Anthea Bell

Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father, who repairs and binds books for a living, can "read" fictional characters to life when one of those characters abducts them and tries to force him into service.

Ben and his adopted parents are devoting their lives to protecting rare and fabulous creatures (like dragons) and at the moment they are trying to save the last of the winged horses, Pegasus unicus; there are three eggs, but without their mother they will not survive and the only hope is to obtain a Griffin feather--but Griffins are enemies of the dragons, and may not be willing to help.

As Bluejay--Mo's fictitious double--tries to keep the Book of Immortality from unraveling, Adderhead kidnaps all the children in the kingdom, asking for Bluejay's surrender or the children will be doomed to slavery in the silver mines.

Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father, who repairs and binds books for a living, can "read" fictional characters to life when one of those characters abducts them and tries to force him into service.