Stefan Drosselmeyer is a reluctant apprentice to his toymaker father until the day his world is turned upside down. His father is kidnapped and Stefan is enlisted by his mysterious cousin, Christian, to find a mythical nut called the krakatook, the only cure the Mouse Queen's curse. Embarking on a wild adventure through Germany and beyond, Stefan must save Boldavia's princess and his own father from the fanatical Mouse Queen and her seven-headed Mouse Prince. Based on the original inspiration for the Nutcracker ballet, this fascinating journey through a world of toymaking, magical curses, clockmaking guilds, talking mice and erudite squirrels will have readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.