Ten-year-old Asher Shine lives in New York City and has always been a collector-coins, monster cards, seashells-anything with a story to tell. But when a mysterious black and white cat leads him to an ancient silver owl coin in the winding streets of Athens, he has no idea that he's about to become part of a story spanning centuries.
Upon returning to his Upper West Side apartment in Manhattan, Asher discovers that the owl coin was just the beginning. A mysterious package arrives containing an ancient compass with five indentations-one perfectly matching his owl coin. Inside is a cryptic riddle leading to the famous lions outside the New York Public Library.
Meanwhile, across the courtyard of Asher's pre-war apartment building lives Marcus Chen, a quiet boy from a rival school who defeated Asher in a chess tournament months ago. Their paths cross again when both boys find themselves drawn to the same glass case at the American Museum of Natural History.
As they join forces, Asher and Marcus discover they're both being recruited by a secret society of collectors and protectors of historical treasures. Together, they must locate five mysterious pieces that, when brought together, will reveal the location of something extraordinary.
With each discovery, the boys are pulled deeper into a world where artifacts defy time, cats slip effortlessly between realms, and unseen forces race to claim the very same treasures.
But just as they discover the fourth piece, Marcus mysteriously disappears, leaving only frantic messages.
With summer approaching, Asher sees his chance to follow the compass's eastward pull and uncover the truth about Marcus, the Dragon Circle, and the missing fifth piece that might be waiting halfway around the world. With the mysterious cat reappearing after months of absence, Asher realizes that the adventure is only beginning...
This is the first book of the Guardians' Circle series.
Young Guardians' Circle is a middle-grade novel that combines mystery, friendship, and magical realism against the backdrop of New York City. Perfect for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and the 39 Clues series.
