The Curse of Eelgrass Bog - by Mary Averling

About the Book

"Dark secrets and unnatural magic abound when a twelve-year-old girl ventures into a bog full of monsters to break a mysterious curse"--

Book Synopsis

Dark secrets and unnatural magic abound when a twelve-year-old girl ventures into a bog full of monsters to break a mysterious curse.

Nothing about Kess Pedrock's life is normal. Not her home (she lives in her family's Unnatural History Museum), not her interests (hunting for megafauna fossils and skeletons), and not her best friend (a talking demon's head in a jar named Shrunken Jim).

But things get even stranger than usual when Kess meets Lilou Starling, the new girl in town. Lilou comes to Kess for help breaking a mysterious curse--and the only clue she has leads straight into the center of Eelgrass Bog.

Everyone knows the bog is full of witches, demons, and possibly worse, but Kess and Lilou are determined not to let that stop them. As they investigate the mystery and uncover long-buried secrets, Kess begins to realize that the curse might hit closer to home than she'd ever expected, and she'll have to summon all her courage to find a way to break it before it's too late.

Review Quotes

JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION
BOOKPAGE TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2024
APPLE BOOKS MOST ANTICIPATED TITLE 2024
AMAZON EDITORS' PICK
KOBO BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF JANUARY
BOOK RIOT BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF JANUARY

★ "Whimsically creepy, The Curse of Eelgrass Bog straddles the line between slimy and sweet, concocting a fantasy world that balances snarky demons, magical bogs, concerned witches and awe-inspiring serpents." --BookPage, starred review

"Averling's worldbuilding is deft and beguiling, and Kess' voice is a delight. Shining brightest is her endearing relationship with Shrunken Jim--an excellent supporting character for all that he's brined. A deliciously offbeat magical adventure." --Kirkus Reviews

"A fetching, heart-stopping read with quirky characters, over-the-top ­depictions, a sinister setting, and the deep roots of family love." --School Library Journal

"[An] engrossing mystery...debut author Averling laces the overall setting with beguiling magical elements that make for an inventive adventure." --PW Reviews

"Readers will enjoy excavating layers of history in this marvelous mystery with heaps of magic and heart." --Booklist

"The perfect combination of eccentric and eerie, this builds an immersive, thrilling setting...with a voice that is as bold as it is vulnerable, as authentic as it is sassy." --BCCB

"Deliciously creepy and full of fabulous characters and eerie wonder." --Stephanie Burgis, author of The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and The Raven Heir

"A bewitching tale of unnatural magic, The Curse of Eelgrass Bog delights and mystifies, teeming with curses and crawlies, cobwebs and bog bones, and the butterflies-in-your-belly wonder of being seen the way you want to be seen. I'm cursed--most marvelously--to never love another book so much as I love this one." --Heather Kassner, author of The Bone Garden

"Equal parts creepy and magical, The Curse of Eelgrass Bog is a surreal blend of magic and mystery that will leave you feeling as though you've stumbled across an undiscovered world of your own. It had me from page one!" --Kalyn Josephson, acclaimed author of the Ravenfall series

"The Curse of Eelgrass Bog is filled with magic, mystery, bravery, and so much heart. I loved it!" --Lindsay Currie, author of Scritch Scratch and The Girl in White

"The Curse of Eelgrass Bog is a wonder-filled tale that's at once creepy, twisty, and incredibly full of love. This is a keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat adventure that will also open your heart. I highly recommend this fantastic tale!" --Alysa Wishingrad, author of The Verdigris Pawn

About the Author

Mary Averling grew up across England and Canada, never far from the woods. She has degrees from the University of Victoria and Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. Since she can't stay away from libraries for very long, she is currently working toward her PhD in Ontario, where she lives surrounded by all the magical, spooky, heartfelt books she can find. The Curse of Eelgrass Bog is her middle grade debut.