How to Make a Golem and Terrify People

by Alette J. Willis

Edda, or Mouse to her family, loves her new home, but doesn’t love being the new girl at school. She is small and shy, and frequently bullied by Euan, a boy in her class. The night of her 13^th birthday dinner, she finds her house has been burgled, and her presents unwrapped and stolen. She suspects Euan, but can’t be sure, and timid Edda is suddenly afraid of everything. Then the mysterious Michael Scot comes into her life. He’s odd. He sounds much older than he looks, and lives in tower with a basement full of strange objects. He speaks to a dead toad he keeps in a jar. But he says he can help Edda overcome her fears. He can help her make a golem; a man out of mud that will protect her and her belongings. She agrees, but when everything goes terribly wrong, Edda discovers who her true friends are, and that she doesn’t need a golem to feel strong. Edda’s uncertainties about her own strength of character, and her journey of self-discovery, will resonate with younger teens. Powerful messages come through, such as choosing your friends wisely, and learning to stand up for yourself. Willis skillfully avoids revealing too much about the golem until the end, and readers will race through the pages to find out whether the creature is real, or only in Edda’s imagination.