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Title details for The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd - Available

The Key to Extraordinary

by Natalie Lloyd
Kate Simses
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
Dream Big. Be Extraordinary.

Everyone in Emma's family is special. Her ancestors include Revolutionary War spies, brilliant scientists, and famous musicians—every single one of which learned of their extraordinary destiny through a dream. For Emma, her own dream can't come soon enough. Right before her mother died, Emma promised that she'd do whatever it took to fulfill her destiny, and she doesn't want to let her mother down. But when Emma's dream finally arrives, it points her toward an impossible task—finding a legendary treasure hidden in her town's cemetery. If Emma fails, she'll let down generations of extraordinary ancestors . . . including her own mother. But how can she find something that's been missing for centuries and might be protected by a mysterious singing ghost? With her signature blend of lyrical writing, quirky humor, and unforgettable characters, Natalie Lloyd's The Key to Extraordinary cements her status as one of the most original voices writing for children today.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 1, 2017

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781338249880
      • File size: 151239 KB
      • Duration: 05:15:04

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Lexile® Measure: 670
    • Text Difficulty: 3

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 8, 2016
      In a folksy tale laced with supernatural mystery, Lloyd (A Snicker of Magic) poetically conveys the depth of 12-year-old Emma's emotions as she embarks on a quest to uncover a legendary secret. Except for the times when Emma is overcome by "the Big Empty," a feeling she gets when she misses her recently deceased mother, she is an ordinary girl. Still, there are things in her Blackbird Hollow home that are extraordinary, like flowers with magical powers, the haunted graveyard just beyond her house, the tantalizing "Boneyard Brew" served in her grandmother's cafe, and The Book of Days, which records the "destiny dreams" of her ancestors (interspersed through the story). When her grandmother, plagued by money worries, considers selling the family business, Emma is determined to save the cafe by finding treasure, reputedly buried in the graveyard. The book's evocative setting and cast of eccentric minor characters will draw readers into Emma's worldâone warmed by friendship, love, and hopeâto share in her discovery that the most valuable treasures lie within. Ages 8â12. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary & Media.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Kate Simses's portrayal of 12-year-old Emma is youthful, spunky, and, at times, tinged with the sadness of "the Big Empty," a feeling that began with the recent death of Emma's mother. Simses's Southern accents give a sense of Black Bird Hollow and the Boneyard Café, owned by Emma's tattooed, motorcycle-riding Granny Blue. Doing great justice to Lloyd's colorful descriptions and flights of fancy, Simses skips through unique similes, heightens the tension of the haunted graveyard, and bursts into the songs embedded in the story. Her expression of the magical words and situations is as strong as her voicing of Emma's confusion about the Destiny Dream that will steer her future. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:670
  • Text Difficulty:3

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