On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

The Igiby kids think they’re ordinary — bickering, chores, an overprotective mom, a peg-legged grandfather. They are not ordinary. This is the first book of the Wingfeather Saga, and it starts a story about family, sacrifice, and finding out you were made for something bigger.

Why we picked it

It’s laugh-out-loud silly in places and genuinely moving in others, which is a hard balance to pull off. And it puts family right at the center — siblings who annoy each other and would also do anything for each other. That’s a good mirror for a lot of dinner tables.

Questions to chew on

• The siblings fight constantly and still protect each other. Does that sound familiar?
• Someone in this book gives up something huge for the family. Was it worth it?
• The kids find out they’re not who they thought they were. Would you want to know a secret like that, or not?

If you’d rather listen: the audiobook is a favorite in a lot of families. Book one hooks you; fair warning that you may end up reading the whole series.