The Grave Robber's Apprentice - Hardcover

Stratton, Allan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0061976083 ISBN 13: 9780061976087

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2012

Synopsis

Hans doesn't know who he is or where he came from. When he was a baby, he washed ashore in a wooden box and was adopted by the conniving grave robber, Knobbe the Bent. Now fate has thrown him together with Angela von Schwanenberg, a young countess fleeing for her life from the evil Archduke Arnulf and his dreaded Necromancer. Together, these friends are on a daring quest to discover Hans' true identity and to save Angela's parents from the archduke.

Join Hans and Angela on their grand adventure as they ride through the depths of the great forest, sled down a mountain in a coffin, and sneak along the secret passageways of the archduke's palace. The Grave Robber's Apprentice is a world of highwaymen, hermits, and dancing bears; and of a boy separated from his family by the sea.

In this world anything is possible with luck and imagination—even for a grave robber's apprentice.

About this title

About the Author:

Allan Stratton is the internationally acclaimed author of the Michael L. Printz Honor Book Chanda's Secrets. His novel Chanda's Wars was a Junior Library Guild selection, and his other novels, Borderline and Leslie's Journal, were both ALA Best Book for Young Adults selections. Allan has safaried in Africa, hiked the Great Wall of China, explored pyramids in Egypt, and flown over Cappadocia in a balloon. He lives with his partner in Toronto with four cats and a whole lot of fish.

Review:

“This clever tale hits all the right notes.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A playfully dramatic adventure with swashbuckling kids, mountain hermits, avalanche sledding and circus bears. Stratton’s prose is artistic, clever and funny.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Fans of Philip Pullman’s Clockwork and Ken Oppel will delight in Stratton’s wit and zest, and his jokes, twists, ghosts, wolves, prophecies and gothic tropes.” (The Times (London))

“Readers who like their fairy tales packed with action and happy endings will want to add this to their collection.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)

“The Graverobber’s Apprentice is a tale told with sound and furious action―chock full of villainous villains, heroic heroes (and heroines), and moments of absolute hilarity. Stratton is a master at his craft and he’s given this story a heart of gold.” (Arthur Slade, author of The Hunchback Assignments)

“A rollicking and enchanting fairy tale for the 21st century.” (Kenneth Oppel, author of the Airborne trilogy and Silverwing series)

“A fun read.” (School Library Journal)

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0061976083
• ISBN 13: 9780061976087
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288