Lalani of the Distant Sea

A gorgeous adventure, inspired by Filipino folklore and from a Newbery Medal-winning author, about bravery, self-reliance and the choice between accepting fate or forging your own path.

When Lalani Sarita's mother falls ill with an incurable disease, Lalani embarks on a dangerous journey across the sea . . .

Life is hard on the island of Sanlagita. To the west looms a vengeful mountain, one that threatens to collapse and bury the village at any moment. To the north, a dangerous fog swallows sailors who dare to venture out, looking for a more hospitable land. The women live in fear of the deadly mender's disease, spread by the sharp needles they use to repair the men's fishing nets.

When Lalani Sarita's mother pricks her finger and falls ill, she gives twelve-year-old Lalani an impossible task - leave Sanlagita and find the riches of the legendary Mount Isa, which towers on an island to the north. But generations of men and boys have died on the same quest. How can a timid young girl survive the epic tests of the archipelago?

About the Author

Erin Entrada Kelly was raised in Louisiana, but now lives in Delaware, near Philadelphia. She is a professor of children's literature in the graduate fiction and publishing programs at Rosemont College, where she earned her MFA. She has a bachelor's degree in women's studies and liberal arts from McNeese State University and an MFA in creative writing from Rosemont.

Erin is a New York Times bestseller whose work has been translated into several languages. She received the 2018 Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe. Netflix is currently in the process of adapting Hello, Universe into a feature film.