Secrets of Stone and Sea

History and mythology explosively converge in a sibling-centered, summertime New England fantasy by Hymas (The Explorer’s Code). When 12-year-old identical twins Kai and Peter Syracuse throw a sneeze-bloodied hot dog into the ocean near Seaspire, Mass.’s purportedly haunted lighthouse, neither expects to awaken a vicious, godlike sea monster. But the easily slighted entity promises to flood Seaspire on the next full moon, leaving the twins little time to banish the monster back to its maritime prison. Setting off on a quest to save the town, Kai and Peter enlist the help of their specialist family: their ancient-weapons-wielding grandmother, Greek archeologist mother, English teacher father, and capable older sister. Poetry, patterns, puzzles, and new powers guide the twins to destinations throughout Massachusetts, where they destroy a series of booby-trapped symbols to contain the monster. Yet impulsive Kai and cautious Peter are continually at odds, threatening the success of their mission. Cheeky humor and familiar lore keep the cinematic scenes moving, while themes of powerful familial bonds, teamwork, and leveraging individual strengths ground the quick-moving plotline. Characters present as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Lauren Abramo, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Oct.)