Lost Rainforest #1: Mez's Magic

Eliot Schrefer is the New York Times bestselling author of many books for kids and teens, including The Darkness Outside Us and its sequel, The Brightness Between Us, as well as Charming Young Man, Endangered, Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality, and the picture book Lulu and the Others. His books have twice been named finalists for the National Book Award in Young People’s Literature and have garnered a Printz Honor, a Stonewall Honor, and the Green Earth Book Award. He is on the faculty of the creative writing MFA program at Hamline University and lives with his husband in New York City. Visit him online at eliotschrefer.com.

PRAISE FOR RESCUED: “[T]he portrayal of Raja as an intelligent, complex individual is gripping and heartbreaking. Schrefer continues to be a vital voice for wildlife conservation and ape empathy.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Schrefer, a well-deserving two-time National Book Award finalist, approaches the conundrums and difficulties of our relationship with apes with sensitivity and finesse... enthralling, fast-paced, adventurous and deeply touching.” — New York Times Book Review“While the story is pure fast-paced fantasy, the underlying issues are real. Ignorance among the species, racism, and intolerance of differences are rampant. An author’s note highlights the beauty and importance of the rainforest. Magic with depth in this new series stunner.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Mez’s Magic is packed with as many jokes as fast-paced fight scenes. And Schrefer has created a stock of memorable characters—including Gogi, a monkey with self-esteem issues; Rumi, a delightfully urbane tree frog; and a manic, pixie-dream bat named Lima.” — New York Times Book Review“Just right for middle grade readers who want an engrossing fantasy adventure.” — School Library Journal“With a memorable, quick-bantering cast, this kickoff to the Lost Rainforest series, a playful departure from Schrefer’s ape novels, brings fresh perspective to the magical animal subgenre. And, despite the fantasy setup, readers will come away learning quite a bit about this ecosystem and its inhabitants.” — Publishers Weekly“Sometimes during an act of heroism, it’s the savior who ends up being saved. Such is the case in Eliot Schrefer’s dazzling, big-hearted novel Endangered…As riveting as the action is, it’s the nuanced portraits of the characters, human and ape, that make the story so deeply affecting.” — New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice“Clearly written from the heart.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)“A well-researched tale of jungle survival… the lessons Sophie learns about her childhood home, love and what it means to be endangered will resonate with readers… a great next read for fans of our nearest ape cousins or survival adventure.” — Kirkus Reviews“A poignant and moving story.” — School Library Journal“The Lost Rainforest feels unlike anything I’ve read. Eliot Schrefer has mined the richness and depths of his setting to find a deeper magic, immersing us in a world that is at once complex, dangerous, beautiful, and ultimately demanding of our protection. Meticulously researched and superbly written, this novel is a thrilling start to an exceptional new series.” — Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of the School for Good and Evil series“The Lost Rainforest feels unlike anything I’ve read. Eliot Schrefer has mined the richness and depths of his setting to find a deeper magic, immersing us in a world that is at once complex, dangerous, beautiful, and ultimately demanding of our protection. A thrilling start to an exceptional new series.” — Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of the School for Good and Evil series“This is a book that combines skillful interpretation of orangutan character, the cruelty inherent in keeping apes as pets, and the plight of the wild orangutans. Eliot has created unforgettable characters in Raja, the orphaned ape and his human “brother”, John. Moving, fascinating and eye opening.” — Dr. Jane Goodall“Schrefer beautifully shows the humanity we share with all living things.” — School Library Journal“Well researched and emotionally rich.” — The Horn BookPRAISE FOR THREATENED: “Engrossing action and characters readers will keep thinking about in a splendid survival story.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Schrefer’s passion for the material and empathy for the characters shows on every page, and his non-human subjects are every bit as complex and fascinating as narrator Luc.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)PRAISE FOR ENDANGERED: “Eliot Schrefer grounds this taut, heart-wrenching tale in details gleaned from his work on a similar sanctuary and paints vivid portraits of intelligent, peaceful primates.” — Washington Post