by: C.W. Allen
Series: The Falinnheim Chronicles
Genre: Middle-Grade Adventure Fantasy
Release Date: June 7, 2022
Publisher: Cinnabar Moth Publishing
Amazon | Paperback | Hardcover | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
For Zed and Tuesday, adjusting to life in modern-meets-medieval Falinnheim means normal is relative. Lots of kids deal with moving, starting new schools, and doing chores. But normally, those schools aren't in underground bunkers full of secret agents, and the chore list doesn't involve herding dodos. The one thing that hasn't changed: all the adults treat them like they're invisible.
When a security breach interrupts a school field trip, the siblings find themselves locked out of the Resistance base. With the adults trapped inside, it's up to Tuesday, Zed, and their friends to save the day. And for once, being ignored and underestimated is coming in handy. After all, who would suspect a bunch of kids are capable of taking down the intruders that captured their families, let alone the murderous dictator that put them into hiding in the first place?
Turns out invisibility might just have its benefits.
I love the title and the advantage it potentially gives the kids. If you had the ability to be invisible what would you do, where would you go, and why? And would you use your ability for good or bad?
Thanks! The "invisibility" referenced in the title isn't being invisible in the literal sense, but more like FEELING invisible by being ignored and underestimated. I think this is a feeling all kids can relate to, so I wanted to tie the title in with the book's theme. In The Secret Benefits of Invisibility, an elderly character teaches the kids to take everyone's patronizing assumptions about children and old people and use those to their advantage. The people you'd least suspect can make the best spies!
In the literal sense, I do think I would enjoy being invisible once in a while. (Definitely not ALL the time, though! I'd like to be able to turn it on and off.) I don't know that I would use this power in really dramatic ways for good OR bad, but maybe more subtle opportunities to just observe without being bothered or feeling self conscious. If I was invisible, I could browse in the library as long as I want without feeling like I look lost or need help. I could attend a class or a meeting without needing to make small talk, remember anyone's name, or accept assignments. If I'm reading or writing and don't want to be bothered, I could disappear until I was ready to be with my friends and family again. Maybe if I got bored with this I might come up with some heroic way to be a spy or something for the good guys, but I'd definitely start with boring everyday opportunities.
"You ducklings get a good night's sleep," Obaachan called from her bed. "We've got a big day tomorrow."
This was news to everyone, including the captain. "What's happening tomorrow?" Solomon asked, squinting suspiciously at her. On the hammock tree, heads popped up all over the upper branches.
"Our next operation, of course."
Solomon laughed, but it didn't strike Tuesday as a "what a great joke" kind of laugh. More like a "the thing you just said is so ridiculous I must have misheard you" laugh.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm," he said, "but half my agents are still off checking the other safe houses. I won't be making any new plans until they report back."
Now it was Obaachan's turn to laugh. "Good thing your agents aren't invited, then. I have a few plans of my own. Don't fret yourself, pigeon—the children and I will handle it."
"My Operations team is leading this—" he started, but Obaachan cut him off.
"Don't forget I outrank you," she said sternly.
Solomon and Corvus exchanged a glance. "Does she?" Corvus mouthed silently.
Solomon shook his head.
"Call it seniority, then. Can't argue with me there!"
Solomon folded his arms. "And this plan involves the children how, exactly?"
"Well we can't exactly show up in Anduvia with a bunch of well-trained, competent-looking people, now can we? You'd have Tyrren's informants on your tail the moment you set foot in town. Obviously, this operation calls for a more specialized skill set."
Orion cut in, speaking slowly while his tongue caught up to his thoughts. It was like he was trying to puzzle out the answer to Q minus Purple. "You need the specialized skills…of people with no training whatsoever?"
"Exactly," said Obaachan, rolling over and fluffing her pillow. "You can't teach someone how to be invisible."
This was news to everyone, including the captain. "What's happening tomorrow?" Solomon asked, squinting suspiciously at her. On the hammock tree, heads popped up all over the upper branches.
"Our next operation, of course."
Solomon laughed, but it didn't strike Tuesday as a "what a great joke" kind of laugh. More like a "the thing you just said is so ridiculous I must have misheard you" laugh.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm," he said, "but half my agents are still off checking the other safe houses. I won't be making any new plans until they report back."
Now it was Obaachan's turn to laugh. "Good thing your agents aren't invited, then. I have a few plans of my own. Don't fret yourself, pigeon—the children and I will handle it."
"My Operations team is leading this—" he started, but Obaachan cut him off.
"Don't forget I outrank you," she said sternly.
Solomon and Corvus exchanged a glance. "Does she?" Corvus mouthed silently.
Solomon shook his head.
"Call it seniority, then. Can't argue with me there!"
Solomon folded his arms. "And this plan involves the children how, exactly?"
"Well we can't exactly show up in Anduvia with a bunch of well-trained, competent-looking people, now can we? You'd have Tyrren's informants on your tail the moment you set foot in town. Obviously, this operation calls for a more specialized skill set."
Orion cut in, speaking slowly while his tongue caught up to his thoughts. It was like he was trying to puzzle out the answer to Q minus Purple. "You need the specialized skills…of people with no training whatsoever?"
"Exactly," said Obaachan, rolling over and fluffing her pillow. "You can't teach someone how to be invisible."
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C.W. Allen is a Nebraskan by birth, a Texan by experience, a Hoosier by marriage, and a Utahn by geography. She knew she wanted to be a writer the moment she read The Westing Game at age twelve, but took a few detours along the way as a veterinary nurse, an appliance repair secretary, and a homeschool parent.
She recently settled in the high desert of rural Utah with her husband, their three children, and a noisy flock of orphaned ideas. Someday she will create literary homes for all of them. (The ideas, not her family.)
Relatively Normal Secrets (Cinnabar Moth Publishing, Fall 2021) is her debut novel. She writes fantasy novels for tweens, picture books for children, and short stories and poems for former children. Her work will appear in numerous anthologies in 2021. She is also a frequent guest presenter at writing conferences and club meetings, which helps her procrastinate knuckling down to any actual writing.
Places to find C.W. Allen:
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteI love the cover, synopsis and excerpt, this sounds like a wonderful story to share with my grandchildren. Thank you for sharing your guest post and book details and for offering a giveaway
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Bea. I have to agree, I think this sounds like a good series.
DeleteI would love to be invisible at times, how about you?
ReplyDeleteTracie, if you ACTUALLY read the guest post that C.W. took the time to write, you wouldn't be asking your question, because she already answered it.
DeleteI like the cover and excerpt. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Thanks for stopping by. Good luck.
DeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteI understand what the author meant by invisibility
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read
ReplyDelete