The Silver Arrow
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Magicians comes a must-read, wholly original middle-grade debut perfect for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and Roald Dahl
Dear Uncle Herbert,
You've never met me, but I'm your niece Kate, and since it is my birthday tomorrow and you are super-rich could you please send me a present?
Kate and her younger brother Tom lead dull, uninteresting lives. And if their dull, uninteresting parents are anything to go by, they don't have much to look forward to. Why can't Kate have thrilling adventures and save the world the way people do in books? Even her 11th birthday is shaping up to be mundane - that is, until her mysterious and highly irresponsible Uncle Herbert, whom she's never even met before, surprises her with the most unexpected, exhilarating, inappropriate birthday present of all time: a colossal steam locomotive called the Silver Arrow.
Kate and Tom's parents want to send it right back where it came from. But Kate and Tom have other ideas - and so does the Silver Arrow - and soon they're off to distant lands along magical rail lines in the company of an assortment of exotic animals who, it turns out, can talk. With only curiosity, excitement, their own resourcefulness and the thrill of the unknown to guide them, Kate and Tom are on the adventure of a lifetime... and who knows? They just might end up saving the world after all.
This thrilling fantasy adventure will not only entertain young readers but inspire them to see the beautiful, exciting, and precious world around them with new eyes.
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Lev Grossman
Lev Grossman is a writer who has a knack for blending the fantastical with the familiar, creating worlds that feel both dreamlike and deeply relatable. Born in the U.S. and raised in a family where books were a constant companion, Grossman’s early love for literature blossomed into a career that would forever change the landscape of modern fantasy. His Magicians trilogy, which began with The Magicians, stands as a cornerstone of contemporary fantasy, redefining the genre for a new generation of readers.
The Silver Arrow
On an ordinary birthday, Kate receives an extraordinary gift: a sleek old steam train that isn’t just for show—it’s a ticket to a hidden world where talking animals, endangered species, and magical railways intersect.
The Silver Arrow series invites readers into a quiet kind of magic—not the kind born of spells or sorcery, but of wonder, courage, and unexpected responsibility. This isn’t a story that barrels through fantasy tropes. Instead, it glides along winding tracks through a world that feels tender, strange, and just a little bit wild. At its heart is a train ride like no other, where every stop introduces a new creature with a story to tell and a truth to confront.
The Silver Arrow consists of two books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
