The Lost Kingdom

Continuing to explore new ground and ideas, Kirby (Icefall) mixes American myth with characters based on historical figures in an imaginative story set in 1750s North America. Billy Bartram is thrilled when his father allows him to come along on a westward expedition, but he never dreamed the journey would involve a secret philosophical society, a flying vessel crewed by geniuses, and a mythical kingdom founded by an ancient Welsh prince, which could hold allies against the encroaching French. The trip doesn’t go as planned, though, with a suspected traitor aboard, the French in hot pursuit, hostile Native Americans on the ground, and a deadly bear-wolf stalking them. While taking some liberties, Kirby skillfully draws on 18th-century beliefs, legends, and personages to construct a historical fantasy that touches on the scientific disciplines of the era to create wonders both natural and manmade. The only drawback is a necessary adherence to less-than-admirable views toward women and minorities on the part of certain characters, but even this serves to push both the story and Billy forward. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stephen Fraser, Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency. (Sept.)