The shouts and threats grew louder as Brooke and Piper neared a turn in the rock-hewn tunnel. Peering around the corner with care, the girls witnessed a terrifying scene: the back of a man, wildly waving his fists and lecturing a woman tied to a chair. Even though tape covered the woman's mouth, Piper recognized her school’s headmistress Miss Saunders. But what most frightened Piper and Brooke was that the back legs of the chair rested just inches from the edge of a pit into which they could see no bottom. “You've had it, you old bag,“ the man screamed. “Say your prayers!“
...But our story begins the day before
A seemingly chance meeting at the junk, the sign read costume, jewelry bin of Sadie's Variety Store on the Upper West Side of New York, and the two rings discovered there, brings together Brooke and Piper, thirteen-year olds from very different economic worlds of Manhattan. Brooke, a student at Public School 444 and the daughter of two science researchers, lost her mother in a lab accident that remains a mystery a year after the tragedy. Piper attends the private Laurels School on Park Avenue and has moved with her mother to a new luxury high rise near Brooke's more modest apartment. She misses her father who travels internationally for business but has not responded to frequent calls, texts or FaceTime requests. Both girls are puzzled and troubled by unanswered questions regarding the fate of these absent parents.
The two rings they now wear take them to the Egyptian Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the atrium that houses the Temple of Dendur. Using the power of the rings they enter, through the temple, a staircase to an underground passage that leads to a chamber of magic-like technology, deep beneath the reservoir in Central Park. There they meet the mysterious Ms. Thomas and Ms. Nikola who attempt to recruit them into a century-old sisterhood dedicated to aiding New Yorkers in need. Not until they rise to the challenge of saving Piper's headmistress from death by using the wonders of the chamber and the rings, are these two girls drawn into the cause.
Their friendship grows as each new and more dangerous challenge forces Brooke and Piper to discover unknown talents and tap into unused personal strengths while questioning why they were chosen from so many young New Yorkers.
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Recently published, Brooke and Piper is an urban fantasy, young adult novel of danger, friendship, family and magic-like science set in today's New York City. The neighborhoods, parks, streets and avenues are real. And yes, there is a Temple of Dendur in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where at one time you could enter but it is no longer possible to do so. If in New York City, visit the temple and experience the power and mystery of the structure and then explore the Egyptian galleries nearby to be immersed into the culture and history of the civilization that created it.
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Brooke and Piper's identities of course must remain secret. And also so do the real names of the schools they attend. The locations around New York City are real and can be visited by any curious reader. This will also be true of the locations in the forthcoming sequel to Brooke and Piper, The Room with No Door. During mid afternoons in Manhattan, when schools let out, is and ideal time to view young New Yorkers just like Brooke and Piper. Who knows, one of them just might be the real girl.
New York City is an engaging location for a young adult, urban fantasy story because of its mix of new and old. The city is constantly being reborn with locations either becoming historically preserved or subject to the wrecking ball. It's a noisy, gritty and exciting place to live or visit and to set our story
Brooke and Piper, the Young Adult, Urban Fantasy adventure is available as a paperback or as a download on Amazon.
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Visit this blog again for updates on Brooke and Piper as well as fascinating information about the neighborhoods, landmarks, people and special places in New York City.
George
George Woideck is the author of Brooke and Piper. A former rock musician who recorded and toured, George is now a ceramic artist specializing in ceramic tile and glass mosaic public art installations. He is also well known for his work in schools as a teaching artist in education. George is married to professor and memoirist Gail Arnoff and is a father and grandfather. He is currently working on a sequel to Brooke and Piper titled, The Room with No Door. Contact George at george@brookeand piper.com.
