Calico Rae: The Twisted Towers by Doug Weller

A summer stay at an uncle’s cottage in England turns into a risky search-and-rescue mission in Doug Weller’s Calico Rae: The Twisted Towers, an entertaining work of middle grade fantasy about the enduring link between people and animals. Twelve-year-old Calico Rae learns that she can command a leopard, and she must put this power to good use when her older brother is kidnapped by an abusive, nefarious being. With some elements of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series, Doug Weller’s book stands out for its imaginative characters and perilous plot points that will keep young readers turning the pages.