All Books
Synopsis: How do you punish an immortal?
By making him human.
After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disoriented, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favor.
But Apollo has many enemies-gods, monsters, and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go . . . an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.
By making him human.
After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disoriented, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus's favor.
But Apollo has many enemies-gods, monsters, and mortals who would love to see the former Olympian permanently destroyed. Apollo needs help, and he can think of only one place to go . . . an enclave of modern demigods known as Camp Half-Blood.
Publication Date: 05/03/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Synopsis: The White House is where the President of the United States lives and works. What is so special about the White House? Let’s read about it and see. I’m Reading About the White House helps early readers learn fun and interesting facts about the White House. The colorful illustrations, bold, vibrant art, kid-friendly text and photographs help bring the White House to life.
I'm Reading About The White House topics include:
Location
Entrances
A Diagram
The First Resident
Fire in 1814
What is inside the White House?
The Oval Office
Places for Business
The Rose Garden
Recreation
The Landing Pad
The South Lawn
Family Life
Presidential Pets
Holidays
Visiting the White House
Glossary
And More!
Below is the Reading Levels Guide for this book:
Grade Levels: K-3
Lexile Measure: 560
Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Level: I
Developmental Assessment Level: 16
I'm Reading About The White House topics include:
Location
Entrances
A Diagram
The First Resident
Fire in 1814
What is inside the White House?
The Oval Office
Places for Business
The Rose Garden
Recreation
The Landing Pad
The South Lawn
Family Life
Presidential Pets
Holidays
Visiting the White House
Glossary
And More!
Below is the Reading Levels Guide for this book:
Grade Levels: K-3
Lexile Measure: 560
Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Level: I
Developmental Assessment Level: 16
Publication Date: 05/02/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Nonfiction
Synopsis:
Getting sucked into the latest and greatest video game, FABLE NATION, isn't the worst of Mitch's problems. Realizing there's no way out until he beats all the levels might be.
Battling Montezuma in a Mexican jungle isn't hard when you're doing it from your bedroom, but inside the game is a different story.
Mitch better think fast as he teams up with a new side-kick and killer pet.
They'll have to work together to defeat headless spirits, ginormous spiders, and even creepy viruses that may also be trying to escape the game. Log in and join their mission, where reality and gaming collide!
Publication Date: 04/25/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: One kooky cookie factory! One delivery truck! One slimy rat! And lots of cookies! Equals one delicious adventure! It’s Girl Scout Cookie sale time for Avery, Ella and their friends Kate and Annie. The girls even get a chance to tour a new bakery where cookies are made! But when the girls see a mysterious mix-up at the cookie factory… and notice some of their cookie boxes are missing… and get caught in a dark delivery truck… a mystery really starts cooking! Who is the cookie thief, anyway? And why?? Tag along with foursome as they try to make sense of this tasty cookie case!
This mystery incorporates history, geography, culture and more! Fun activities, and SAT words are in each book. The Cookie Thief Girl Scout Mystery also includes a built-in book club that includes Talk About It, Bring It To Life, a Scavenger Hunt and a SAT Glossary.
Below is the Reading Levels Guide for this book:
Grade Levels: 2-5
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 4.4
Accelerated Reader Points: 2
Accelerated Reader Quiz Number: 182117
Lexile Measure: 690
Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Level: P
Developmental Assessment Level: 36
Carole Marsh has created a FREE 12-page Troop Leader Guide to use in conjunction with the Cookie Thief Girl Scout Mystery. Once your troop has finished reading the book, follow up with all the fun activities in this Troop Leader Guide! You can use selected activities in one meeting or spread them out over several meetings to prolong the fun. Either way, your girls will love it! And best of all - many of the activities will help your scouts attain several badges for Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes!
