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FINALIST FOR THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S LITERARY AWARDFINALIST FOR THE OLA SILVER BIRCH AWARDThe literary scavenger hunt of a lifetime, starring an endlessly endearing non-binary tweenZed Watson loves a few things: their name (which they chose themself!), their big rambunctious family, and?oh yeah?monsters. When Zed discovered the mystery surrounding an unpublished novel called
The Monster's Castle, they were completely hooked. Now Zed is a member of a small but dedicated legion devoted to finding the long-buried text.
When a breakthrough discovery leads Zed to the route that they are sure will take them to the treasure, they know it's time for a road trip. And with the help of their shy, flora-loving neighbour, Gabe, and his sister, Sam, a geologist who is driving back to college in Arizona, Zed and company are soon off on a wild adventure following cryptic clues.
But it's not all fun and games. Gabe doesn't like Zed's snacks, Sam is a bossy driver with total command of the ancient Impreza's stereo, and Zed is often misgendered. It's a good thing they also encounter kind strangers, potato-themed dance-offs and lots and lots of ice cream along the way. If Zed and Gabe can combine their strengths, survive Sam's wrath and best the greedy historian who's also hot on the book's trail, they just might find the greatest treasure of all.
Co-authored by child-parent duo Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester, this is a vibrant and enormous-hearted story about friendship, identity and belonging. It features illustrations by celebrated author and illustrator Kevin Sylvester, and an Own Voices perspective based on Basil's experience.
About the author
BASIL SYLVESTER is a non-binary writer and bookseller. Their first book, The Fabulous Zed Watson!, co-written with Kevin Sylvester, was a finalist for the 2021 Governor General’s Literary Award, the 2021 Lambda Award and the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. Night of the Living Zed is their second novel.
KEVIN SYLVESTER is the author/illustrator of more than thirty books, including the award-winning Apartment 713, the MiNRS trilogy, the Neil Flambé Capers, The Almost Epic Squad: Mucus Mayhem, and the Hockey Super Six series. Sylvester has won awards from across Canada, among them the Silver Birch Award and the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award. He co-wrote, with Basil Sylvester, the Governor General’s Award–shortlisted The Fabulous Zed Watson! and The Night of the Living Zed. Kevin Sylvester lives in Toronto.
Summary
FINALIST FOR THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S LITERARY AWARD
FINALIST FOR THE OLA SILVER BIRCH AWARD
The literary scavenger hunt of a lifetime, starring an endlessly endearing non-binary tween
Zed Watson loves a few things: their name (which they chose themself!), their big rambunctious family, and—oh yeah—monsters. When Zed discovered the mystery surrounding an unpublished novel called The Monster’s Castle, they were completely hooked. Now Zed is a member of a small but dedicated legion devoted to finding the long-buried text.
When a breakthrough discovery leads Zed to the route that they are sure will take them to the treasure, they know it’s time for a road trip. And with the help of their shy, flora-loving neighbour, Gabe, and his sister, Sam, a geologist who is driving back to college in Arizona, Zed and company are soon off on a wild adventure following cryptic clues.
But it’s not all fun and games. Gabe doesn’t like Zed’s snacks, Sam is a bossy driver with total command of the ancient Impreza’s stereo, and Zed is often misgendered. It’s a good thing they also encounter kind strangers, potato-themed dance-offs and lots and lots of ice cream along the way. If Zed and Gabe can combine their strengths, survive Sam’s wrath and best the greedy historian who’s also hot on the book’s trail, they just might find the greatest treasure of all.
Co-authored by child-parent duo Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester, this is a vibrant and enormous-hearted story about friendship, identity and belonging. It features illustrations by celebrated author and illustrator Kevin Sylvester, and an Own Voices perspective based on Basil’s experience.
Additional text
“I love that ZED is a story like no other on the market. The sensitive manner in which this subject is explored is one of the story’s strong points. I also love the sweet illustrations which work so well to capture Zed’s impishness.”
