Jeremy can hear voices. But when he admits this, the townspeople of Never Better treat him like an outsider. Life has been tough after his mother left and his father became a recluse, but one voice in particular proves his salvation: the voice of the ghost of Jacob Grimm. Jacob watches over Jeremy, protecting him from an unknown dark evil whispered about in the space between this world and the next. But when a provocative local girl Ginger takes an interest in Jeremy (and his unique abilities), a heartbreaking chain of events is put into motion. And as anyone familiar with the Grimm Brothers know, not all fairy tales have happy endings...

In a small town where nothing ever happens, everything is about to change...

About the Author
Tom McNeal was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, but spent part of every summer at the Nebraska farm where his mother grew up. After earning a BA in English at UC Berkeley and an MFA in Creative Writing at UC Irvine, he became a teacher. He now lives in southern California with his wife and two sons.

Reviews
"Sprightly, assured, and original" The Horn Book Review "Whether readers connect more deeply with the suspense, the magical elements, or the gloriously improbable love story, they will come away with a lingering taste of enchantment." School Library Journal "A fantastic tale, seamlessly told." -- Ann Giles The Bookwitch "McNeal weaves in fantastical fairy-tale details into this inventive and deeply poignant narrative, creating a world that hovers between realism and enchantment" Publishers Weekly "Reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel, and rife with allusions to Grimm Brothers' tales, this is a masterful story of outcasts, the power of faith, and the triumph of good over evil." Booklist



Book Information
ISBN 9780857551269
Author Tom McNeal
Format Hardback
Page Count 384
Imprint Jonathan Cape Ltd
Publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK
Weight(grams) 628g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 164mm * 37mm