July Book & Author: Jen Calonita- Middle Grade Magic Set in Historic Greenport!
Sally Stieglitz
Middle Grade Magic: Author Jen Calonita on the Isle of Ever Series
Thursday, July 16, 11:00am
Join LILRC when we welcome author Jen Calonita to discuss her NY Times bestselling book, Isle of Ever (Sourcebooks Young Readers, 2025), the first installment in an exciting new series for young readers which takes place in historic and present day Greenport, Long Island.
Two hundred years ago, an island disappeared. Benny has just two weeks to find it.
Everly "Benny" Benedict and her mom have always managed to get by, though they're broke most of the time. But all that could change. Benny's just learned she's the sole heir to the vast fortune of Evelyn Terry, a mysterious ancestor from the 1800s!
There's a catch, though. First Benny needs to play―and win―a game: following clues that are more than a century old, she must find her way to the tiny island Evelyn wrote about in her diary. It was somewhere off the shoreline of Evelyn's home town, but according to legend, it vanished long ago and hasn't appeared on maps for hundreds of years. Yet Benny has only a couple weeks to locate it. If she's successful, she'll collect the inheritance. But what if there's more than a fortune at stake in this game? What if Benny has to break an ancient curse to win?
Praise for Isle of Ever:
" A nail-biter of a novel for readers who like their mysteries with a touch of magic."― Booklist
"An engaging, puzzle-centered page-turner." ― Kirkus Reviews
"[An] atmospheric fantasy ride." ― Publishers Weekly, starred review
"The pacing is excellent, the character development enticing, and the finale positively nail-biting....This thrilling adventure mystery will capture the spirit of play in every reader." ― School Library Journal, starred review
"An absorbing adventure story for readers ages 10 to 13 that blends fantasy with classic mystery tropes." ― The Wall Street Journal
About Jen Calonita:
Jen Calonita is the New York Times and USA Today-bestselling author who has written over forty books for teens and middle grade readers. Her books have sold more than a million copies and have been translated into 15 languages.
Sally Stieglitz (she/her)
Communications & Outreach Coordinator | Long Island Library Resources Council
Editor-in-Chief, Association of Jewish Libraries News and Reviews
Chair, Jewish Information Committee, EMIERT/ALA
sstie...@lilrc.org | 631-675-1570 x2005
LILRC is a member of the Empire State Library Network (ESLN)
Follow LILRC on Facebook Instagram