Mal lives in a world called the Archipelago, where the magic of the Glimourie Tree sustains creatures like unicorns, griffins, and others, which exist alongside humans. Christopher lives in the human world. Following the appearance of a baby griffin, Christopher discovers that his grandfather is Guardian of the portal between the two worlds—a role he will someday inherit. The griffin, Gelifen, belongs to Mal, and the two of them are on the run from a killer who is after Mal, although she doesn’t know why. When Mal appears in the human world too, Christopher accompanies her and the griffin back to the Archipelago, where the magic of the Glimourie Tree has been weakening; the populations of some magical creatures, like griffins, are nearing extinction. Their flight from the murderer becomes a quest to save the Glimourie Tree once they realize why Mal is being pursued: Hers is the soul of the Immortal, reborn each generation and charged with tending the tree. But evil has suppressed the Immortal’s knowledge for several generations. Mal is initially resistant to embracing the responsibility, which comes with knowledge of all the bad and good in the world, until an attack and wrenching loss steel her commitment. This lushly designed middle grade fantasy features an array of arresting magical creatures along with human characters (including a kindhearted berserker named Fidens Nighthand) as Mal and Christopher (both white) complete one challenge after another to save the magic of the Archipelago.

Two kids race to save the world’s last magical place in the first book of a landmark new fantasy series, from “a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination.” (Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass)
 
“An instant classic from one of the most gifted storytellers of our time, Impossible Creatures is an astonishing miracle of a book.” —Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winner for The One and Only Ivan
 
The day that Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever.
 
It’s the day he learned about the Archipelago—a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years, until now. And it’s the day he met Mal—a girl on the run, in desperate need of his help.
 
Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what’s happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.
 
Katherine Rundell’s story crackles and roars with energy and delight. It is brought vividly to life with more than 60 illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures.