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Join us for the inaugural meeting of Once Upon a Book Club, a magical reading adventure for ages 8-12, held on the second Wednesday of every month! Each month, we’ll discuss a favorite new middle-grade fantasy. This month, we'll be discussing The Girl Who Kept the Castle by Ryan Graudin, a thrilling adventure set in a world of wizards, dragons, and enchanted castles. We'll dive into the captivating world of Celurdur, discuss the challenges faced by our heroine Faye, and share our thoughts. Parents are welcome to stay or drop off. Mention the book club at the shop or order online and note "book club" to get 10% off!

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About the Book:

Nevermoor meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this engaging fantasy—the first in a duology—from acclaimed author Ryan Graudin. Perfect for fans of wizards, dragons, magical castles, spectacular spells, and a spunky cat who may not be what he seems.

Wizard West was dead for nearly an entire day before he noticed. And it is up to Faye, the daughter of West’s groundskeeper, to inform the wizard that he is a ghost who has lost all of his magical powers. (But not before the wizard tries transforming her into a cat!) To make matters worse, the enchanted castle of Celurdur—the only home that Faye has ever known—will fall apart at the next full moon if its foundation spells can’t be renewed.

After (sort of) accepting his demise, West decides to host a competition to choose his successor. Faye finds herself fighting to keep the tournament running smoothly behind the scenes: putting out kitchen fires, feeding the compost dragon, and making sure competitors stay away from the cockatrice pen.

But killer roosters soon become the least of her worries. A servant of the evil Shadow Queen has sabotaged the contest—set on destroying not just Celurdur but the entire kingdom of Solum. It is up to Faye to stop him, but she’ll need more than a mop. Will a maid’s magic be enough to save everything she loves from utter destruction?