Guardians of the Gryphon's Claw (A Sam London Adventure)

Guardians of the Gryphon's Claw (A Sam London Adventure)

What if you learned mythical creatures were real and it was up to you to protect them...and save the world?  Introducing the epic new adventure series that School Library Journal said "is sure to keep lovers of Rick Riordan running to the shelves,"  and PopSugar named  one of the top twenty books that can be read after Harry Potter. When the extraordinary secret that mythical creatures are real is in danger of being exposed, painfully average middle schooler Sam London is recruited by the U.S. Department of Mythical Wildlife to safeguard these legendary animals and save the world as we know it.  He's going to need a hall pass for this... Haunted by a dream of a mythical gryphon, twelve-year-old Sam London uncovers an ancient secret that will change the way he sees the world forever. Recruited by Dr. Vance Vantana, an eccentric zoologist and park ranger sent by the government, Sam is whisked away on an adventure that takes him to the farthest reaches of the globe.  Along this journey, Sam learns an incredible truth: mythical creatures are real and living among us in our national parks!  A special department in the U.S. government ensures that their existence remains hidden. But Sam's dream is an omen that the secret may now be in danger!  A dark force seeks the power to expose these creatures and overthrow humankind—and that power can only be found in a magical talisman known as the gryphon's claw. Now it's up to Sam and Vance to find the claw and defeat their mysterious new enemy before the world as we know it ceases to exist ...Fortunately, they won't have to do it alone. They'll be joined by a charming dogman, who longs to be human, and an immortal young female warrior, who must face her destiny. It's time to step into an enchanting realm where creatures from mythologies around the world are brought to life in a timeless, suspense-filled adventure.  Reverberating with themes of friendship, bravery, and the age-old battle between good and evil, the first Sam London adventure is a captivating and exciting tale that is  perfect for fans of mythology, magical creatures, thrilling plot twists, and grand adventures set against the majestic backdrop of our world's most breathtaking national parks. Praised by Publisher's Weekly as a " death-defying, globe-spanning adventure, packed with creatures out of folklore and myth," and hailed as  "The American Harry Potter"  by New York Times bestselling author Martin Olson, "Guardians of the Gryphon's Claw" is a magical roller-coaster ride of an adventure about destiny, friendship, and the power of belief. Where the unbelievable becomes the undeniable and ordinary becomes the extraordinary...And the great mythic hero is found in the most average of places. So get ready to find out if trolls love pancakes, gryphon's hate cookies, dogmen eat biscuits, and if middle schooler Sam London can actually save the entire world! Heed your call to adventure and buy your copy today! Gr 5–7—Sam London is an ordinary 12-year-old boy looking for his "something special." He has recently been plagued by dreams of meeting with a gryphon named Phylassos, the guardian of all mythical creatures. Since Sam has always been intrigued by all things mythical, he decides to go where the dream takes place and see what he can find. This sets him on a whirlwind adventure where he quickly realizes that mythical creatures are real and live among humankind. He teams up with Dr. Vance Vantana of the Department of Mythical Wildlife to make sure that the Gryphon's Claw, the power that keeps mythical creatures hidden from humans, remains safe. This is a fun-filled start to a series that is sure to keep lovers of Rick Riordan running to the shelves. Gallicano's novel is longer than most books of this genre and can drag at times, but the plot is unique enough to keep dedicated readers motivated. Interspersed are elements from both Western and Eastern folklore, including mythical creatures not typically found in middle grade literature (the Aswang of Filipino folklore, for example). All of the characters are fully fleshed out, though there are a bit too many adult characters for a middle grade title. VERDICT A lengthy but entertaining story that is sure to intrigue middle graders fond of mythology.—Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn "A fun-filled start to a series that is sure to keep lovers of Rick Riordan running to the shelves. "- SLJ " A death-defying, globe-spanning adventure , packed with creatures out of folklore and myth....[ Guardians of the Gryphon's Claw is] a solid series opener and debut for Gallicano, who stocks his story with engaging characters, human, and otherwise."- Publishers Weekly “ So original and exciting. This is the best fantasy-adventure novel I have read in some time.”—Martin Olson, New York Times bestselling author of The Adventure Time Encyclopaedia Todd Gallicano is the author of Guardians of the Gryphon's Claw , the fi