‘Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow’

First in a series, this story concerns a girl whom everyone believes to be “cursed.” Because of this curse, Morrigan Crow is a convenient scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in her community — even, sometimes, “extreme” weather events or other people’s own wrong decisions.

Even more concerning is the fact that cursed children die when the calendar cycle reaches Eventide, the “last day of the age.”

The timely arrival of Jupiter North, a member of the Wundrous Society, allows Morrigan to escape this fate, but thrusts her into a world of new challenges as she competes for a place in the Society.

With deft world-building, author Jessica Townsend introduces readers to a society where Wunder, a magical substance, is relied on like a power-utility. What is the connection between shortages of Wunder and cursed children living in an area? Who is the Wundersmith, a person feared and spoken of in legend? This story is sure to appeal to young readers who enjoy epic fantasy.