Basil & Dahlia: A Tragical Tale of Sinister Sweetness -- Joy McCullough, Hardcover

Two orphan siblings with truly terrible luck battle an evil celebrity chef in this uproarious illustrated middle grade romp with the dark humor of A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Beast and the Bethany.

It's hard to imagine things could get worse after one's 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. What's more, they're 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 馗lairs they can eat, Basil and Dahlia dare to hope their luck has changed at last. But the savvy reader will know it can't be as simple as all that! Laurel Fox is out for redemption, and she'll do anything to get the sinister secret ingredient she requires.

Author: Joy McCullough
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 05/21/2024
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.35h x 5.35w x 1.18d
ISBN: 9781665944236
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 03/01/2024 pg. 56
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 04/01/2024
Kirkus Reviews 03/15/2024
Publishers Weekly 04/29/2024
School Library Journal 05/01/2024 pg. 70

About the Author
Joy McCullough writes 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 novels Across the Pond, A Field Guide to Getting Lost, Not Starring Zadie Louise, Code Red, and Basil & Dahlia and the picture books Harriet's Ruffled Feathers, Champ and Major: First Dogs, and The Story of a Book. Her debut novel Blood Water Paint was 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 the New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and The 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.