Inkling -- Kenneth Oppel

<b><b>Astonishing--<i>The New York Times Book Review<br></i></b><br>A brilliantly funny, highly illustrated story about how a little ink splot changes a family forever. Perfect for those who love <i>Hoot, Holes, </i>or <i>Frindle</i> </b> <p/>The Rylance family is stuck. Dad's got writer's block. Ethan promised to illustrate a group project at school--even though he can't draw. Sarah's still pining for a puppy. And they all miss Mom. <p/>Enter Inkling. Inkling begins life in Mr. Rylance's sketchbook. But one night the ink of his drawings runs together--and then leaps off the page This small burst of creativity is about to change everything. <p/>Ethan finds him first. Inkling has absorbed a couple chapters of his math book--not good--and the story he's supposed to be illustrating for school--also not good. But Inkling's also started drawing the pictures to go with the story--which is amazing It's just the help Ethan was looking for Inkling helps the rest of the family too--for Sarah he's a puppy. And for Dad he's a spark of ideas for a new graphic novel. It's exactly what they all want. <p/>It's not until Inkling goes missing that this family has to face the larger questions of what they--and Inkling--truly need. <p/><b>- A <i>New York Times </i>Notable Book</b><br><b><b>- </b>A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year -- top ten selection<br><b>- </b>A true-to-life family, some can't-put-it-down excitement, a few deep questions, and more than a little bit of magic. <