THE SHIP OF STOLEN WORDS

Sam finds that words really do matter in Mount Cloud.

After a strange encounter with an old lady and her pet pig, Sam loses the ability to say sorry. When he upsets his best friend, Mason, with an unkind remark during class, the school expects him to apologize—but he cannot, even though sorry was a word he used quite freely whenever anything went wrong. To get his word back and get himself out of trouble, Sam embarks on an adventure into the world of goblins. Goblin word thieves Tolver and his grandmother, however, have their own reasons for stealing people’s words. This fantasy world is wonderfully built in a fashion reminiscent of Paul Stewart’s The Edge Chronicles. The concept of the useless or disbelieving adult is thoroughly subverted, with adults not only believing, but helping Sam. Family and friends are key to the characters’ development, serving as catalysts for change and as valuable supports. The plot itself is sure to comfort young readers struggling with literacy, language acquisition, or impulsive speech, with its message that misusing words is an important part of learning. Twists and turns will keep readers engaged and thinking about the text long after they have finished reading. Main characters default to White.

Delightful and sure to keep readers looking for goblins long after the final page has been turned.