The wise enchanter - Shelley Davidow

Words are disappearing from the world. Something is lurking in the deepest waters, devouring all the words that are no longer used. No one has noticed, but the world is slowly growing darker.For many years no children have come to the Enchanted Islands in search of Wisdom, and the Wise Enchanter is growing old. Four children from the corners of the earth have been sent on a quest to rediscover each letter, unlock the treasure of language, and thereby grow wise.Time is running out; if the children do not reach the castle of the Wise Enchanter in time, Wisdom and light may vanish from the world altogether.

Shelley Davidow was born in South Africa and has lived in the UK and US. She has been a researcher, teacher and lecturer. Her novel for older children, The Spirit of the Mountain, was nominated for the first Macmillan Writer's Prize for Africa in 2002.