{"product_id":"9781250196958","title":"This Was Our Pact","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eThis Was Our Pact\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Ryan Andrews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA 2019 \u003ci\u003eBooklist \u003c\/i\u003eEditor's Choice\u003cbr\u003eA 2019 \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e Best Books of the Year\u003cbr\u003eA 2019 \u003ci\u003eParents Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e Best Children's Books of the Year\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRyan Andrews's \u003ci\u003eThis Was Our Pact\u003c\/i\u003e is an astonishing, magical-realist adventure story for middle-grade readers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt's the night of the annual Autumn Equinox Festival, when the town gathers to float paper lanterns down the river. Legend has it that after drifting out of sight, they'll soar off to the Milky Way and turn into brilliant stars, but could that actually be true? This year, Ben and his classmates are determined to find out where those lanterns really go, and to ensure success in their mission, they've made a pact with two simple rules: No one turns for home. No one looks back.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe plan is to follow the river on their bikes for as long as it takes to learn the truth, but it isn't long before the pact is broken by all except for Ben and (much to Ben's disappointment) Nathaniel, the one kid who just doesn't seem to fit in.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTogether, Nathaniel and Ben will travel farther than anyone has ever gone, down a winding road full of magic, wonder, and unexpected friendship*.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e*And a talking bear.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"An original and much-needed view of the complex world of middle-school friendships.\" —\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Andrews' marvelously melancholic, earnest graphic novel, [is] at its core an exercise in whimsical self-reflection. This story's a quiet one in which danger flickers and hope flares at odd but fruitful moments...the primarily blue and red mixed-media pictures underscore how nighttime sometimes promises transformation. Brilliantly enchanting.\" —\u003ci\u003eKirkus, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003es\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003etarred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"Andrews crafts a phantasmagoria of events that recall animation from Studio Ghibli and Cartoon Saloon...picaresque episodes and a dreamlike resolution conjure a giddy sensation, like staying up all night. \" \u003ci\u003e—Publishers Weekly, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003estarred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Richly imagined and complexly emotional... [\u003ci\u003eThis was Our Pact\u003c\/i\u003e] may owe some of its eerie melancholy and occasionally menacing absurdity to the likes of Lewis Carroll and Shaun Tan, but its message is distinctly its own: what you imagine to be the end of the journey may be satisfying, but the adventure actually goes on as long as you keep riding down the road.\" \u003ci\u003e—Booklist,\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cb\u003estarred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003c\/b\u003eFor readers who want an escapist fantasy with a light touch. Hand this title to fans of whimsical or unpredictable adventures such as Neil Gaiman’s\u003ci\u003e Fortunately, the Milk\u003c\/i\u003e or Madeleine L’Engle’s \u003ci\u003eA Wrinkle in Time\u003c\/i\u003e.\" \u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cb\u003estarred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003c\/b\u003eAn enthralling tale of friendship, determination, and wonder.\" —\u003ci\u003eHorn Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A great starting point for fantasy lovers who haven’t yet embraced graphic novels.\" —\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLong-listed Amazon.com Best Books of the Year (2019), Long-listed Parents Magazine, Best Children's Books of the Year (2019), Long-listed Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year (2019), Long-listed Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year (2019), Nominated Eisner Award Nominee (2020), Long-listed NYTBR Notable Children's BOTY (2019)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250196958\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"First Second","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":40708893999310,"sku":"9781250196958","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250196958","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}