About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels like their unique talents or creative hobbies make them an outsider. This story is an excellent tool for children who are beginning to navigate the tension between following rules and following their own internal spark. In a Renaissance-inspired world where art is a forbidden magic, twelve-year-old Giacomo discovers he has a Genius, a birdlike creature that embodies his soul. He must find a way to train his abilities in secret to save his world from a villain who seeks to control all creativity. While the setting is high-fantasy, the emotional core deals with the universal middle-school experience of finding your 'tribe' and learning that being different is actually a source of strength. It is perfectly suited for the 8 to 12 age range, offering a fast-paced adventure that validates the importance of self-expression and the courage it takes to be an artist in a world that demands conformity.
