{"product_id":"splinter-ash-9780063326279","title":"Splinter \u0026 Ash","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cstrong\u003eA winning addition to boundary-defying heroines\u003c\/strong\u003e like Alanna of Trebond and Sir Callie.\" --\u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly \u003c\/em\u003e(starred review)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"An exciting, twisty story packed with \u003cstrong\u003eeverything you want from a fantasy adventure\u003c\/strong\u003e: hidden tunnels, long-buried secrets, dastardly plots, and, best of all, irresistible protagonists who uncover it all.\" --Anne Ursu, author of\u003cem\u003e Not Quite a Ghost \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/em\u003ebestselling author Marieke Nijkamp's immersive middle grade fantasy, two young misfits embark on a dangerous quest to save their kingdom--and each other. For fans of B. B. Alston's \u003cem\u003eAmari and the Night Brothers, \u003c\/em\u003eSoman Chainani's \u003cem\u003eSchool for Good and Evil, \u003c\/em\u003eand Tamora Pierce's Tortall books.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the eve of her twelfth birthday, all Princess Adelisa\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e--\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAsh\u003c\/em\u003e to her friends--wants to do is run away. The palace doesn't feel like home. Her mother is holding the war-torn kingdom together by a thread. Her brother bullies her. And the masked ball to celebrate her birthday turns into a nightmare when the nobles openly mock her. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen Ash meets Splinter. Fierce, brave, and adventurous, Splinter dreams of becoming a knight like her older brother, though only noble sons get to \u003cem\u003ebe\u003c\/em\u003e squires. Until now.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere's never been a princess's squire before, but Ash decides it's the perfect solution. Together, they can face the bullies, snobs, gossips, and disapproving families.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut as their friendship grows, Splinter and Ash discover a deadly conspiracy of nobles planning to overthrow the queen. When Ash is kidnapped, Splinter must navigate long-held secrets and dangerous plots. Ash needs to be a princess who saves herself. And they both have to find a way back to each other to save the kingdom, together.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe first in a trilogy, bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp's \u003cem\u003eSplinter \u0026amp; Ash\u003c\/em\u003e evokes the classic adventure and atmosphere of fantasies by Lloyd Alexander and Tamora Pierce and the fresh, inclusive lens of writers such as Rick Riordan, Angie Thomas, and Soman Chainani. It invites everyone--no matter who they are or what they look like--to fight for what they believe in.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNijkamp, Marieke:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMarieke Nijkamp \u003c\/strong\u003e(she\/they)\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eis the author of \u003cem\u003eSplinter \u0026amp; Ash; Ink Girls, \u003c\/em\u003e a middle grade graphic novel illustrated by Sylvia Bi; as well as several books for young adults, which include #1 \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestsellers, a critically acclaimed anthology, graphic novels, and comics. She studied philosophy and medieval history, and when she isn't writing, she loves to garden, roll dice, and daydream. Marieke Nijkamp lives and writes in Small Town, the Netherlands.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greenwillow Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51346572116242,"sku":"9780063326279","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_87738471-e6e0-46ec-b114-5d285ac3de1d.jpg?v=1749050069","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/splinter-ash-9780063326279","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}