The Hound of Rowan

The Hound of Rowan (2007) is the first book of the Tapestry Series illustrated and written by American author Henry H. Neff, about a twelve-year-old boy named Max McDaniels who comes across a strange Celtic tapestry one day in a secret room in a museum. Max finds a letter in his coat pocket afterwards that leads him to Rowan Academy, a secret school where other gifted students like him go.
Reception.
"The Hound Of Rowan" was nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award. Awarded the Missouri Truman Award and Northern California Book of the year.