A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic

In this whimsical debut novel by Philip Stead, a determined young goatkeeper named Bernadette embarks on a chaotic mission to rescue a runaway goat in a kingdom ruled by an unpredictable king. Accompanied by a forgetful wizard and a peculiar Boat That Does Not Grant Wishes, her seemingly straightforward task quickly spirals into a hilariously disordered adventure. The narrative playfully challenges conventions, presenting chapters out of sequence and intertwining the author’s own quest to conclude Bernadette’s story, all while offering twenty-four entertaining morals.