The Ogress and the Orphans

Kelly Barnhill, Newbery Medal winner, delivers a poignant and timely fantasy fable for middle-grade readers (ages 10-14). The town of Stone-in-the-Glen has lost its way, succumbing to fear and suspicion fueled by a charismatic but deceitful Mayor. When a child disappears, the Mayor points fingers at the misunderstood Ogress, who secretly brings gifts to the town. It falls to the resourceful children of the Orphan House to uncover the truth, challenge widespread misinformation, and remind their community of the power of kindness, generosity, and critical thinking. This allegorical tale beautifully explores themes of community, truth, and standing up for what's right, wrapped in a whimsical, character-driven narrative.

A new instant-classic fantasy about the power of generosity and love, and how a community suffers when they disappear, by Kelly Barnhill, winner of the Newbery Medal for The Girl Who Drank the Moon, a New York Times bestseller. Stone-in-the-Glen, once a lovely town, has fallen on hard times. Fires, floods, and other calamities have caused the people to lose their library, their school, their park, and even their neighborliness. The people put their faith in the Mayor, a dazzling fellow who promises he alone can help. After all, he is a famous dragon slayer. (At least, no one has seen a dragon in his presence.) Only the clever children of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress at the edge of town can see how dire the town’s problems are. Then one day a child goes missing from the Orphan House. At the Mayor’s suggestion, all eyes turn to the Ogress. The Orphans know this can’t be: the Ogress, along with a flock of excellent crows, secretly delivers gifts to the people of Stone-in-the-Glen. But how can the Orphans tell the story of the Ogress’s goodness to people who refuse to listen? And how can they make their deluded neighbors see the real villain in their midst?