The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding (Prosper Redding #1)

by Alexandra Bracken (Author)

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding (Prosper Redding #1)
Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade
Series: Prosper Redding

An infectious, entertaining series starter. Clever, occasionally frightening, and always fun, this will hook plenty. -Booklist, starred review

Bracken's cast is drawn in loving detail, and her twisty plot will keep readers guessing. -Publishers Weekly, starred review

Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his old and storied family history-that is, until he discovers the demon living inside him. Turns out Prosper's great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made-and then broke-a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. And, weirdly enough, eight-hundred-year-old Alastor isn't exactly the forgiving type.

The fiend has reawakened with one purpose--to destroy the family whose success he ensured and who then betrayed him. With only days to break the curse and banish Alastor back to the demon realm, Prosper is playing unwilling host to the fiend, who delights in tormenting him with nasty insults and constant attempts to trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his afterlife without a side of eternal servitude, thanks.

But with the help of his long-lost uncle, Barnabas, and his daughter, Nell, a witch-in-training, it seems like Prosper has at least a fighting chance of ridding himself of Alastor before the demon escapes and wreaks havoc on his family.

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Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Every family has its secrets, but not every family has a secret pact with a demon. In a promising series opener, Bracken (Wayfarer) kicks off the darkly delicious story of Prosperity "Prosper" Redding and his powerful family's efforts to protect its legacy. Hapless, unpopular Prosper and his twin sister, Prue, are on the cusp of turning 13 when their frosty grandmother holds an impromptu family reunion, with nefarious intent, while the children's parents are away. Soon after, Prosper is whisked to a haunted house in Salem, where he learns that his body and mind are entangled with a fiend named Alastor ("I know all of thy fears, thy desires, thy jealousy--where thou hides thy collection of small porcelain ponies," the demon informs him). The story's mysteries, which involve the fates of multiple dimensions of reality, unfold slowly enough to build anticipation but quickly enough to keep readers furiously flipping pages. Prosper shows tremendous growth (his testy interactions with Alastor may remind some readers of Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus books), Bracken's cast is drawn in loving detail, and her twisty plot will keep readers guessing. Ages 8-12. Agent: Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House. (Sept.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9--A long time ago, during the Salem witch trials, Honor Redding promised a fiend named Alastor the eternal servitude of everyone in his line in exchange for unimaginable wealth. Instead, Honor outwitted the fiend and reneged on the deal. Now Prosper Redding, Honor's modern-day descendant, is possessed by Alastor, and it's up to the teen and his family to vanquish the demon. With the help of some "black sheep" in the family, Prosper must figure out a way to break the curse. Alastor, however, has other ideas. Can the young man survive his family curse long enough to break it? Unique and humorous, the plot is filled with fantastical mystery and paranormal elements. The main characters, including the villain, are likable and flawed. The author's smooth transitions and delightful writing style will draw readers into the story with ease. This is a must-read for fans of Bracken and paranormal mysteries. VERDICT A first purchase for middle school audiences.--Kira Moody, Salt Lake County Library Services

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

PRAISE FOR PASSENGER

"This time-traveling adventure is rich in detail, the slowburning relationship between Etta and Nicholas will leave many readers breathless, and the startling cliffhanger will reel them back for the next installment."—Booklist
Alexandra Bracken
Alexandra Bracken is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Darkest Minds series and Passenger series. Born and raised in Arizona, she moved east to study history and English at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. After working in publishing for several years, Alex now writes full time and can be found hard at work on her next novel in a charming little apartment that's perpetually overflowing with books. Visit her online at www.alexandrabracken.com and on Twitter @alexbracken.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781484790106
Lexile Measure
810
Guided Reading Level
S
Publisher
Disney-Hyperion
Publication date
September 04, 2018
Series
Prosper Redding
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
Library of Congress categories
Fantasy
JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / Gener
Blessing and cursing
Demonology
JUVENILE FICTION / Family / Multigenerational
JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic

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