“A first-rate fantasy for middle-grade readers,” declares Booklist in a starred review, comparing Gabriel Finley to Harry Potter, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series, and The Mysterious Benedict Society.   A tangle of ingenious riddles, a malevolent necklace called a torc, and flocks of menacing birds: these are just some of the obstacles that stand between Gabriel and his father, Adam Finley, who has vanished from their Brooklyn brownstone. When Gabriel rescues an orphaned baby raven named Paladin, he discovers a family secret: Finleys can bond with ravens in extraordinary ways. Along with Paladin and three valiant friends, Gabriel sets out to bring his father home. They soon discover that Adam is being held captive by the evil demon Corax—half man, half raven, and Adam’s very own disgraced brother—in a foreboding netherworld of birds called Aviopolis. With help from his army of ghoulish minions, the valravens, Corax is plotting to take over the land above, and now only Gabriel stands in his way.   “A vivid, compelling fantasy that sends you off to a world you will not soon forget.” — Norton Juster, author of  The Phantom Tollbooth “A great read for fantasy lovers who have worn out their copies of  Harry Potter .” — School Library Journal , Starred “Brimful of antic energy and inventive flair, like the best middle-grade fantasies ; readers, like baby birds, will devour it and clamor for future installments.” — Kirkus Reviews “A first-rate fantasy for middle-grade readers. Like Harry Potter,... Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series,... and Trenton Lee Stewart’s Mysterious Benedict Society books.” — Booklist , Starred "A great read for fantasy lovers who have worn out their copies of  Harry Potter .” — School Library Journal , Starred "...brimful of antic energy and inventive flair, like the best middle-grade fantasies; readers, like baby birds, will devour it and clamor for future installments." — Kirkus Reviews “Adult author Hagen (The Laments) makes his children's debut with a fantasy adventure touched with whimsy, satire, and the quirky love of urban fauna that characterizes New Yorkers.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred “Both startling and moving—a vivid, compelling fantasy that sends you off to a world you will not soon forget.” —Norton Juster, author of The Phantom Tollbooth George Hagen is the author of two novels for adults. The Laments —a Washington Post bestseller and recipient of the William Saroyan International Prize for writing—has been compared to the work of John Irving and Ann Tyler and described by Publishers Weekly as “a funny, touching novel about the meaning of family.” Tom Bedlam was called “a Victorian three-decker novel [that] shines with contemporary clarity and moves at the speed of ‘The Sopranos’” by the Los Angeles Times. Hagen had lived on three continents by the time he was twelve. The father of three children, he now lives in Brooklyn. This is his first book for kids. To learn more, visit gabrielfinley.com and follow gabriel-finley on Tumblr. Ravens and Riddles Ravens love riddles. In fact, ravens greet other ravens by telling a riddle. When one meets another, he’ll introduce himself by asking something like: “Can a raven and owl be friends?” The other might shift from one foot to the other, puzzled, because ravens and owls are mortal enemies. But then he’ll think of an answer like: “Yes, if the owl is stuffed and mounted on the wall!” Then both ravens will start laughing in a coarse, throaty way that sounds rather painful, but it is just raven laughter. A good many raven jokes are about owls. This is because ravens fear owls. Owls prey on ravens and eat their young; they swoop down upon their victims soundlessly; they are cold-hearted killers. Ravens consider owls to be stupid and dangerous, which is why they get so upset when they hear people use the expression “as wise as an owl.” There isn’t an owl alive who is as clever as a raven. The most popular riddle ravens tell is the one about owls and sparrows. “How stupid is a sparrow?” the first will say. “As stupid as two owls!” the second will reply. After this, they will cackle with laughter and become fast friends. Why do ravens greet each other with a riddle? It is to tell the good ravens from the bad. This may surprise you, but long ago, ravens were our best friends. Ravens talked to us as easily as we talk to each other; they traded jokes and sang to babies to amuse them; they flew high above the fields and watched over our sheep; they led our fishing boats toward great schools of fish in the ocean. Out on the battlefields, as knights and soldiers lay wounded or dying, their faithful ravens would tend their wounds, give them medicine, or carry messages home for help. After one tragic battle long ago, a grim phantom of a bird appeared. It looked like a raven--the same beak, silky feathers, and dark talons--but its eyes glowed a sickly yellow that pierced the mist of