Books like 'The Barren Grounds'
Readers who enjoyed The Barren Grounds by David Alexander Robertson also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary fantasy action / adventure urban fantasy animals indigenous-mc children family magical-realism poc-mc
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The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 59 ratingsAfter decades of hiding, the evil Enchantress who cursed Sleeping Beauty is back with a vengeance.Alex and Conner Bailey have not been back to the magical Land of Stories since their adventures in The Wishing Spell ended... -
![Worlds Collide by Chris Colfer]()
Worlds Collide by Chris Colfer
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 44 ratingsThe epic conclusion to Chris Colfer's #1 New York Times bestselling series The Land of Stories!In the highly anticipated conclusion to the Land of Stories series, Conner and Alex must brave the impossible... -
![Salt & the Sisters by A.L. Knorr]()
Salt & the Sisters by A.L. Knorr
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsOnly she can lift the spell. But the key to its destruction could mean her death...Determined to end the dreaded mermaid mating cycle between land and sea, Targa and Mira scour rare fragments of mosaic art from deep in the ocean for clues. On the hunt for the ancient spell's source, all signs point to the ruins of Atlantis... -
![Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston]()
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsQuinton Peters was the golden boy of the Rosewood low-income housing projects, receiving full scholarship offers to two different Ivy League schools. When he mysteriously goes missing, his little sister, 13-year-old Amari Peters, can’t understand why it’s not a bigger deal... -
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![The Dragon Twins by Michelle Madow]()
The Dragon Twins by Michelle Madow
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMagic. Romance. Adventure. And twists you’ll never see coming.According to legend, twin sisters Gemma and Mira are descended from witches. But they’ve never been able to use magic.On their seventeenth birthday, everything changes. They’re gifted with power over the elements, and right after receiving their magic, they’re tracked down and attacked by an ancient monster... -
![Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire]()
Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsWelcome to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go.If you ever lost a sock, you’ll find it here.If you ever wondered about favorite toy from childhood... it’s probably sitting on a shelf in the back.And the headphones that you swore that this time you’d keep safe? You guessed it….Antoinette has lost her father. Metaphorically. He’s not in the shop, and she’ll never see him again...Categorized as:
coming-of-age low-fantasy magical-realism myths portal-travel retellings action-adventure book -
![The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan]()
The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 72 ratingsHe's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sadie Kane can't seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all... -
![The Inside Story by Michael Buckley]()
The Inside Story by Michael Buckley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsAfter the shocking ending of The Everafter War, this book picks up with Sabrina, Daphne, and Puck stuck in the Book of Everafter, where all the fairy tales are stored and enchanted characters can change their destinies. The girls (and Puck) must chase the Master through a series of stories, where they’re willing to change what they need in order to save their baby brother... -
![Once Upon a Crime by Michael Buckley]()
Once Upon a Crime by Michael Buckley
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsSabrina and Daphne's adventures continue in their hometown of New York City as they bring Puck to Faerie to cure the wounds. With the help of Granny Relda, the girls must figure out who killed Puck's father, King Oberon, while navigating the warring factions of Everafters that make their homes in every neighbourhood of New York City... -
![Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia]()
Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsBestselling author Rick Riordan presents the second book in the New York Times best-selling Tristan Strong trilogy by Kwame Mbalia. Tristan Strong, just back from a victorious but exhausting adventure in Alke, the land of African American folk heroes and African gods, is suffering from PTSD. But there's no rest for the weary when his grandmother is abducted by a mysterious villain out for revenge... -
![The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley]()
The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsOrphaned sisters Sabrina and Daphne are sent to live with their mysterious grandmother. The girls start school, and Daphne is lucky to get Snow White for a teacher, but Sabrina is stuck with mean Mr Grumpner and a class of mildly psychotic sixth graders. When Mr Grumpner is murdered, the sisters must discover which Everafter is responsible... -
![The Shadow Crosser by J.C. Cervantes, Jennifer Cervantes]()
The Shadow Crosser by J.C. Cervantes, Jennifer Cervantes
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsBest-selling author Rick Riordan presents J.C. Cervantes' epic finale to the Storm Runner trilogy, a tale of mystery, magic, and mayhem featuring gods from both Maya and Aztec mythology.Zane Obispo has been looking forward to his training at the Shaman Institute for Higher Order Magic, and not only because it means he'll be reunited with his best friend, Brooks... -
![Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura]()
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsIn a tranquil neighborhood of Tokyo seven students are avoiding going to school – hiding in their darkened bedrooms, unable to face their family and friends – until the moment they find the mirrors in their bedrooms are shining. At a single touch, they are pulled from their lonely lives into to a wondrous castle straight out of a Grimm’s fairy tale... -
![Someplace to Be Flying by Charles de Lint]()