Some of the fun activities include:
Sing-Along Time
Crossword Puzzle
Imagine Yourself as an Entrepreneur; This activity can count toward earning the Junior Cookie CEO Badge, the Junior Business Owner Badge, or the Cadette Business Plan Badge
Tell Your Cookie Story
A Sweet Thank You to our Military
Advertise! Advertise! Advertise!; This activity can count toward earning the Junior Meet My Customer Badge or Cadette Marketing Badge.
Creative Cookies; This activity can count toward earning the Brownie Snack Badge or Junior Simple Meal Badge.
Put the Events in Order
Cookie Booth Jumble
Cookie Math
Click HERE to view the Troop Leader Guide online.
Want a sneak peak? Read the first three chapters HERE.
This mystery incorporates history, geography, culture and more! Fun activities, and SAT words are in each book. The Cookie Thief Girl Scout Mystery also includes a built-in book club that includes Talk About It, Bring It To Life, a Scavenger Hunt and a SAT Glossary.
Below is the Reading Levels Guide for this book:
Grade Levels: 2-5
Accelerated Reader Reading Level: 4.4
Accelerated Reader Points: 2
Accelerated Reader Quiz Number: 182117
Lexile Measure: 690
Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Level: P
Developmental Assessment Level: 36
Carole Marsh has created a FREE 12-page Troop Leader Guide to use in conjunction with the Cookie Thief Girl Scout Mystery. Once your troop has finished reading the book, follow up with all the fun activities in this Troop Leader Guide! You can use selected activities in one meeting or spread them out over several meetings to prolong the fun. Either way, your girls will love it! And best of all - many of the activities will help your scouts attain several badges for Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes!
Some of the fun activities include:
Sing-Along Time
Crossword Puzzle
Imagine Yourself as an Entrepreneur; This activity can count toward earning the Junior Cookie CEO Badge, the Junior Business Owner Badge, or the Cadette Business Plan Badge
Tell Your Cookie Story
A Sweet Thank You to our Military
Advertise! Advertise! Advertise!; This activity can count toward earning the Junior Meet My Customer Badge or Cadette Marketing Badge.
Creative Cookies; This activity can count toward earning the Brownie Snack Badge or Junior Simple Meal Badge.
Put the Events in Order
Cookie Booth Jumble
Cookie Math
Click HERE to view the Troop Leader Guide online.
Want a sneak peak? Read the first three chapters HERE.
Publication Date: 04/19/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Mystery
Synopsis:
Curl up with this tale of mystery and magic as Aurelia Panade attempts to overcome horrific losses and the curse of Candleborough. Follow her across The Land between Sleep and Awake, where, aided by a mystical guide, she discovers her true legacy. Songs, dances, brews, and recipes — both charmed and wicked — interlace Aurelia’s passage through enchanted realms. Will Aurelia triumph over her inner struggles and the dangers of her worst enemy? How will she reach her destiny?
Publication Date: 04/15/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: Yellowstone National Park is a great place to visit! What is so special about Yellowstone National Park? Read this book and find out! I’m Reading about Yellowstone National Park helps early readers learn fun and interesting facts about the Yellowstone National Park. The colorful illustrations, bold, vibrant art, kid-friendly text and photographs help bring the national park to life.
I'm Reading About the Yellowstone National Park topics include:
What is a national park
a park ranger
Where is the Yellowstone National Park located
First national park
Grand Prismatic Spring
Hot springs
Old Faithful Geyser
Yellowstone Lake
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Bison
Black Bears
Many More AnimalsOutdoor Fun
Winter Fun
Water Fun
Old Faithful Inn
Glossary
And More!
Below is the Reading Levels Guide for this book:
Grade Levels: K-3
Lexile Measure: 480
Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Level: J
Developmental Assessment Level: 18
I'm Reading About the Yellowstone National Park topics include:
What is a national park
a park ranger
Where is the Yellowstone National Park located
First national park
Grand Prismatic Spring
Hot springs
Old Faithful Geyser
Yellowstone Lake
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Bison
Black Bears
Many More AnimalsOutdoor Fun
Winter Fun
Water Fun
Old Faithful Inn
Glossary
And More!
