Shadow Wrack

Gr 4–7—For Willa Fuller, "normal" seems like an out-of-this-realm possibility. This second installment of the series continues Willa's adventures with Miss Trang and her crew of magical and mystical creatures. The story begins with Willa's recap of the first novel's events and her exasperation with her family and friends for just going about their normal lives while she's still all shook up from almost dying and watching the manor going up in flames. Miss Trang, per usual, departs on an important meeting, leaving Willa in charge of the inhabitants of Eldritch Manor, which is being rebuilt by dwarfs. Of course, things don't go smoothly for Willa; her family refuses to discuss the supernatural events even though they have a few magical residents staying in their home. Horace (part-man, part-lion) is getting old and a tad confused, fairies and dwarfs are fighting nonstop, and black spots (the same black spots that spurred the destruction of the manor) are invading Willa's home and other places once again. The neighbors are starting to get very suspicious, and Willa's anger is growing to immeasurable proportions. The 12-year-old protagonist takes on all of these conundrums and more, calling on powers she didn't know existed, though she's not sure if they will be enough to keep the manor and its inhabitants safe.