Revell, Mike

"Ever since his mother died, 11-year-old Owen has felt lost. He's drifting apart from his dad, his grades are dropping, and the only thing keeping him sane are the soccer trials coming up. Then, in the middle of school one day, he is sucked out of real life and thrown into a desolate alternative world, a largely deserted wasteland where a menacing storm of Darkness plagues the city, threatening hislife and the lives of the people who dwell there. Terrifying as this new world is, Owen recognizes it--his dad is an author, and this is the setting of his new novel. Fueled by his grief over the loss of his mom, Owen's dad has conjured a world so real and so fraught that Owen is transported to it every time his dad sets pen to paper. And he has to live out every word in the story. But each jump devours chunks of his real life. Owen misses days of school, and even a key soccer game that threatens his chances of having a shot at appearing in the tryouts at all. Owen desperately wants these events to stop, but doesn't want to plunge his dad any further into the well of unhappiness that threatens to drown them both. With social services threatening to ship Owen off to his aunt's house and his school career spiraling out of control, what if finishing the story and battling the Darkness is the only way Owen can save himself . . . and his dad?"--Publisher.

After eleven-year-old Liam moves to the home of his grandmother, who has dementia, with his sister and his alcoholic mother, he copes with his difficulties by befriending a stone gargoyle.

"When ten-year-old Liam's family moves to be near his grandmother who is suffering from dementia, he must navigate a new neighborhood, a new school, and his grandmother's illness all by hiimself. It isn't easy for Liam. Walking his dog one day, Liam discovers an old stone gargoyle in a rundown church, and suddenly he knows that his life is about to change forever. The gargoyle has the ability to come to life, acting out stories that Liam imagines. For the first time in his life, Liam discovers the power of storytelling to help deal with things that are really tough to talk about. Unfortunately, Liam also learns that stories can sometimes be dangerous. When one of the bullies at school is seriously injured in a way that sounds suspiciously like what happens in a story he made up, Liam decides to stay away from the gargoyle for good. But his grandmother's illness is getting worse, his mom is having trouble coping, and his sister is skipping school. What if the gargoyle--as dangerous as it may be--is the only thing that can save Liam's family?"--Dust jacket.