Someplace to Be Flying by Charles de Lint
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsLily is a photojournalist in search of the "animal people" who supposedly haunt the city's darkest slums. Hank is a slum dweller who knows the bad streets all too well. One night, in a brutal incident, their two lives collide--uptown Lily and downtown Hank, each with a quest and a role to play in the secret drama of the city's oldest inhabitants.For the animal people walk among us... -
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![Gregor and the Marks of Secret by Suzanne Collins]()
Gregor and the Marks of Secret by Suzanne Collins
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 43 ratingsFollow Gregor in the fourth enthralling adventure in Suzanne Collins' New York Times bestselling Underland Chronicles -- with gorgeous new cover art coming July 1st! In Book 4 of the bestselling Underland Chronicles, Gregor is drawn ever deeper into a brewing crisis. For generations, rats have run the mice out of whatever lands they've claimed, keeping them constantly on the move... -
![The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim]()
The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsBest-selling author Rick Riordan presents Graci Kim's thrilling debut about an adopted Korean-American girl who discovers her heritage and her magic on a perilous journey to save her witch clan family.Riley Oh can't wait to see her sister get initiated into the Gom clan, a powerful lineage of Korean healing witches their family has belonged to for generations... -
![Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor]()
Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsA year ago, Sunny Nwazue, an American-born girl Nigerian girl, was inducted into the secret Leopard Society. As she began to develop her magical powers, Sunny learned that she had been chosen to lead a dangerous mission to avert an apocalypse, brought about by the terrifying masquerade, Ekwensu... -
![The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland, Kari Sutherland]()
The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland, Kari Sutherland
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFrom the New York Times bestselling author of the Wings of Fire series, Tui T. Sutherland, and her sister, Kari Sutherland, comes the Menagerie series, perfect for fans of Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven series and The Spiderwick Chronicles.In the small town of Xanadu, Wyoming lies the Menagerie, a top secret facility filled with unicorns, dragons, phoenixes, and other fairy tale creatures... -
![Excantation by Honor Raconteur]()
Excantation by Honor Raconteur
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBeing an adult is the dumbest thing I have ever done.Our Heroine: still me. A sleep-deprived me, which, considering I’m a murder and ten cups of coffee away from showing my displeasure to the world, and there’re clans to save, is not a good combination...Categorized as:
low-fantasy magic magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book contemporary -
![When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller]()
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsSome stories refuse to stay bottled up...When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now, the tigers want it back... -
![The Insiders by Mark Oshiro, Avi Roque]()
The Insiders by Mark Oshiro, Avi Roque
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThree kids who don’t belong. A room that shouldn’t exist. A year that will change everything.Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Meg Medina, this debut middle grade novel from award-winning author Mark Oshiro is a hopeful and heartfelt coming-of-age story for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t fit in...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism poc-mc portal-travel -
![Imagineer by Honor Raconteur]()
Imagineer by Honor Raconteur
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsImagination has no limit… Our Heroine: Me. And boy, are we all in trouble. A seventeen-year-old with a love of fantasy and unmanageable hair? Hardly anyone’s idea of the knight in shining armor. I went about life with no idea the world around me was not as it seemed, until one dark night I saw glimpses of things I knew shouldn’t exist...Categorized as:
coming-of-age low-fantasy magic magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book -
![The Lost Tide Warriors by Catherine Doyle]()
The Lost Tide Warriors by Catherine Doyle
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“Fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson can add Fionn Boyle as a generous and brave hero from the Emerald Isle.” – School Library Connection on The Storm Keeper's Island There is magic deep within Arranmore Island, and Fionn Boyle is beginning to discover how it has woven its way through generations of his family's history... -
![Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez]()
Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSal and Gabi have to try to make everything right with our world when there is a rogue Gabi from another universe running loose.Sal Vidon creates wormholes. But Sal's father, a calamity physicist, is trying to shut down all the wormholes Sal creates, because Papi thinks they are eroding the very fabric of our world... -
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![This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron]()
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsDarkness blooms in bestselling author Kalynn Bayron's new contemporary fantasy about a girl with a unique and deadly power.Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with a single touch.When Briseis's aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents decide to leave Brooklyn behind for the summer... -
![Tilly and the Map of Stories by Anna James, Aysha Kala]()
Tilly and the Map of Stories by Anna James, Aysha Kala
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThird in the modern-classic and bestselling bookwandering series that celebrates all that is best in life: books, adventure, friendship – and cake.Strange things are happening. A man comes into Pages Co looking for a book… then suddenly can’t remember it. Tilly and her family feel like the world is changing – but can’t quite put their finger on why...Categorized as:
