The Sacred Seal

Brenda Baltensperger is a playwright, a director of children’s
theatre, an editor of children’s fiction, and the author of Fractured
Fairy-tales.

Sam is unhappy about moving from his old neighborhood and school. His
parents have bought a rambling New England house in order to set up an
art gallery. After bedding down in the new house one night, Sam hears a
faint rustling and sees a light shining out from under an old bookcase
left behind by the previous owner. Beneath the bookcase, a little brown
mouse is studying a piece of paper and muttering to itself. “Please
come out, I won’t hurt you,” says Sam.

The “mouse” turns out to be a tiny person, dressed in a mouse suit,
named Mr. Goodfellow. Mr. Goodfellow belongs to a family group called
The Sage, which has helped scientists, inventors, and artists with their
technical and creative problems for generations. The professor, who used
to live in the house Sam’s parents moved into, has disappeared
mysteriously together with Mr. Goodfellow’s nephew, Edgar. Sam agrees
to help Mr. Goodfellow find both the professor and Edgar. The Sage’s
evil nemesis is The Fen. These are dark shadowy beings that try to
destroy The Sage by draining away their life force. Mr. Goodfellow
relates several of his adventures to Sam, and then they set off together
on their quest.

This adventure story is full of mystery and anticipation as it explores
the struggle between good and evil. An exciting cliffhanger will whet
the young reader’s appetite for the next two volumes in this trilogy.
Highly recommended.