Lisa McMann lives in Arizona. She is married to fellow writer and musician, Matt McMann, and they have two adult children. Her son is an artist named Kilian McMann and her daughter is an actor, Kennedy McMann. Lisa is the New York Times bestselling author of over two dozen books for young adults and children. So far she has written in genres including paranormal, realistic, dystopian, and fantasy. Some of her most well-known books are The Unwanteds series for middle grade readers and the Wake trilogy for young adults. Check out Lisa's website at LisaMcMann.com, learn more about The Unwanteds Series at UnwantedsSeries.com, and be sure to say hi on Instagram or Twitter (@Lisa_McMann), or Facebook (Facebook.com/McMannFan).
The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter in this middle-grade departure
from McMann's string of paranormal mysteries with romance for young
adults. On the day of Purge in totalitarian Quill, which is run by
the High Priest Justine, 13-year-olds learn if they are deemed
Wanted to attend the university, Necessary to tend the land or
Unwanted and purged by execution. Without a good-bye from his
Wanted identical brother Aaron, Alex Stowe and the other Unwanteds
travel to the Death Farm. Instead of death, they meet the lush and
magical world of Artime, kept secret from Justine by mage Marcus
Today. In a third-person narration characterized by even pacing and
whimsical inventions, Alex and his peers learn that their
creativity threatened Justine's power. Surrounded by talking
blackboards, transporting tubes and such fantastical creatures as
an octagator (with the head of an alligator and body of an octopus)
for instructors, the teens hone their drawing, music and acting
skills while also wielding paintbrushes for invisibility spells and
iambic pentameter to stun attackers during Magical Warrior
Training, in preparation for battle against the Quillitary. As the
youths explore fear, responsibility and free thinking, their spells
may be used sooner than they think when Alex's twin bond is tested
and rivals vie for Aaron's new position in Justine's government.
Blending elements from two popular genres, this is sure to be a
double hit. - "KIRKUS, "April 15, 2011
"Imagination runs wild in this creative adventure." --#1 "New York
Times" bestselling author Brandon Mull
"Reading Lisa McMann's THE UNWANTEDS was like discovering a
brilliant, lost children's classic--except it's never going to be
lost, because readers will never, ever forget the magic they'll
experience in its pages." --James A. Owen, author and Illustrator
of HERE, THERE BE DRAGONS
Gr 5-8-In the land of Quill, those who are "Wanted" blindly accept conformity and edicts that forbid creative activities. Other Quillans are consigned to be "Necessaries," individuals relegated to a lifetime of manual labor. The artistic, imaginative "Unwanteds" are slated for elimination during the annual purge of 13-year-olds, including Alex, whose twin brother Aaron is elevated to Wanted status during the same event. The Unwanteds are shackled and delivered to the Death Farm. Although their fate initially appears exceedingly grim, an amazing transformation occurs after the Quillan officials depart. The Death Farm is magically converted into a fantastical land called Artime, complete with hybrid talking animals, animated objects, and a benevolent mage. In this exotic land, the Unwanteds discover that creative talents are highly valued and nurtured to become a source of special powers. The only problem is that Artime will be destroyed if its existence is discovered, and there are those who can't resist attempting contact with Quill. Slow-paced initially, the action accelerates as the story unfolds. Alex and his Unwanted friends are sympathetic characters and the fanciful creatures of Artime add whimsy. Simon Jones's masterful narration of Lisa McMann's novel (Aladdin, 2011) enhances the visualization of the tale, and his variety of distinctive British voices brings alive the personality of each character. For libraries needing additional light dystopian fantasies for the middle grades.-Rebecca James, Currey Ingram Academy, Brentwood, TN (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter in this middle-grade departure
from McMann's string of paranormal mysteries with romance for young
adults. On the day of Purge in totalitarian Quill, which is run by
the High Priest Justine, 13-year-olds learn if they are deemed
Wanted to attend the university, Necessary to tend the land or
Unwanted and purged by execution. Without a good-bye from his
Wanted identical brother Aaron, Alex Stowe and the other Unwanteds
travel to the Death Farm. Instead of death, they meet the lush and
magical world of Artime, kept secret from Justine by mage Marcus
Today. In a third-person narration characterized by even pacing and
whimsical inventions, Alex and his peers learn that their
creativity threatened Justine's power. Surrounded by talking
blackboards, transporting tubes and such fantastical creatures as
an octagator (with the head of an alligator and body of an octopus)
for instructors, the teens hone their drawing, music and acting
skills while also wielding paintbrushes for invisibility spells and
iambic pentameter to stun attackers during Magical Warrior
Training, in preparation for battle against the Quillitary. As the
youths explore fear, responsibility and free thinking, their spells
may be used sooner than they think when Alex's twin bond is tested
and rivals vie for Aaron's new position in Justine's government.
Blending elements from two popular genres, this is sure to be a
double hit. - "KIRKUS, "April 15, 2011
"Imagination runs wild in this creative adventure." --#1 "New York
Times" bestselling author Brandon Mull
"Reading Lisa McMann's THE UNWANTEDS was like discovering a
brilliant, lost children's classic--except it's never going to be
lost, because readers will never, ever forget the magic they'll
experience in its pages." --James A. Owen, author and Illustrator
of HERE, THERE BE DRAGONS
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