Promotional Information

An unforgettable novel from one of America's greatest living storytellers, 'Summerland' is about redemption and the true nature of heroism. Ethan, is a young hero on a quest though the strange world of American Faery. Since baseball is the favourite game of American fairies, or 'ferishers' as the North American Fairy Folk call themselves, this is necessarily a story of baseball, too. Zeppelins, werefoxes, Indians and Indian mythology, sasquatches, wendigos, Alaska, the haunted, 161-year-old husk of George Armstrong Custer, and a boy who thinks he's an android, also figure in the action. Along the way, the hero and heroine find themselves and each other; a band of Ferishers triumphs over their ancient enemy and finally find someone new to play baseball against; a widower's heart will heal as his airship conquers the Northern sky; and a burned out Colombian slugger named Rodrigo Buendia will find redemption in discovering, with Ethan Feld and Jennifer T. Rideout, the true nature of heroism. / A delighful and imaginative quest through the realms of fantasy -- a group of young children attempt to save the world from destruction by playing baseball -- from the talented Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author, Michael Chabon. / 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay' won the Pulitzer Prize in 2001 has sold in excess of 44,000 copies in the UK and 'The Yiddish Policemen's Union' has already sold over 7,000 copies in hardback to date. / 'Summerland' is Michael Chabon's first book for children, though it will also appeal strongly to a crossover adult audience. / To be promoted alongside the rest of Chabon's repackaged backlist.

About the Author

Michael Chabon is the author of two collections of stories for adults, 'A Model World' and 'Werewolves in their Youth'; a children's book, 'Summerland'; the novels 'The Mysteries of Pittsburgh', 'Wonder Boys' (which has been made into a film), 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay' (winner of the Pulitzer Prize); and the short story 'The Final Solution'. His most recent work is 'The Yiddish Policemen's Union'. He also co-wrote the screenplay for Spiderman 2. His short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, GQ, Esquire and Playboy. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their four children.

Reviews

'An epic fantasy for modern America.' Sunday Times 'Chabon's quirky, fluent style holds no hint of condescension and is sprinkled with wry remarks that will delight the young teenager.' Daily Telegraph 'Perhaps the surest sign of "Summerland's success is how the language of Chabon's fictional universe stays with you and the way he achieves a sweet genuinely affecting ending.' Time Out Praise for 'The Yiddish Policemen's Union': 'His almost ecstatically smart and sassy new novel!Chabon is a spectacular writer!a language magician. He has you laughing out loud, applauding the fun he has with language and the way he takes the task of a writer and runs delighted rings around it.' Guardian 'Michael Chabon's brilliant new novel starts with a bang!It hums with humour. It buzzes with gags!the accumulated reading experience is one of admiration, close to awe, at the vigour of Chabon's imagination!a hilarious, antic whirl of a novel.' Sunday Times 'It makes film noir look like film blanc by comparison.' Arena Praise for 'The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay': 'An adventure story that keeps you up until 4am with the bedside lamp on, eager to learn if the Escapist, and Chabon himself, can free the enslaved and lead them home.' Observer 'Proof of the abiding power of complex, serious, engaged, but above all entertaining story-telling.' Times Literary Supplement 'A page-turning epic, sketching World War II as seen through the eyes of two comic book writers.' Time Out 'A novel of towering achievement.' New York Times 'Absolutely gosh-wow, super-colossal.' Washington Post Praise for 'Wonder Boys': 'The natural exuberance and extravagance of Chabon's writing is matched by dazzling wit.' Sunday Telegraph '"Wonder Boys" is a superb creation, a raucously comic yet deeply lyrical work.' Sunday Times

Gr 5 Up-Ethan Feld, a less-than-mediocre Little League player, is recruited by Ringfinger Brown, an old-timer from the Negro Leagues, to play in the ball game of his life-and save the world. Ethan lives on Clam Island, WA, where a place called Summerland exists. It is a link to alternate worlds where fantastic creatures reside, ruled by the trickster Coyote, who has decided that he wants to put an end to the world. Ethan, an unlikely hero, begins his journey accompanied by his friends Jennifer T. Rideout and Thor Wignutt. Along the way, they face many obstacles (with outcomes often determined by baseball games) and are joined by all sorts of beings: a Sasquatch, a talking rat, a tiny giant, a major league ball player, and characters that readers may remember from legends and fairy tales. Readers will identify with Ethan and his motley crew with their insecurities, longings, family problems, and their sometimes clumsy ingenuity. Packed with magic, adventure, myth, and America's favorite pastime, this book will enchant its audience.-Kimberly L. Paone, Elizabeth Public Library, NJ Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.