From three-time Newbery Honor-winning author Christina Soontornvat comes a compelling and immersive young middle grade fantasy series for readers who love stories about animals, magic, and kids like them embracing their power to change the world!

LEGENDS OF LOTUS ISLAND SERIES
(Books 1 to 4)
by Christina Soontornvat
illustrated by Kevin Hong
Scholastic, 2023 – 2024
(via Writers House)

In Book 1, THE GUARDIAN TEST, young Plum is shocked to discover that she’s been accepted to the Guardian Academy on Lotus Island, an elite school where kids learn how to transform into Guardians, magical creatures who are sworn to protect the natural world. The Guardian masters teach Plum and her friends how to communicate with animals and how to use meditation to strengthen their minds and bodies. All the kids also learn to fight, so they can protect the defenseless if needed.

To her dismay, Plum struggles at school. While her classmates begin to transform into amazing creatures, Plum can’t even seem to magic up a single feather! If she can’t embrace her inner animal form soon, she’ll have to leave school ― and lose the first group of real friends she’s ever known.

Good Housekeeping 2023 Kids’ Book Award

“Deftly combines a Thai-inspired setting, familiar fantasy tropes, and themes of nature conservation to craft a mystical series kickoff.” —Publishers Weekly

“A promising beginning to a series ready to introduce readers to both the fantasy genre and a beautiful and mysterious new world. . . Themes of friendship and environmentalism combine in this magical school story.” —Kirkus

Christina Soontornvat is the award-winning author of over twenty books for children. She has received the Newbery Honor award three separate times, for The Last Mapmaker, A Wish in the Dark, and All Thirteen, and she is the only author to be awarded Newbery Honors for both fiction and nonfiction in the same year.