Basil & Dahlia: A Tragical Tale of Sinister Sweetness

(Paperback, Reprint)

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Description

Two orphan siblings with truly terrible luck battle an evil celebrity chef in this bitingly humorous and appealingly weird (Publishers Weekly) illustrated middle grade romp in the vein of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Its hard to imagine things could get worse after ones parents die in a greenhouse explosion. But that is precisely what happens to Basil and his younger sister, Dahlia. They escape from the social worker who wants to split them up to different foster homes by jumping off a moving train, only to find themselves wounded (Dahlia) and bedraggled (Basil) and without a soul to care for them. Whats more, theyre lost in the wilds of New York City.

Famished and alone, they wander into Cravings, the delectable bakery owned by Laurel Fox, disgraced celebrity chef with a soft spot for poor, hungry orphans. When she offers them luxurious accommodations and all the clairs they can eat, Basil and Dahlia dare to hope their luck has changed at last. But the savvy reader will know it cant be as simple as all that! Laurel Fox is out for redemption, and shell do anything to get the sinister secret ingredient she requires.

Reviews

A quirky, lightly magical mystery filled with mouthwatering food and sinister adults. . . . McCullough's character work shines: the titular heroes struggle with guilt over their parents' demise even as they consistently support each other; the creative yet dastardly villains are only outshone by the everyday workers who step up to help. . . . Stark, stylized illustrations from Cluskey (The Sackville Street Caper) are perfectly creepy and help set the unconventional tone." -- Shelf Awareness
"[A] bitingly humorous and appealingly weird action-adventure narrative studded with surreal illustrations by Cluskey." -- Publishers Weekly * 4/29/24 *
A cross between A Series of Unfortunate Events and Hansel and Gretel, this is a whimsical and suspenseful story about two formerly homeschooled orphans. . . . Fans of Lemony Snicket and Western fairy tales will devour this darkly humorous read. -- School Library Journal * 5/1/24 *
. . . the piquant tale is rich in twists made all the more delicious by Cluskeys retro-style illustrations and the narratives mildly gothic tone. -- Booklist
"[A] comically arch third-person narrator. . . a pleasingly over-the-top villain surrounded by ridiculously self-serving sycophants . . . edgy, stylish, black-and-white illustrations that have a retro feeling and enhance the drama. A deliciously satisfying romp." -- Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

Joy McCulloughwrites books and plays from her home in the Seattle area, where she lives with her husband and two children.She is the author of the middle grade novelsAcross the Pond,A Field Guide to Getting Lost,Not Starring Zadie Louise,Code Red, andBasil & Dahlia, as well as the middle grade series Team Awkward,and the picture booksHarriets Ruffled Feathers,Champ and Major: First Dogs, andThe Story of a Book. Her debut novelBlood Water Paintwas longlisted for the National Book Award and was a William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist. Visit her at JoyMcCullough.com.

Shane Cluskey is an illustrator from Galway, Ireland. His work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators and by American Illustration, and he has worked with such clients as theNew Yorker,The Wall Street Journal,andThe Washington Post. His favorite dessert is a warm chocolate brownie covered in ice cream (without the secret ingredient). You can see more of his work at ShaneCluskey.com.