Below is the Reading Levels Guide for this book:
Grade Levels: K-3
Lexile Measure: 480
Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Level: J
Developmental Assessment Level: 18
Publication Date: 04/13/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Nonfiction
Synopsis: From the New York Times bestselling author of RUMP, comes a spellbinding fairy tale featuring a brave heroine, a wild wolf, plenty of magical misadventures, and more!
Red is not afraid of the big bad wolf. She’s not afraid of anything . . . except magic.
But when Red’s granny falls ill, it seems that only magic can save her, and fearless Red is forced to confront her one weakness.
With the help of a blond, porridge-sampling nuisance called Goldie, Red goes on a quest to cure Granny. Her journey takes her through dwarves’ caverns to a haunted well and a beast’s castle. All the while, Red and Goldie are followed by a wolf and a huntsman—two mortal enemies who seek the girls’ help to defeat each other. And one of them just might have the magical solution Red is looking for. . . .
Liesl Shurtliff weaves a spellbinding tale, shining the spotlight on a beloved character from her award-winning debut, Rump.
"Red is the most wonder-filled fairy tale of them all!” -- Chris Grabenstein, New York Times Bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library.
"Moving and filled with hope . . . the charm of Shurtliff's retelling is how she imbues the storybook tropes with vibrant humanity."—Shelf Awareness, starred review
And don't miss Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk, "a delightful story of family, perseverance and courage" (Booklist).
Red is not afraid of the big bad wolf. She’s not afraid of anything . . . except magic.
But when Red’s granny falls ill, it seems that only magic can save her, and fearless Red is forced to confront her one weakness.
With the help of a blond, porridge-sampling nuisance called Goldie, Red goes on a quest to cure Granny. Her journey takes her through dwarves’ caverns to a haunted well and a beast’s castle. All the while, Red and Goldie are followed by a wolf and a huntsman—two mortal enemies who seek the girls’ help to defeat each other. And one of them just might have the magical solution Red is looking for. . . .
Liesl Shurtliff weaves a spellbinding tale, shining the spotlight on a beloved character from her award-winning debut, Rump.
"Red is the most wonder-filled fairy tale of them all!” -- Chris Grabenstein, New York Times Bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library.
"Moving and filled with hope . . . the charm of Shurtliff's retelling is how she imbues the storybook tropes with vibrant humanity."—Shelf Awareness, starred review
And don't miss Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk, "a delightful story of family, perseverance and courage" (Booklist).
Publication Date: 04/12/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor
Synopsis: From the creator of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore and The Guardians of Childhood comes an grand adventure of valor, friendship, and a look into the mysterious world of favorite toys.
In the secret realm of toys, there are many mysteries.
There is the Code of the Toys, which is as ancient as childhood.
There’s also the magic of becoming a child’s favorite, the highest honor in the Toy World.
Made by hand by Billy’s mother, Ollie is a special toy, “a toy who will matter.” He becomes Billy’s best friend, confidant, pal, and yes, Billy’s “favorite.”
But there are villains in the Toy World, and Zozo, the clown king, is the most feared. He and his toy henchman (the Creeps) have sworn to steal and imprison favorite toys until they forget their children and become forever lost.
When Ollie is toynapped, Billy must rescue his beloved favorite from Zozo’s subterranean lair in the old Carnival Place, past the park, through the woods, and into the night.
Never has a journey of ten blocks been more epic.
In the secret realm of toys, there are many mysteries.
There is the Code of the Toys, which is as ancient as childhood.
There’s also the magic of becoming a child’s favorite, the highest honor in the Toy World.
Made by hand by Billy’s mother, Ollie is a special toy, “a toy who will matter.” He becomes Billy’s best friend, confidant, pal, and yes, Billy’s “favorite.”
