Four sisters make a friend, find a grubby fairy, and defend the neighborhood against evil birds in this book about grief, magic, and the power of stories.

A young girl escapes from a too loud and busy world by living inside a whale, but when her retreat is disturbed by an intruder, she learns people will be quiet and listen whenever she tells a story.

"Once upon a time there was a story no one has ever heard before, inspired by a carrot on the run, a knight who’d trade his sword for a pal, and an alien who just wants to get some rest and relaxation. It’s a story about how to tell a story. From choosing a main character to crafting a problem to solve to arriving at a satisfying conclusion"--

"Rafael Fuentes isn't easily scared. He loves writing ghost stories, reading scary books, and entertaining his friends with terrifying tales he creates on the spot. Rafa has come up against enough real-life scary situations that fictional hauntings seem like no big deal. Rafa's incarcerated mom is being released from jail soon, and will be coming to live with him, his sister, and their grandparents. For the first time in a while, Rafa feels a pit...