Foulsham

Reach for this book when your child feels like a misfit or is struggling with the pressure to conform to a world that feels unfair and overwhelming. This second installment in the Iremonger Trilogy follows Clod and Lucy as they navigate the treacherous, mud-clogged streets of Foulsham, a place where people and objects are disturbingly intertwined. It is an ideal pick for readers who appreciate the dark, the surreal, and the macabre while exploring deep-seated questions about who they are and where they belong. The story tackles heavy emotional themes of systemic injustice, the search for identity, and the courage required to stand up against powerful, corrupt forces. While the atmosphere is gritty and occasionally spooky, the underlying message is one of fierce loyalty and the importance of finding one's own voice. Parents of middle schoolers will find this book a rich starting point for discussing social class and the ethical treatment of others, wrapped in a highly imaginative and vocabulary-stretching adventure.