by Alex Bell
His hair was a terrible mess, and there was some indefinable air of “froggishness” that hung about him still in the way that his eyes bulged and his mouth seemed just a little wider than it had before. His fancy dressing gown was terribly crumpled and dirty too. Stella had never seen an expression of such hatred as when Gideon, still sprawled on the wooden pier, glared up at Ethan and said, “I’ll get you back. I don’t care when, or where, but one day, I swear I’ll get you back for what you did to me.”
Ethan dismissed the threat with a wave of his hand, but Stella felt a little chill of worry deep in her stomach. They didn’t have too much time to worry about Gideon just then, however. The investigation rumbled on, and Stella and Felix had both been warned that they might face expulsion from the Polar Bear Explorers’ Club.
Cadi, meanwhile, had returned with her father to their home on Yeti Island to await the decision as to whether she would be allowed to join any of the explorers’ clubs. She and Stella had stayed in touch by letter, but most of Stella’s remaining time was completely consumed with feverishly researching witch wolves. They’d learned that, like snow queens, witch wolves had frozen hearts and that their bite put a shard of ice into the bitten person, which would gradually spread, until they finally became a witch wolf themselves. At least, that was how it worked with an ordinary person. No one was quite sure how a wolf whisperer would be affected. Shay had been to many kinds of doctors, but they all said the same thing—there was nothing that could be done for him. Beanie had even tried magical healing, but to no effect.
“He seems like such a nice young boy,” Jezzybella said from her chair. “Such a shame the Collector took the Book of Frost. That ice-melting spell would have been just the thing.”
Stella and Felix both looked up sharply.
“What do you mean?” Stella asked. “Are you saying there’s a spell in the Book of Frost that could help Shay?”
The old witch nodded. “Yes. Didn’t I mention it? But it makes no difference, because the book is long gone, dear. The Collector has it, you know. Whisked it away with him to the other side of the Black Ice Bridge.”
Stella and Felix looked at each other. Stella could feel a smile spreading across her face for the first time in two weeks.
“Felix,” she said. “I have a plan. We must organize an expedition to the other side of the Black Ice Bridge. Then we must find the Collector, take back the Book of Frost, and use it to save Shay’s life, and Koa’s.”
Felix smiled back at her. “Indeed, my dear,” he said, already reaching for his hat. “That is exactly what we must do.”
More from this Series
The Polar Bear…
Book 1
Acknowledgments
A great big thank-you to all of the following:
My agent, Thérèse Coen, and the Hardman and Swainson Literary Agency, who have continued to be fantastic champions for my books.
The lovely team at Faber, who’ve been as wonderful as ever in their support and enthusiasm for the Polar Bear Explorers’ Club books. Special thanks to Hannah Love for looking after me on the promotion trail.
My two Siameses, Suki and Misu, who provided cuddles.
My fiancé, Neil Dayus, who provided cocktails, as well as some of the ideas for this book, including Weenus’s Trading Post and the magic fort blanket.
All of the children’s booksellers and teachers I’ve met, either online or in person, over the past year, whose passion for reading and books never fails to reinvigorate my own.
And, finally, a massive thank-you to all of the children who have read and enjoyed The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club. When you dress up as the characters, or write letters to me, or create things in the classroom, or share your amazing ideas at events, you remind me of what a special thing it is to be a children’s writer. I hope you enjoy this book too.
About the Author
ALEX BELL has always wanted to be a writer but had several different back-up plans. After training as a lawyer, she now works at the Citizens Advice Bureau, a legal advice firm in the United Kingdom. Most of her spare time consists of catering to the whims of her Siamese cat.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Simon & Schuster, New York
Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Alex-Bell
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Tomislav-Tomic
About the Illustrator
TOMISLAV TOMIĆ graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, Croatia. He started publishing his illustrations during his college days, and since then has illustrated a great number of children’s books. He lives and works in Zaprešic´, Croatia.
Also by Alex Bell
The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club
SIMON & SCHUSTER BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Text copyright © 2018 by Alex Bell
Illustrations copyright © 2019 by Tomislav Tomić
Originally published in 2018 in Great Britain by Faber & Faber Limited as Explorers on Witch Mountain
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Jacket design by Chloë Foglia
Interior design by Hilary Zarycky
The illustrations for this book were rendered in pen and ink and digitally.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bell, Alex, author. |Tomić, Tomislav, illustrator.
Title: The forbidden expedition / Alex Bell ; illustrated by Tomislav Tomic.
Other titles: Explorers on Witch Mountain
Description: First edition. | New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [2019] | Series: The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club ; 2 | Originally published: London : Faber & Faber Limited, 2018. | Summary: Stella Starflake Pearl, Ethan, Shay, Beanie, and Percifal set out for Witch Mountain, where a fearsome witch has taken Stella’s father, Felix.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018032960 | ISBN 9781534406490 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781534406513 (eBook)
Subjects: | CYAC: Fantasy. | Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. |
Explorers—Fiction. | Clubs—Fiction. | Witches—Fiction. |
Kidnapping—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.B388875 For 2019 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018032960