The Secret of the Magic Pearl (Paperback)

A Booklist Editors' Choice
A Capitol Choices Book
A Best Middle-Grade Book of the Year – Kirkus Reviews
★ "Beautiful, remarkable, amazing, and wonderful in every way"–Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "An absolute delight . . . An exceptional story that will have young readers longing for the sea.” ―Booklist, starred review
★ Publishers Weekly, starred review
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Dive below the waves to where the real adventure begins. 

Hector lives with his family at the Marina in an Italian coastal town where they organize tourist expeditions to explore the many wonders of the sea. Hector’s dream is to become a deep-sea diver, just like his father.

Then, one day, an unscrupulous entrepreneur opens a much newer center next door, forcing them to close their business. This man has a single purpose, to find the legendary Pearl in order to sell it and make money. Hector decides to find a way to thwart the plan and save what matters most to him: the sea, his family, and his dream.

Elisa Sabatinelli was born in Fano, Italy, and grew up in Barcelona, Spain. She has published short stories and a novel for adults. The Secret of the Magic Pearl is her first book for children. Sabatinelli lives in Milan with her husband and two children. To learn more, visit her on Facebook at @elisa.sabatinelli. Iacopo Bruno has illustrated hundreds of book covers and has received recognition from the Society of Illustrators in New York, the Cook Prize, and his book, Sergeant Reckless, written by Patricia McCormick, won the Texas Bluebonnet Award and the California Young Reader Medal 2021. Other books illustrated by Iacopo Bruno include Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliff and Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero by Megan Hoyt. When he is not drawing, he takes his boat in search of dolphins and, if the weather is bad, restores paintings and antique furniture in his cellar full of tools and curiosities. Learn more at his website: http://iacopobruno.blogspot.com/ and www.theworldofdot.com/. Christopher Turner is an Italian-to-English translator, editor and professional writer. He has translated many children’s books into English in his 30-year career, including the popular Geronimo Stilton books. He lives in Dorking, Surrey, outside of London. Learn more at https://www.chris-turner.net/.

Elisa Sabatinelli was born in Fano, Italy, and grew up in Barcelona, Spain. She has published short stories and a novel for adults. The Secret of the Magic Pearl is her first book for children. Sabatinelli lives in Milan with her husband and two children. To learn more, visit her on Facebook at @elisa.sabatinelli. Iacopo Bruno has illustrated hundreds of book covers and has received recognition from the Society of Illustrators in New York, the Cook Prize, and his book, Sergeant Reckless, written by Patricia McCormick, won the Texas Bluebonnet Award and the California Young Reader Medal 2021. Other books illustrated by Iacopo Bruno include Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliff and Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero by Megan Hoyt. When he is not drawing, he takes his boat in search of dolphins and, if the weather is bad, restores paintings and antique furniture in his cellar full of tools and curiosities. Learn more at his website: http://iacopobruno.blogspot.com/ and www.theworldofdot.com/. Christopher Turner is an Italian-to-English translator, editor and professional writer. He has translated many children’s books into English in his 30-year career, including the popular Geronimo Stilton books. He lives in Dorking, Surrey, outside of London. Learn more at https://www.chris-turner.net/.