Aesop's Secret - Hardcover

White, Claudia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1849822301 ISBN 13: 9781849822305

Publisher: MP Publishing, 2013

Synopsis

In her debut novel, Claudia White establishes an imaginative world that asks what if all the stories we were told as children were true, even just a little bit. By channeling a child’s sense of wonder to imagine what truths could be hidden in myths and legends, she provides a refreshingly intelligent tale that challenges our understanding of reality.

The shape-shifting Athenites began cloaking themselves in secrecy centuries ago to avoid discrimination and persecution. Glimpses of the Athenites have led humans to create fairy tales and myths to explain the unexplainable. The story of Aesop’s Secret begins when Melinda and Felix Hutton learn that they belong to this ancient race. Their mother and father, Elaine and Jake, have dedicated their lives to proving that Athenites and humans once happily co-existed. Their hope is that, one day, their people with be able to live openly in human society. However, the charismatic and brilliant Professor Stumpworthy emerges as a challenger to these dreams of peace and unity. He has built his personal fortune through the secret use of his transformation abilities while eliminating any Athenite he deems a threat to his way of life. His former colleague, Joe Whiltshire, discovered artifacts that would help identify Athenites as valuable members of society, so Stumpworthy trapped him in the form of a rabbit named Aesop.

When Felix becomes stricken by an unusual sickness while studying at the Stumpworthy School of Science in Paris, the family travels to be with him, unaware that they are Stumpworthy’s next targets. Now Joe, back in his human body, must aid Melinda in her attempt to save her family. White’s narrative employs clever changes in points of view to fully develop the Hutton family and highlight the importance of unity and acceptance within a family, even if they belong in a fairy-tale.

About this title

About the Author:

Claudia White wrote her three novels while living in Oxfordshire, England and Oakville, Ontario. A recognized expert in daydreaming, she has at last been prodded by her young audiences to record her imagined worlds on paper.

Review:

Middle Grade readers will be intrigued by the cover of Aesop’s Secret, and hooked by its storyline. A mix of magic, a little science, and great cast of characters makes this a nice little book. I could see it be used as a successful read aloud too!

(Literacy Love Review - literacylove.com)

The intriguing and unique cover wrapped around Aesop’s Secret by Claudia White is a perfect reflection of the sublime fantasy story inside.

(Dee Kirby - Author Alliance)

The writing really pulls you in from the very first page as Ms. White dives right into the world Hutton’s and the revelation that  is about to be revealed to the two protagonists. While the book itself is short on pages, the author does an excellent job of making use of each page. While I enjoyed the mystery and twists within Aesop’s Secret, I am going to leave y’all in the dark so you can discover what will befall the Hutton kids in what is now one of my favorite middle grade books this year.

(The Haunting of Orchid)

About this edition

• Publisher: MP Publishing
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1849822301
• ISBN 13: 9781849822305
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 128