The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow is a 2017 middle-grade fantasy novel written by Jessica Townsend and published by Little, Brown and Company. The first entry in the Nevermoor series, the novel covers the unlucky Morrigan’s first year in the titular land of Nevermoor, as she seeks membership in the Wundrous Society. The novel explores belonging, friendship, and worthiness.

This guide references the 2017 hardcover edition of the text.

Plot Summary

Morrigan Crow’s destiny is to die on her 12th birthday at midnight—the same night as Eventide—because she is considered a cursed child who brings misfortune to the town of Jackalfax. In reality, her “curse” is Wundersmith potential. She spends the first hours of her day listening to a case worker detail incidents that her neighbors blame her for. Morrigan’s father, politician Corvus Crow, sends her away until lunch—where his assistants remind him that Bid Day (when educational institutions choose students to sponsor) is coming, and people expect him to give a speech. She asks if she can attend Bid Day, and though Corvus initially refuses, his assistants convince him that it would help him politically. He agrees so long as she causes no accidents. However, Morrigan receives four bids. City officials find out two of the bids were hoaxes, and Corvus drags her away before she can “embarrass” him.