The Necromancer's Apprentice - by Beverly Twomey (Paperback)

About the Book

This middle grade fantasy in the vein of T. Kingfisher's Minor Mage follows a young boy who seeks training from the local wizard to heal his father's depression by resurrecting his dead mother.

Book Synopsis

Georgie would do anything to help his father - even learn the dying art of necromancy.

Twelve-year-old Georgie works hard to care for his grieving father while keeping his nosy younger cousin out of trouble. But when his father begins to decline even further, Georgie decides to bring back the one person who could do it all, his deceased mother.

The local Necromancer is an awkward and solitary man with an ancient black cat and a literal skeleton in his closet. With a few words, he can cause a dead sparrow to fly, stop an animated skeleton in its place, and even speak to the dead themselves. Georgie is quickly swept away into a world of skeletal horrors, abandoned graves, and wizard duels where woodland creatures arm themselves against the undead. But can he convince the Necromancer to resurrect his mother in time?

Perfect for fans of Diana Wynne Jones and T. Kingfisher, THE NECROMANCER'S APPRENTICE is a whimsical take on the process of grieving and learning to live again.

Review Quotes

"An effective, well-characterized exploration of grief set in a fantasy world." - Kirkus Reviews

"The Necromancer's Apprentice poignantly explores a family's journey through grief--and, with its enticing side of spooky magic, will keep young readers turning pages right to its empowering, heartfelt conclusion." - S.J. Taylor, Author of Madsi the True

"When Georgie turns to the town necromancer for help, he soon finds himself caught in a web of secrets spanning centuries. Can he solve the mysteries, master his growing power, and most challenging of all, learn to understand his own heart? Georgie's journey of grief and recovery will inspire readers even as his courage and determination win their hearts." Irene S., Proofreader, Red Adept Editing

"The Necromancer's Apprentice is perfect for a quirky, sensitive young reader - think fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline or Lee Battersby's Magrit. It's also a great gateway book to introduce your middle grade reader to fantasy worlds. Twomey tackles themes of loss and grief with a deft hand, making this a book with something for everyone." - Meg Caddy, Author of Devil's Ballast