The Ghost Drum

Ages 8-12

The Ghost World Sequence, book #1

Alone in a world of darkness and ice, a shaman and a prince long for an end to loneliness.

In the darkest hour of a freezing Midwinter, a night-walking witch begs a slave-woman to give away her new-born baby. The witch carries off the baby in her house on chicken legs. She names her Chingis and teacher her the Three Magics. Chingis grows into such a powerful witch that she rouses the jealousy of Kuzma, the bear-shaman.

The Czar of this cold realm fears his new-born son, Safa, will out-do him, and so imprisons the baby at the top of a tall tower, to live and die there without ever glimpsing the real world.

Loneliness and confinement drive him half-mad until Chingis hears the crying of his trapped spirit and frees him. But now their enemies unite against them, with steel and deadly magic. Chingis and Safa’s fight for freedom will take them even through the Ghost World Gate into the Land of the Dead.

If you love timeless, atmospheric tales of fierce magic, then you’ll love this Carnegie winning classic.