The Girl Who Kept the Castle - by Ryan Graudin (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Wizard West was dead for nearly an entire day before he noticed. And Faye, the daughter of West's groundskeeper, is charged with the unfortunate task of informing the wizard that he is now a ghost who has lost all magical powers. (But not before West tries turning her into a cat!) To make matters worse, the enchanted castle of Celurdur, the only home that Fay has ever known, will fall apart at the next new moon if its foundation spells can't be renewed. After (sort of) accepting his demise, West decides to host a competition to choose his successor. And Faye now finds herself fighting behind the scenes to keep the tournament running smoothly: putting out kitchen fires, feeding the compost dragon, and making sure competitors stay away from the cockatrice pen. But killer roosters soon become the least of her worries. A servant of the evil Shadow Queen has sabataged the contest, and is set on destroying not only Celurdur, but the entire kingdom of Solum. Faye must find a way to stop him, but she'll need more than a mop and some magic to save everything she loves from utter destruction"--Dust jacket.

Book Synopsis

Nevermoor meets Howl's Moving Castle in this engaging fantasy--the first in a duology--from acclaimed author Ryan Graudin. Perfect for fans of wizards, dragons, magical castles, spectacular spells, and a spunky cat who may not be what he seems.

Wizard West was dead for nearly an entire day before he noticed. And it is up to Faye, the daughter of West's groundskeeper, to inform the wizard that he is a ghost who has lost all of his magical powers. (But not before the wizard tries transforming her into a cat!) To make matters worse, the enchanted castle of Celurdur--the only home that Faye has ever known--will fall apart at the next full moon if its foundation spells can't be renewed.

After (sort of) accepting his demise, West decides to host a competition to choose his successor. Faye finds herself fighting to keep the tournament running smoothly behind the scenes: putting out kitchen fires, feeding the compost dragon, and making sure competitors stay away from the cockatrice pen.

But killer roosters soon become the least of her worries. A servant of the evil Shadow Queen has sabotaged the contest--set on destroying not just Celurdur but the entire kingdom of Solum. It is up to Faye to stop him, but she'll need more than a mop. Will a maid's magic be enough to save everything she loves from utter destruction?

Review Quotes

"Exquisitely charming and outrageously fun, The Girl Who Kept the Castle is the latest spellbinding story from the formidable imagination of Ryan Graudin. Magic and humor dance off the page, and readers looking for a tale of heartwarming adventure and escape won't be able to put it down." -- Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of the Aru Shah series

"This addicting read is packed with charm, heart, and enchanting characters who will wrap their hands, paws, and claws around your heart and never let go. It is an essential magical read for every young witch and wizard!" -- Jessica Khoury, bestselling author of The Mystwick School of Musicraft

"Everything Ryan Graudin touches turns to magic. She's the most enchanting writer I know." -- Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of the Elementals trilogy

"The Girl Who Kept the Castle has it all--an enchanted castle, dead wizard, vegetarian dragon, ancient talking cat, and a bighearted girl determined to save the place she loves. This heartwarming page-turner will thrill fans of fantasy fiction--and all readers!" -- Mary Alice Monroe & Angela May, New York Times bestselling authors of the Islanders series

"A whimsical adventure that instantly swept me away! Ryan Graudin has masterfully woven a tale that is incredibly enchanting from the eye-catching first line all the way to the stunning ending!" -- Julie Abe, author of the Eva Evergreen and Tessa Miyata series

"This fantastic duology starter conjures a world full of magic, mystery, and merriment, and wonderful world building puts readers in the thick of it. An utterly enchanting escapade with the promise of bigger adventures to come." -- Booklist

"Marvelous. An enchanting middle grade fantasy and excellent start to this adventurous duology." -- School Library Journal

"Descriptions of magic imbue the story with life. The book replicates the whimsy and subtle feminism of Hayao Miyazaki's work. Bursting with empathy and magical delights." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Sharp and clever. This duology opener offers plenty of resolution, while also leaving whole swaths of storylines wide open for the second volume; readers will likely eagerly anticipate seeing what Faye will do next." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Graudin offers a heartfelt romp featuring a resourceful heroine and an engrossing setting. Satisfyingly upbeat and all-around entertaining." -- Publishers Weekly