In the Shadow of the Throne

Gr 7 Up–When Jordan Rivera visits a museum in New York City with his family, he’s supposed to be there to enjoy the art, but it feels like he’s really just there to be a babysitter for his annoying kid brothers. When he walks away to try to get a few minutes to himself, he discovers a very unusual painting, and moments later he finds himself inside that painting, rescuing a prince from a pack of ferocious wolves. This is just the beginning of an astonishing adventure in the land of Lymeira, a place where magic is outlawed—but that same magic might be the only thing that can save Jordan and his new friends. Jordan sees this as an opportunity to become a knight and escape the obligations of his family. Prince Astel and Sir Griffith see Jordan’s arrival as a sign that he will be able to help them untangle a mystery and win a magical battle. The scene-stealing character in this book is the enormous monster they encounter, with its twisted horns, sharp teeth, many eyes, and a secret of its own. Cardinali’s artwork is captivating throughout the story, but especially when showing readers details like magical energy, spilled blood, and that drooling monster.