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MiddleGate #3
Fish & Sphinx
Wil and Sophie are back in their battle against the Serpent's Chain!
Cousins Wil Wychwood and Sophie Isidor unearth yet another dastardly scheme from this dangerous secret society. Now the Serpent's Chain plans to seize the Manitoba Legislative Building - or The Palace of the Blazing Star, as it is known in MiddleGate.
Catfysh, Spirit of the River, comes to help Wil and Sophie as they struggle to unlock the Palace's hidden code and thwart its destruction. Tyndall stone sphinxes, cow skulls, lions, bison, and even Medusa herself spring to life, but will their magic be enough to help Wil and Sophie defeat the Serpent's Chain once and for all?
Cousins Wil Wychwood and Sophie Isidor unearth yet another dastardly scheme from this dangerous secret society. Now the Serpent's Chain plans to seize the Manitoba Legislative Building - or The Palace of the Blazing Star, as it is known in MiddleGate.
Catfysh, Spirit of the River, comes to help Wil and Sophie as they struggle to unlock the Palace's hidden code and thwart its destruction. Tyndall stone sphinxes, cow skulls, lions, bison, and even Medusa herself spring to life, but will their magic be enough to help Wil and Sophie defeat the Serpent's Chain once and for all?
228 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2008
About the author
Rae Bridgman
13 booksRae Bridgman is the author and illustrator of young adult fantasy adventure novels, including The Serpent’s Spell (Great Plains, 2006), which was a finalist for the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award, Amber Ambrosia (Great Plains, 2007) and Fish & Sphinx (Great Plains, 2008), which received an Honourable Mention by the Speculative Literature Foundation (2008) and was nominated for a Cybils Award in Fantasy and Science Fiction (2008). Reviews of her young adult novels have been glowing: “a unique feel,” “in a class of [their] own,” “sentence after sentence of melodiously evocative language,” “superb page-turning flight of fancy,” “characters are exciting and fresh and the [plots are] fast-paced and creative,” and “extraordinary in a delightfully ordinary way.”
She is a Professor in the Department of City Planning, in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba. She is also the author of StreetCities: Rehousing the Homeless (Broadview Press, 2006) and Safe Haven: The Story of a Shelter for Homeless Women (University of Toronto Press, 2003), co-author of Braving the Street: The Anthropology of Homelessness (Berghahn Books, 1999) and co-editor of Feminist Fields: Ethnographic Insights (Broadview Press, 1999). She has been the recipient of many research grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and is a practicing visual artist with many exhibitions and arts grants to her name.
As well, Rae Bridgman is an urban planner and founding member of BridgmanCollaborative Architecture, an award-winning Winnipeg architectural firm that specializes in new design and heritage buildings, participatory design and planning, green architecture and community revitalization.
She is a member of CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers, SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), CCBC (Canadian Children's Book Centre), the Writers' Union of Canada, SF Canada (Canada's National Association for Speculative Fiction Professionals), Manitoba Writers' Guild and Winnipeg's Writers' Collective.
She grew up on an old farm in Maple, Ontario north of Toronto, and earned her B.A. (classics) and Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto, and her Master's (interdisciplinary studies) and PhD (cultural anthropology) at York University.
She is a Professor in the Department of City Planning, in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba. She is also the author of StreetCities: Rehousing the Homeless (Broadview Press, 2006) and Safe Haven: The Story of a Shelter for Homeless Women (University of Toronto Press, 2003), co-author of Braving the Street: The Anthropology of Homelessness (Berghahn Books, 1999) and co-editor of Feminist Fields: Ethnographic Insights (Broadview Press, 1999). She has been the recipient of many research grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and is a practicing visual artist with many exhibitions and arts grants to her name.
As well, Rae Bridgman is an urban planner and founding member of BridgmanCollaborative Architecture, an award-winning Winnipeg architectural firm that specializes in new design and heritage buildings, participatory design and planning, green architecture and community revitalization.
She is a member of CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers, SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), CCBC (Canadian Children's Book Centre), the Writers' Union of Canada, SF Canada (Canada's National Association for Speculative Fiction Professionals), Manitoba Writers' Guild and Winnipeg's Writers' Collective.
She grew up on an old farm in Maple, Ontario north of Toronto, and earned her B.A. (classics) and Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto, and her Master's (interdisciplinary studies) and PhD (cultural anthropology) at York University.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 2, 2024
“Fish & Sphinx” is the bewitching third book in the MiddleGate series for young readers (7-11) and teens by Rae St. Clair Bridgman.
Blending fantasy, mystery, and adventure, the series highlights the quest of cousins Wil Wychwood and Sophie Isidor as they explore a world of magic and mystery in the mystical city of MiddleGate. In their time as students at the peculiar Gruffud’s Academy, they uncover dark secrets hidden beneath the city’s charming surface, including a secret society with sinister plans, known as Serpent’s Chain.
“Fish & Sphinx” picks up as Wil and Sophie try to stop another perilous scheme from the Serpent’s Chain. With the society aiming to take over the Manitoba Legislative Building (known to MiddleGate as The Palace of the Blazing Star), the stakes have never been higher. The cousins must decipher both a mystery and the palace’s intricate codes before it’s too late. Along the way, they encounter a host of enchanted beings from a shape-shifting human/catfish named Catfysh, animated stone sphinxes, lions, bison—even Medusa makes an appearance in this magical tale. Trouble mounts as the cousins suspect that some of Gruffud’s teachers and government officials may be members of the Serpent’s Chain and it’s the proverbial race against time to protect their city from impending doom.
What fun! Wil and Sophie are wonderful protagonists to root for. Wil is determined, courageous, and deeply curious. He wants to seek justice for his grandmother’s murder, but at the same time, he resents her for seemingly choosing his path in life. Sophie is clever and resourceful, using her quick wit and problem-solving skills, but her poker face (or should I say Mood Glasses) often gives away what’s really going on inside her head. Together, they balance each other out, at times seeming to be best friends, at other times more like brother and sister—getting on each other’s nerves and challenging each other. It all works together to create a realistic, genuine dynamic.
The secondary cast of characters could each star in a book of their own. The various mages at Gruffud’s Academy are a unique, diverse lot, teaching skills such as numerology, verbology, botanicals, and cartology, contributing to a magical education, to say the least. Mage Terpsy made me laugh out loud often with her slips of the tongue, affectionately dubbed by the students as “tipsy-terpsies,” for example: “dunderful weep truths” (wonderful deep truths).
It’s evident the author thoroughly enjoys herself writing this series. The writing is playful and captivating. The chapters start with a Latin phrase adding mystique (which is translated for the reader) and a beautiful black and white drawing, as a nice touch for the intended age group. The drawings are spectacular in their own right!
Each page holds a certain appeal guaranteed to make the reader forget about whatever else they may have going on and engross themselves in the magical world that is MiddleGate. I keep saying “magical”—I can’t seem to come up with a more appropriate word!
I also learned a lot in a way that was as entertaining as it was interesting! The author skillfully weaves multiple historical facts into the story, blending in a way that never feels forced or dumped on the reader. In addition to the above-mentioned subjects such as Latin and numerology, etc., there are also references to Egyptian mythology and architectural history, like the origin of Tyndall limestone (sorry, you’ll have to read the book if you don’t know about Tyndall limestone). I feel certain I could read this book multiple times and pick up something new with each sitting.
One note: I started with book three in the series, which is not something I would advise. I was perfectly able to jump right into the story, but I’m sure I missed out on some background information that would have heightened my understanding of things. That said, my enjoyment was not deterred one bit. Still, don’t be like me—start with book one!
“Fish & Sphinx” by Rae St. Clair Bridgman is an enchanting and captivating tale that will delight readers of all ages with its blend of fantasy, mystery, and intriguing facts. I highly recommend diving into the MiddleGate series.
Blending fantasy, mystery, and adventure, the series highlights the quest of cousins Wil Wychwood and Sophie Isidor as they explore a world of magic and mystery in the mystical city of MiddleGate. In their time as students at the peculiar Gruffud’s Academy, they uncover dark secrets hidden beneath the city’s charming surface, including a secret society with sinister plans, known as Serpent’s Chain.
“Fish & Sphinx” picks up as Wil and Sophie try to stop another perilous scheme from the Serpent’s Chain. With the society aiming to take over the Manitoba Legislative Building (known to MiddleGate as The Palace of the Blazing Star), the stakes have never been higher. The cousins must decipher both a mystery and the palace’s intricate codes before it’s too late. Along the way, they encounter a host of enchanted beings from a shape-shifting human/catfish named Catfysh, animated stone sphinxes, lions, bison—even Medusa makes an appearance in this magical tale. Trouble mounts as the cousins suspect that some of Gruffud’s teachers and government officials may be members of the Serpent’s Chain and it’s the proverbial race against time to protect their city from impending doom.
What fun! Wil and Sophie are wonderful protagonists to root for. Wil is determined, courageous, and deeply curious. He wants to seek justice for his grandmother’s murder, but at the same time, he resents her for seemingly choosing his path in life. Sophie is clever and resourceful, using her quick wit and problem-solving skills, but her poker face (or should I say Mood Glasses) often gives away what’s really going on inside her head. Together, they balance each other out, at times seeming to be best friends, at other times more like brother and sister—getting on each other’s nerves and challenging each other. It all works together to create a realistic, genuine dynamic.
The secondary cast of characters could each star in a book of their own. The various mages at Gruffud’s Academy are a unique, diverse lot, teaching skills such as numerology, verbology, botanicals, and cartology, contributing to a magical education, to say the least. Mage Terpsy made me laugh out loud often with her slips of the tongue, affectionately dubbed by the students as “tipsy-terpsies,” for example: “dunderful weep truths” (wonderful deep truths).
It’s evident the author thoroughly enjoys herself writing this series. The writing is playful and captivating. The chapters start with a Latin phrase adding mystique (which is translated for the reader) and a beautiful black and white drawing, as a nice touch for the intended age group. The drawings are spectacular in their own right!
Each page holds a certain appeal guaranteed to make the reader forget about whatever else they may have going on and engross themselves in the magical world that is MiddleGate. I keep saying “magical”—I can’t seem to come up with a more appropriate word!
I also learned a lot in a way that was as entertaining as it was interesting! The author skillfully weaves multiple historical facts into the story, blending in a way that never feels forced or dumped on the reader. In addition to the above-mentioned subjects such as Latin and numerology, etc., there are also references to Egyptian mythology and architectural history, like the origin of Tyndall limestone (sorry, you’ll have to read the book if you don’t know about Tyndall limestone). I feel certain I could read this book multiple times and pick up something new with each sitting.
One note: I started with book three in the series, which is not something I would advise. I was perfectly able to jump right into the story, but I’m sure I missed out on some background information that would have heightened my understanding of things. That said, my enjoyment was not deterred one bit. Still, don’t be like me—start with book one!
“Fish & Sphinx” by Rae St. Clair Bridgman is an enchanting and captivating tale that will delight readers of all ages with its blend of fantasy, mystery, and intriguing facts. I highly recommend diving into the MiddleGate series.
October 7, 2025
Congratulations on this incredible achievement! The B.R.A.G. Medallion (Book Readers’ Appreciation Group) is a prestigious recognition, and it speaks volumes about the quality and appeal of FISH & SPHINX by Rae Bridgman. This honor places it among a distinguished group of award-winning, reader-recommended works.
March 27, 2025
Fish & Sphinx is a great children's book. It has a delightful story that takes children to magical places to solve problems. It is full of fun and adventure.
November 6, 2012
Reviewed by Marta Morrison for TeensReadToo.com
What a wonderful, fishy book! Everywhere Will and Sophie go, there are FISH! Smelly, tasty, and very swimmy fish.
In the third installment of the MIDDLEGATE series by Rae Bridgman, the two eleven-year-old cousins, Will and Sophie, help prevent a takeover by the Serpent's Chain of the Manitoba Legislative Building.
The twins start back to school and everywhere they go and look there are references to fish. There are fish carved into the sculptures and they suddenly come to life. They meet a mysterious homeless woman named Catfysh. She appears to them periodically and finally, in the spring, she turns them into fish and they swim under the river and magically swim into the Legislative Building. There they save the building from the Serpent Chain takeover.
I enjoyed the further adventures of Will and Sophie. They have become very good friends and the author has given them another set of twins to be friends with. Aunt Rue is having problems at work, and Aunt Violet has opened up her own fortune telling shop in Manitoba. There, the author has introduced some very interesting characters.
I especially liked when the children became fish. It was interesting to see the river from the point of view of a fish. I liked how the fish talked. Now I am waiting the next installment, which I think will be centered in Iceland!
What a wonderful, fishy book! Everywhere Will and Sophie go, there are FISH! Smelly, tasty, and very swimmy fish.
In the third installment of the MIDDLEGATE series by Rae Bridgman, the two eleven-year-old cousins, Will and Sophie, help prevent a takeover by the Serpent's Chain of the Manitoba Legislative Building.
The twins start back to school and everywhere they go and look there are references to fish. There are fish carved into the sculptures and they suddenly come to life. They meet a mysterious homeless woman named Catfysh. She appears to them periodically and finally, in the spring, she turns them into fish and they swim under the river and magically swim into the Legislative Building. There they save the building from the Serpent Chain takeover.
I enjoyed the further adventures of Will and Sophie. They have become very good friends and the author has given them another set of twins to be friends with. Aunt Rue is having problems at work, and Aunt Violet has opened up her own fortune telling shop in Manitoba. There, the author has introduced some very interesting characters.
I especially liked when the children became fish. It was interesting to see the river from the point of view of a fish. I liked how the fish talked. Now I am waiting the next installment, which I think will be centered in Iceland!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews