The Unnameables - by Ellen Booraem (Paperback)

About the Book

A boy and a goatman defy the establishment in a whimsical fantasy about belonging, the dangers of forgetting history, the Usefulness of art, and the importance of wind control.

Book Synopsis

Medford lives on a neat, orderly island called--simply--Island.
Islanders like names that say exactly what a thing (or a person) is or does. Medford Runyuin is different. A foundling, he has a meaningless name that is just one of many reminders that he's an outsider. He also has a secret that could get him banished from Island forever.
A strange creature is about to arrive on Island, and Medford's secret will be out before he can blink twice.

Review Quotes

"Booraem's debut is an ever-surprising, genre-defying page-turner. Realistic characters deal with philosophical problems in vivid, flowing prose that is evocative and often funny. A sort of combination of witch-trial-era Salem and The Giver, this book offers a treat with nearly every page turn." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "The novel's humor and amiable tone make it a highly-accessible but thought-provoking read."--The Horn Book Magazine "Avid readers in middle school and high school will enjoy a tale that combines magic with an almost puritanical culture."--VOYA (5Q4P)

About the Author

ELLEN BOORAEM worked for two decades as a reporter and editor at small-town weeklies, until she quit her day job to write The Unnameables. She lives in Brooklin, Maine.