SOLVED. Middle Grade Fantasy / A boy going off on an adventure to follow his dad who has disappeared on the same adventure, crows were a central feature. [s]

[Emilyanne]

I have few details that I remember about this book but it has seriously haunted me for years that I can't find it!

I read it roughly around 2011-2014 in the USA when I was between 11 and 14 but it could have been older since I usually read above my age. The book was pretty contemporary so I would assume it came out around that time as well.

I vividly remember a scene (might have been the opening?) where the main boy is looking out the window of his room and sees the fields around his house turn into the ocean in the moonlight. I think this is when his dad leaves in a boat and the boy eventually follows.

Later in the book the boy finds his dad but his dad has been turned into a crow (or a raven) and he has to save him. I think there was also a girl introduced by this point who was helping him in the adventure. I think the main antagonist was a woman with magic.

I can't remember the cover at all or any details about the title or character names unfortunately.

[Becca]

It sounds like The Book of Story Beginnings by Kristin Kladstrup, except the character whose father disappears is a girl. There is a boy character too though so this could easily be misremembered!

[Emilyanne]

Becca wrote: "It sounds like The Book of Story Beginnings by Kristin Kladstrup, except the character whose father disappears is a girl. There is a boy character too though so this could easily be ..."

OMG yes this is it! Thank you so much again, you also found the last book I was looking for :D

[Becca]

Ah, I'm glad I could help again!