Land of Elyon #01: The Land of Elyon Book 1: The Dark Hills Divide

Twelve-year-old Alexa Daley is spending another summer in Bridewell with her father. She looks forward to exploring the old lodge where she stays each year, with its cozy library and maze of passages and rooms. She's also eager to finally solve the mystery of what lies beyond the immense walls that were built to keep out an unnamed evil that lurks in the forests and The Dark Hills - an evil the townspeople are still afraid of. As Alexa begins to unravel the truth about what lies outside the protective barrier she's lived behind all her life, she discovers a strange and ancient enchantment. Armed with an unexpected new power, Alexa exposes a danger that could destroy everything she holds dear - and change The Land of Elyon forever.

"There's a new heroine in the adventure-fantasy realm, and she's got plenty of smarts and girl-power drive, skillfully conveyed by Vigesaa's confident and well-paced reading. Twelve-year-old Alexa Daley spearheads this first book in a trilogy filled with such exciting, if perhaps familiar, elements as a dangerous quest, sinister enemies, talking animals, magical powers and far-away kingdoms. Though Alexa has lived inside a walled town her entire life, she longs to know what's outside. Her brave and ill-advised journey beyond the wall sets in motion a suspenseful tale about what lurks in the wild forests of the Dark Hills. Vigesaa nimbly distinguishes different character voices without too much vocal fanfare and without missing a beat. Listeners will want to stick with her on this thrilling ride. Ages 9-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)