Thirteen-year-old Kate is without her dad, lonely and depressed. Her family is broken and her world has lost its color and energy. One day, she is drawn by a crow into a land of uncommon beauty and love. But Kate soon discovers this new land is under siege by the rebel Grod Vurmis, who is causing freak storms and environmental disasters. Vurmis is turning the inhabitants into shadows, looting the kingdom libraries, and changing the stories so the people will no longer remember who they are. Kate's curiosity and courage lead her and three friends on a perilous quest to save the Kingdom of What Is. Traversing rivers, seas, and countryside, while avoiding the deceptions of Dreglings, they finally discover the royal palace in shambles. They join the paltry army of Prince Servan and go up against Grod Vurmis without weapons. Their quest comes to an unexpected and shocking end at the Great Gorge. ""The Kingdom of What Is takes you on a colorful journey of fantasy and adventure. It's a compelling, readable book, and Petersen's writing reminds me of Madeleine L'Engle. It will hook young readers, and will enthrall older readers too."" --Peter W. Klein, Emmy-Award winning filmmaker, Executive Director of Global Reporting Centre, Professor, University of British Columbia School of Journalism Karl Petersen grew up in western Washington. He pursued studies in environmental biology, theology, TESL, and creative writing. These passions have come together in The Kingdom of What Is. He has also published two collections of poetry. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Vancouver, Canada, where he teaches English at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