children family low-fantasy magic magical-realism portal-travel retellings 21st-century -
![Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston]()
Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe highly anticipated third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Supernatural Investigations series that began with Amari and the Night Brothers! Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Nevermoor.War has come to the supernatural world, and Amari’s two worst enemies are leading the charge... -
![Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang]()
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsOrphaned, raised by wolves, and the proud owner of a horned pig named Merlin, Weylyn Grey knew he wasn’t like other people. But when he single-handedly stopped that tornado on a stormy Christmas day in Oklahoma, he realized just how different he actually was.That tornado was the first of many strange events that seem to follow Weylyn from town to town, although he doesn’t like to take credit... -
![Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia]()
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsSeventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy... -
![Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger]()
Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDarcie Little Badger's Elatsoe launched her career and in the years since has become a beloved favorite. This prequel to Elatsoe, centered on Ellie's grandmother, deepens and expands Darcie's one-of-a-kind world and introduces us to another cast of characters that will wend their way around readers' hearts... -
![Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez]()
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsHow did a raw chicken get inside Yasmany's locker?When Sal Vidon meets Gabi Real for the first time, it isn't under the best of circumstances. Sal is in the principal's office for the third time in three days, and it's still the first week of school. Gabi, student council president and editor of the school paper, is there to support her friend Yasmany, who just picked a fight with Sal... -
![The Three Furies by Kaza Kingsley]()
The Three Furies by Kaza Kingsley
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAnother task, even more dangerous than the previous ones, befalls Erec in the fourth book in the series. He must literally face his worst nightmares to succeed, but he isn’t sure if he can overcome his fears. On top of a contest he must win to continue his rise to King, he must also save Bethany, who has been entranced by Baskania, and deal with his inevitable transformation into a dragon... -
![The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doyle]()
The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doyle
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsCatherine Doyle's stunning middle-grade debut, an evocative tale of ancient magic, bravery, and family bonds.“Fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson can add Fionn Boyle as a generous and brave hero from the Emerald Isle.” – School Library ConnectionWhen Fionn Boyle sets foot on Arranmore Island, it begins to stir beneath his feet... -
![A Dash of Magic by Kathryn Littlewood, Sascha Icks]()
A Dash of Magic by Kathryn Littlewood, Sascha Icks
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsRosemary Bliss will do anything to get back her family's magical Cookery Booke.That's why she challenges Aunt Lily to an international baking competition in Paris: If Rose wins, Lily agrees to return the cookery Booke that she stole. If Rose loses...well, the consequences are too ugly to think about.But Lily isn't playing fair--she's using a magical ingredient to cheat...Categorized as:
animals children family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism action-adventure -
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![The Ivory and the Horn by Charles de Lint]()
The Ivory and the Horn by Charles de Lint
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsIn the city of Newford, when the stars and the vibes are right, you can touch magic. Mermaids sing in the murky harbor, desert spirits crowd the night, and dreams are more real than waking. Charles de Lint began his chronicles of the extraordinary city of Newford in "Memory & Dream" and the short-story collection "Dreams Underfoot...Categorized as:
low-fantasy magic magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure adult anthologies -
![The Lost Fairy Tales by Anna James]()
The Lost Fairy Tales by Anna James
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsThe second magical bookwandering adventure in the nationally bestselling Pages & Co. series, featuring Tilly Pages as she journeys to France to wander inside a peculiar book of fairytales. Perfect for fans of Inkheart and The Land of Stories... -
![The Fire Ascending by Chris d'Lacey]()
The Fire Ascending by Chris d'Lacey
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsThe much anticipated final book in Chris d'Lacey's New York Times bestselling Last Dragon Chronicles! On Earth, at the battle of Scuffenbury Hill, time has been suspended. Dragons and their natural enemies, the Ix, are trapped in a bitter conflict. But at the dawn of history, a mysterious force is rewriting the timelines, turning what was once legend into startling reality... -
![Scumble by Ingrid Law]()
Scumble by Ingrid Law
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsNine years after Mibs's Savvy journey, her cousin Ledge has just turned thirteen . . . But Ledger Kale's savvy is a total dud-all he does is make little things fall apart. So his parents decide it's safe to head to Wyoming, where it's soon revealed that Ledge's savvy is much more powerful than anyone thought...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship magic magical-realism action-adventure audiobook -
![Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi]()
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsTwelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are jetting off to family vacations in exotic locales, she'll be spending her autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to return from her latest archeological trip... -
