SERAFINA AND THE BLACK CLOAK

Book ID/图书代码： 02330014B75850

English Summary/英文概要： Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of Biltmore Estate. There’s plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember. But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity . . . before all of the children vanish one by one. Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past. A first novel and middle grade mystery thriller set around the turn of the century in the Biltmore House, a grand Chateauesque-styled mansion built in the 1880’s at the height of the Gilded Age by George Vanderbilt. The mystery of this story isn’t just the identity of the Man in the Black Cloak. It is also the enigmatic Serafina herself - where does she come from, who is her mother, why does her father keep her presence in the basement a secret? And why does Serafina show so much cat-like behavior? In order to ultimately defeat the Man in the Black Cloak, Serafina must not only face her darkest fears, but also plumb the mysteries of her own origin.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 莎拉菲娜从来没有有过任何一个理由去违逆她的父亲并冒险踏上比尔特莫庄园的土地之上。在她自己巨大的家中，就已经足够她去尽情冒险，尽管在此过程中，她必须确保自己不被发现。楼上的富人们无一人知晓莎拉菲娜的存在；她和父亲，也就是庄园里的维修工已经秘密地在地下室里生活了好久好久，久到莎拉菲娜自记事起便一直在那里。然而当庄园里的孩子们一个接一个逐渐消失，只有莎拉菲娜知道真正的犯人究竟是谁：那是一个穿着黑斗篷的可怕男人，总是在深夜之时偷偷潜近比尔特莫的走廊。莎拉菲娜一边难耐的想要出去，一边冒着一切危险与比尔特莫庄园主年轻的侄子布拉登•范德比尔特结成联盟。在所有的孩子们都失踪前，布拉登和莎拉菲娜必须弄清这名穿着黑斗篷的男人的真实身份。在追寻男子的过程中，莎拉菲娜来到了她从小就被告知可怕的森林。在森林中，她发现了一份被人遗忘的魔法，并且与她的身世息息相关。为了拯救比尔特莫的孩子们，莎拉菲娜必须找出有关于她过往身世谜团的答案。一本小说首作，一个世纪之交的神秘惊悚故事，发生在比尔特莫庄园，一座在19世纪80年代由乔治•范德比尔特所建造的城堡式建筑之中。这个故事的神秘之处并不仅限于黑斗篷男子的真实身份。除此还有谜一样的莎拉菲娜自己---她究竟从何而来？她的母亲究竟是谁？为何父亲要让她成为一个生活在地下室里的秘密存在？又为何莎拉菲娜总是有那么多类似于猫咪的行为举止？为了最终战胜那名穿着黑斗篷的男子，莎拉菲娜不仅要面对自己最黑暗的恐惧，她还要一探自己神秘的身世。（DC）

Awards/获奖情况："永远不要进入森林深处，因为那里会有许许多多的危险并将吞噬你的灵魂。"

KIRKUS REVIEWS:
"Beatty spins an enchanting mystery through lonely Serafina’s golden eyes."
"Each new clue adds another brush stroke to this keenly perceptive portrait of a young girl searching for answers about herself and the world around her."
"The book leaves readers satisfied with the plot but hungry for more about its unusual heroine."
"Adults and children will eagerly follow Serafina ... into a world of self-discovery, justice, and new friendships."

HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY:
"Serafina narrates with an engaging voice that draws the reader into her world."
"The setting is just as engaging: the Biltmore drips with opulence..."
"Serafina and the Black Cloak is one of my favorite books I have ever read."

GOODREADS:
Voted #1 Middle Grade Novel of 2015

"Hauntingly beautiful..."
"A mysterious and captivating read..."
"A page-turner that I read in two days."
"A riveting mixture of historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery."
"Fast-paced, suspenseful, and written with beautiful imagery."
"Sure to be a hit with my students!"

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (SLJ 06/01/2015):
"A mystery set at a sumptuous estate, featuring a courageous female protagonist entangled in a hair-raising adventure."
"The story drips with suspense, wrapping readers into the narrative just as easily as the man in the black cloak binds his young victims. Serafina’s friendship with Braeden is heartfelt and believable."
"...mystery fans will enjoy this book."
VERDICT A creepy, suspenseful read that’s not quite as dark as the works of Neil Gaiman or Adam Gidwitz.
--School Library Journal (SLJ) Julie Shatterly, W. A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller
OKRA Pick for representing the "best in Southern Literature" from the Southern Independent Booksellers Association (SIBA)

SERAFINA AND THE BLACK CLOAK by Robert Beatty is a New York Times bestseller!!

#4 on the NYT Middle grade list for July 26th (see attached, along with Disney’s press release for the book’s publication). Text and jacket art also attached.

More exciting news:

Italian translation rights have been licensed to Mondadori Electa.

See author’s amazing book trailer at:

http://robert-beatty.com/serafina-book-trailer/

#1 Amazon bestseller in Children’s Mystery and its Amazon Bestseller Rank is holding pretty steady at #194 +/- 50.

Amazon Reviews: 139 Reviews. 4.9 Stars average.

ERAFINA AND THE BLACK CLOAK is #3 on the New York Times middle grade ebook bestseller list this Sunday (see attached).

About the Author/作者介绍：

Format:

Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE(到期可授)

Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE(到期可授)

Sales in other countries/其他国家销售情况：Mondadori Electa (Italy)

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