Phoebe, who’s 10 or 11 years old, is playing with her late Grandpa’s cape among the trees when she meets a goblin who introduces himself as Gnish-Gnash. He explains he’s on a mission to protect the only griffin’s egg in existence. Phoebe doesn’t know what a griffin is, despite her vast knowledge of wildlife, and she soon discovers why: Gnish-Gnash is from another realm called Lerch Hollow, full of different groups of magical creatures who don’t all get along. Lerch Hollow is being terrorized by Lucinda the Dark Mistress, who’s hungry for power, and the griffin’s egg would make her ruler of the realm. While running from a troll named Kobus, who’s followed Gnish-Gnash to the human realm, the goblin takes Phoebe on a magical adventure through Lerch Hollow. Phoebe quickly discovers that although she’s human, she has special powers; in fact, Lucinda was also once human,and, like Phoebe, discovered her powers upon arriving in the realm. (Another human-turned-wizard is Thatcher, Gnish-Gnash’s old friend.) The goblin and Phoebe look for a safe place for the egg, and even free the griffin from satyrs under Lucinda’s rule, but Lucinda is never far behind them. Throughout, Poindexter effectively shows how Phoebe and Gnish-Gnash bring out the best in some of the creatures they meet, turning enemies into friends to help them in their quest. By the time the egg hatches, there’s a small army working together to protect the last griffin. A final battle between Phoebe and Lucinda reveals several key truths to readers. Poindexter has crafted a complex story with many layers, and one that is full of twists and turns. It ably blends an adventure tale with a story that stresses the importance of friendship and family. The prose is exciting and active, and the many characters each have their own unique charms, flaws, and strengths.