The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor

by Aubrey Hartman

Overview

A 12-year-old girl makes a reckless bargain with a desperate water nymph in this charming middle-grade debut perfect for fans of classics like The NeverEnding Story.
 
Poppy Woodlock believes in magic, but so far, she hasn’t found any. It’s been two weeks since her parents moved their family to Oregon to undertake their biggest project yet: revitalizing the once-grand Lark-Hayes Manor. Her older brother instantly found his place, but after being thrown into middle school midyear, Poppy is feeling…invisible. So she retreats to where she’s always felt most at home: books and magic. And if the fantastic and supernatural exist, certainly they can be found in this mysterious old estate.
 
A late-night prowl leads Poppy to a desperate water nymph, with whom she strikes a dangerous bargain. In exchange for the thing she loves most—her favorite book— Poppy now has the secret of a lifetime: her very own flying lion. Sampson is exactly what she needs to prove magic does exist and, more importantly, that she is not to be so easily dismissed.
 
But the cost of ancient magic is astronomic. With every night Sampson grows, another book disappears, and Poppy soon faces the harrowing reality that without their favorite stories, the lives of everyone around her begin to unravel.
 
Fixing the chaos will require Poppy to be clever and bold, and even at her smartest and loudest, she’s not sure it will be enough. But she has to try.
 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316448321
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	11/05/2024
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	1,082,046
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 7.62(h) x (d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Aubrey Hartman lives in California with her husband and three young children. She is the author of The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor and The Undeadfox of Deadwood Forest. Like Poppy, she believes in magic: the kind that’s made up of powerful words, cinematic scenes, and characters who curl up in your heart to stay. Also like Poppy, she’s passionate about inspiring young people to recognize the impact their voices can have in the world. She invites you to visit her at https://aubreyhartman.com/.

Editorial Reviews

"The Lion of Lark-Hays Manor is a page-turning novel about an unlikely friendship, the price of granted wishes, and finding one’s voice. A magical adventure that reminds us of the power of stories."—Lynne Kelly, author of Song For a Whale

"A book for all of us about learning to speak—and also to listen to every voice, even the soundless."—Kathryn Erskine, National Book Award winner

"This gentle fantasy beautifully explores the ways books shape and stir readers, and Poppy’s joyful, funny friendship with the lion is a treat. An enchanting adventure that encourages readers to find their voice and delight in stories."—Booklist

"Tonally reminiscent of classic children’s fantasies, Hartman’s debut layers slice-of-life concerns—bickering parents, new-kid trials—with a high-concept premise, making for a winning novel focused on literary influence and everyday magic."—Publishers Weekly

"Some books are fun. Some make you think. And others forever change the landscape of your heart. By penning an ode to the power of empathy and the magic of stories, Hartman has accomplished all three. " 

—Kamilla Benko, USA Today bestselling author of The Unicorn Quest trilogy

From the Publisher

04/03/2023

Expected to keep to herself in a family of big personalities, book-obsessed sixth grader Poppy Woodlock actively seeks out magic. When her parents, an architect and a historic preservation officer, take on a fixer-upper in Oregon’s Lark-Hayes Manor, Poppy can tell that the house contains not just a hidden past but “a secret present,” too. After Poppy encounters an exiled water nymph in the mouldering building’s indoor pool, she’s granted a wish in exchange for handing over a copy of her favorite book: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Poppy asks for a magical lion, like Narnia’s Aslan, and receives a winged lion cub that she names Sampson. But a catch soon reveals itself: for every night Sampson grows in the mortal realm, a book vanishes, and only Poppy will remember it ever existing. At first, the price seems a small one to pay for real magic, but the disappearance of a family journal prompts her to reconsider: in losing the books and memories that shaped them, her loved ones are also losing their passions and inspirations. Tonally reminiscent of classic children’s fantasies, Hartman’s debut layers slice-of-life concerns—bickering parents, new-kid trials—with a high-concept premise, making for a winning novel focused on literary influence and everyday magic. Poppy and her mother have olive skin; other characters default to white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Molly O’Neill, Root Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

2023-02-25
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.

When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)

A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Kirkus Review