The All-Powerful Ring

Gr 2–5—Like other offerings in the series, this book revolves around five young cousins living in the Italian town of Benevento, notorious for its mischievous witches. Primo decides he needs to stand up to the Manalonga, who are the most feared of witches, known for lurking under bridges or in wells and snatching up children. Primo's plan involves using augurs, which are ways to read the future, but they have to slaughter an animal and read its guts to do so. There are tales of Primo's uncle, Beppe Stfortunato, being taken by the Manalonga, and when Primo and his cousins get unsatisfactory advice from Zia Pia, the fortune-teller, Primo steps up to the quest with false bravado. When he discovers a gold ring inside a fish, Primo is sure he has found the power needed to defeat the Manalonga. Marciano has delivered a delicious blend of otherworldly adventure, sure to be a hit with young readers. Blackall's distinctive and expressive drawings complement the gentle magical tale.