The Crooked Sixpence

In this first book in the Uncommoners series, a portal inside a suitcase whisks Ivy Sparrow and her older brother, Seb, to the underground city of Ludinor. There, the siblings have two days to unravel their grandmother’s secret past and find a powerful “uncommon” object to save their parents, who are being held hostage by the nefarious Dirge. Everyday household goods get a whimsical overhaul in this fantastical world beneath the streets of London—colanders filter the air, paper clips serve as handcuffs, and a toilet brush is a formidable weapon—but kindness, friendship and loyalty still reign supreme. Bell, a British bookseller making her children’s book debut, has created a formidable, kindhearted, and keenly observant heroine in Ivy. After she saves a dented, “back-to-fronted”-talking bicycle bell named Scratch, it becomes an important ally, just one of many delightfully odd characters in a hodgepodge world that includes the walking dead, political intrigue, and grotesque physical punishment for misdeeds. Bell’s multifaceted plot comes together cohesively, creating a solid base for her series. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (Jan.)