![Ashes of Gold by J. Elle]()
Ashes of Gold by J. Elle
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHalf god and half human, Rue has made a vow to restore the magic that the Chancellor and the Grays have stolen from the Ghizoni and take back their land; she has more fully embraced her identity among the people of Yiyo Peak, but she is also from East Row in Houston, and girls from East Row do not give in to oppressors... -
![Sugar and Spite by Gail D. Villanueva]()
Sugar and Spite by Gail D. Villanueva
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCan a bully be defeated by a magical love potion?Jolina can't take Claudine's bullying any longer! The taunts and teasing are too much. Though Jolina knows she's still in training to use her grandfather's arbularyo magic, she sneaks into his potions lab to get her revenge. Jolina brews a batch of gayuma, a powerful love potion.And it works. The love potion conquers Claudine's hateful nature... -
![Thundersword by Julian Rosado-Machain]()
Thundersword by Julian Rosado-Machain
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGUARDIANS INC. BOOK 2: THUNDERSWORDThe search for the Book of Concord is on the brink of failure. Guardians Inc. can’t move without being followed by the Azure Guard, and the balance between Magic and Technology has begun to shift giving Magical creatures a stronger hold in our world...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book children-books -
![The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas]()
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA Cuban American boy must use his secret ability to communicate with animals to save the inhabitants of his town.All Nestor Lopez wants is to live in one place for more than a few months and have dinner with his dad.When he and his mother move to a new town to live with his grandmother after his dad’s latest deployment, Nestor plans to lay low... -
![Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traoré]()
Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traoré
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA richly imagined magical adventure set in West Africa by a prize-winning new voice in children's writing, Children of the Quicksands introduces readers to Yoruba myths and legends while showcasing the wealth of culture, traditions, adventure, joy, pride, and love found in Nigeria. In a remote Nigerian village, thirteen-year-old Simi is desperate to uncover a family secret... -
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![The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry by Ransom Riggs]()
The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry by Ransom Riggs
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe much-anticipated new fantasy series from Ransom Riggs, his first since introducing the #1 global phenomenon Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series.Seventeen-year-old Leopold Berry is seeing weird things around Los Angeles. A man who pops a tooth into a parking meter. A glowing trapdoor in a parking lot. A half-mechanical raccoon with its tail on fire that just won’t leave him alone...Categorized as:
magic friendship coming-of-age magical-realism low-fantasy fantasy young-adult fiction -
![My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson]()
My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTold in diary form by an irresistible heroine, this playful and perceptive novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the May Bird trilogy sparkles with science, myth, magic, and the strange beauty of the everyday marvels we sometimes forget to notice.Spirited, restless Gracie Lockwood has lived in Cliffden, Maine, her whole life... -
![Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire by John August]()
Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire by John August
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsArlo Finch thought becoming a Ranger meant learning wilderness skills, like camping and knots. But upon arriving in the tiny town of Pine Mountain, Colorado, Arlo soon learns there's so much more. His new friends Indra and Wu teach him how to harness the wild magi seeping in from the mysterious Long Woods - a parallel realm of wonder and danger...Categorized as:
children family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism survival action-adventure -
![The Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L.D. Lapinski]()
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L.D. Lapinski
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAt the Strangeworlds Travel Agency, each suitcase transports you to a different world. All you have to do is step inside . . .When 12-year-old Flick Hudson accidentally ends up in the Strangeworlds Travel Agency, she uncovers a fantastic secret: there are hundreds of other worlds just steps away from ours. All you have to do to visit them is jump into the right suitcase...Categorized as:
children family friendship low-fantasy magic magical-realism portal-travel action-adventure -
![Ambush by Obert Skye]()
Ambush by Obert Skye
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThings are strange in the town of Kingsplot. The usually sleepy town is experiencing things it just can't explain. Plants are vandalizing the museum, buildings are being torn apart at night, and the minds of residents are growing foggy and confused.In the Pillage manor above the town, Beck's life is unraveling as well... -
![The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks]()
The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe Fairy Queen strictly forbids fairies from using their magic power on humans. But after Tiki accidentally meets Jan, a woman who is desperate for a baby daughter, she finds it impossible to resist fulfilling her wish. Now up against the dark and vicious power of evil, this fairy rebel must face the Queen’s fury with frightening and possibly fatal results...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magic magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure audiobook
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