Impossible Creatures meets The Giver in this unforgettable fantasy series starter perfect for kids 8-12! When twelve-year-old Rain bonds with the last wild griffin, she has the chance to change her fortune—and possibly her world.“Powerful, inspiring, and absolutely wonderful.”—Shannon Messenger, New York Times best-selling author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities seriesAs an orphan on the lowest rung of society, twelve-year-old Rain is destined for a future of hard labor—until she meets a wild griffin and bonds with him.An old law says that bond entitles Rain to an education at the elite Griffin Riders Academy instead of a life in the mines. But Rain’s Rise threatens to topple Griffin Land’s fragile hierarchy, and those at the top are determined to see her fail. So they task Rain with proving herself: Armed with just her wit and accompanied by her best friend and an unlikely ally, Rain must scale the highest peak in Griffin Land and defeat the monster at its summit.Rain’s success could change the world. But with an impossible quest ahead, will she and her griffin even survive?Filled with awe-inspiring black-and-white illustrations, Griffin Speaker is both a delightful friendship-adventure story and a hopeful tale of resistance in an unequal world.
Contributors: (W) Jan M. Flynn (A) Matt Rockefeller
Jan M. Flynn has worked as a stage and television actor, a middle school English and drama teacher, a specialty hardwoods store owner, and a state director of a national non-profit health organization. At one point she performed in a theme park where she rode a camel, a water buffalo, a Brahma bull, and a temperamental llama. So it makes complete sense that she is now a writer! Her award-winning short fiction has appeared in anthologies, literary magazines, and journals. She lives in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their needy cat. Find her on Facebook @JanMFlynnAuthor, on Instagram @Jan_M_Flynn, on BlueSky @JanMFlynn, and on her website at JanMFlynn.net.Matt Rockefeller is a visual storyteller inspired by adventuring in the mountains, interpretive dancing with friends, and pondering the many wonders of the universe. In addition to drawing and writing comics, he works as a book illustrator and visdev artist for TV and film animation. He lives in Portland, OR with his family including a little dog that may or may not be a fox.