyes, wakes up in a cave with no memories of who he is or anything about the fantastic world in which he lives. He soon encounters Lord Umber, an adventurer who seems familiar with our world as well as his own, and his two companions—a brute cursed to be forever truthful and a one-handed artist and archer. En route to Umber's home, they discover that Hap can see in the dark, leap many feet in the air, speak numerous languages and go without sleep. As the group attempts to learn about his origins, they're forced to confront a supernatural assassin and secrets from Umber's own mysterious past. Catanese packs a lot into the book: rich characterizations (Umber, who turns out to be from another dimension, suffers from depression and wishes he had his meds), well-choreographed action sequences and genuinely surprising twists at the end. As auspicious start to the series. Ages 8-12. (Jan.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From School Library JournalGrade 5–8—Happenstance Found, 12, does not remember who he is, where he came from, or any details of his former life. He wakes up in an underground cavern, accompanied by a mysterious stranger who refuses to tell him anything about his origins. The stranger hands Hap over to personable, yet in many ways equally mysterious, Lord Umber. Acting on the stranger's advice, Umber invites Hap to join his company. They immediately meet with adventure and danger, and Hap learns that Umber is a man of diverse talents and boundless curiosity. Umber discovers that Hap can see in total darkness, jump to extraordinary heights, and sense when momentous events are about to occur. Hap is also being pursued by a menacing figure, which he and his companions dub "the Creep." In the final conflict with this character, Hap's ingenuity, abilities, and loyalty are tested. He triumphs over his adversary, but enough tantalizing loose ends are left to be resolved in the sequel. Though some may lament the uneven characterization, there's plenty of adventure and mystery to appeal to fans of Catanese's earlier works.—_Misti Tidman, Boyd County Public Library, Ashland, KY_ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Everyone knows the story of Jack and the beanstalk. Everyone also knows that Jack's little adventure made him a very rich man. But what they don't know is what happened a long time after Jack....That's where Nick comes in. Orphaned and desperate, Nick joins a rugged band of thieves in hopes of a warm meal and a little protection. In exchange Nick must help them break into the lavish white castle rumored to belong to an old man named Jack. Legend says it's full of riches from Jack's quest up a magical beanstalk decades ago. When Nick's dangerous mission leads him straight to Jack, he sees a chance to climb the famed beanstalk himself. But what Nick doesn't know is that things are different from when Jack made his climb. There are new foes at the top now. Ones with cruel weapons and foul plans -- plans that could destroy the world as Nick knows it. Will Nick come down the beanstalk a hero? Will he come down at all?From School Library JournalGrade 4-6-A fast-paced, accessible entry in the burgeoning genre of novels based on fairy tales. Homeless and hungry since a plague killed his family years ago, Nick has spent most of his life stealing food and sleeping in barns. His fortunes change when he joins a gang of ruffians in their attempt to rob an elderly, wealthy man named Jack. Jack shows Nick his magic hen and enchanted harp, then allows the boy to steal three green, glowing beans. When Nick plants them and climbs the resulting beanstalk, he finds immense treasure-and also the kind giantess who helped Jack escape her evil husband long ago. Nick learns that her equally evil sons have enslaved her as part of their plot to invade Nick and Jack's world. After struggling with his conscience, he frees her instead of taking his chance to steal the treasure and escapes the wicked giants. While this adventure favors plot over characterization and never explains the evil magic at work in the giants' world, it is clearly written and exciting. It will appeal to reluctant readers with its highly visual descriptions and will also make a successful read-aloud.-Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. About the AuthorP. W. (Paul William) Catanese was born in New York and grew up in Connecticut, where he lives with his wife and three children. When he's not writing books, he draws cartoons and works for an advertising agency. Interestingly, the letters in "P. W. Catanese" can be rearranged to spell "want escape?" Paul figures that's why people read books like his.

From award-winning author P.W. Catanese comes the second fast-paced thriller about a twelve-year-old boy who must protect the kinder, gentler underworld from returning to its previous terrifying incarnation.After being rescued from a fiery death by Angela Obscura, an ancient demon from the underworld, Donny Taylor is settling into a new home in Sulfur. Life as Angela’s mortal assistant isn’t so bad. Donny gets to travel to exotic places through fire portals, money is no object, and he’s seeing amazing things that few mortal boys have ever laid eyes on. Plus Angela is fun to be around. What’s not to like? Well there is one minor detail. Being Angela’s assistant has almost gotten Donny killed a few times already. And Angela doesn’t seem to take his worries very seriously. After all, she may look like a beautiful human, but she’s a demon and hard to kill. Donny, however, is all too vulnerable. When another encounter with a...