A classic-feeling middle-grade fantasy adventure about courage, compassion, and the magic hidden in unexpected places.
Seven-year-old Jack Higgins has reached the age of reason - the moment his quiet village believes a child begins to truly understand the world. But Jack's first act of reason doesn't lead to chores or lessons. It leads to a secret buried beneath a stone in the middle of the lane, a prince no bigger than a mouse, and a curse spreading across a kingdom like a shadow. When Jack lifts the stone, he frees Prince Aldren of Liora, eldest son of King Solus, trapped by the Witch of the Withering Wood. Aldren has waited years to stand beneath the open sky, but he is only the first. His four brothers are still lost - each transformed, each hidden in a distant corner of the land, each waiting for someone brave enough to find them. With Aldren's wisdom guiding him, Jack must step beyond the hedgerows he knows into enchanted forests, the Forest of False Paths, the Bridge of Shattered Stars, and the Valley Where Names Are Lost. To break the witch's curse, Jack can't rely on strength or magic. He must rely on the reason newly awakened within him, on courage that stands even when afraid, and on mercy - the one thing the witch can never understand. He must prepare his mother for his journey, outsmart the witch's creeping influence, and discover how even the smallest hero can change the fate of a kingdom. Perfect for readers who love classic fairy-tale quests, wholesome heroes, and timeless adventures filled with heart, Jack and the Five Princes is a story of bravery, friendship, and the quiet power that grows when a child chooses to do what is right. For it is said that Jack's great adventure began because he left no stone unturned.