But there are villains in the Toy World, and Zozo, the clown king, is the most feared. He and his toy henchman (the Creeps) have sworn to steal and imprison favorite toys until they forget their children and become forever lost.
When Ollie is toynapped, Billy must rescue his beloved favorite from Zozo’s subterranean lair in the old Carnival Place, past the park, through the woods, and into the night.
Never has a journey of ten blocks been more epic.
Publication Date: 04/12/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Synopsis: From an award-winning author of historical fiction comes a story of survival, crime, adventure, and horses in the streets of 19th century New York City.
Eleven-year-old Rocco is an Italian immigrant who finds himself alone in New York City after he's sold to a padrone by his poverty-stricken parents. While working as a street musician, he meets the boys of the infamous Bandits' Roost, who teach him the art of pickpocketing. Rocco embraces his new life of crime—he's good at it, and it's more lucrative than banging a triangle on the street corner. But when he meets Meddlin' Mary, a strong-hearted Irish girl who's determined to help the horses of New York City, things begin to change. Rocco begins to reexamine his life—and take his future into his own hands.
Eleven-year-old Rocco is an Italian immigrant who finds himself alone in New York City after he's sold to a padrone by his poverty-stricken parents. While working as a street musician, he meets the boys of the infamous Bandits' Roost, who teach him the art of pickpocketing. Rocco embraces his new life of crime—he's good at it, and it's more lucrative than banging a triangle on the street corner. But when he meets Meddlin' Mary, a strong-hearted Irish girl who's determined to help the horses of New York City, things begin to change. Rocco begins to reexamine his life—and take his future into his own hands.
Publication Date: 04/05/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis: Graphic novel fans will love this hilarious animal adventure by webcomic creator Christopher Baldwin—perfect for readers of Dan Santat’s Sidekicks, Ben Hatke’s Zita the Spacegirl, and Berkeley Breathed’s Bloom County
When Little Dee meets a motley crew of animals deep in the forest, she knows she’s found the perfect set of new friends. Between the bossy vulture, the slightly dim dog, the nurturing bear, and the happy-go-lucky penguin, this mismatched group of big personalities doesn’t always get along—but they’re a family.
And they’re on the run. A pair of hungry polar bears are after the penguin, and the rest of the team are determined to protect her. They’re not interested in adopting a tiny human. But Dee loves them—especially Ted the bear—and she won't let them go. Instead, she hops on their getaway plane and joins them on an around-the-world adventure.
This hilarious and heartwarming story is the perfect addition to any graphic novel reader’s library.
When Little Dee meets a motley crew of animals deep in the forest, she knows she’s found the perfect set of new friends. Between the bossy vulture, the slightly dim dog, the nurturing bear, and the happy-go-lucky penguin, this mismatched group of big personalities doesn’t always get along—but they’re a family.
And they’re on the run. A pair of hungry polar bears are after the penguin, and the rest of the team are determined to protect her. They’re not interested in adopting a tiny human. But Dee loves them—especially Ted the bear—and she won't let them go. Instead, she hops on their getaway plane and joins them on an around-the-world adventure.
This hilarious and heartwarming story is the perfect addition to any graphic novel reader’s library.
Publication Date: 04/05/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Pudge's dad might love being on the ocean and taking care of wildlife, but Pudge would rather be playing World of Warcraft. When he meets an intriguing girl through the game and gets caught playing WoW during school, Pudge is suspended. Now he's forced to join his dad at work surveying whales. When they spot a mother whale tangled in a fishing net, Pudge has to put his real-world survival skills to the test.
Publication Date: 04/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Educational
Synopsis: Cody, Queen, Luke, and M.E. are the Code Busters—clever clue hunters with a passion for puzzles. They can't wait for their school trip to Washington, D.C., where they'll get to visit the International Spy Museum. But it seems as if someone is spying on them—or at least leaving coded messages that even the Code Busters can't crack. And once they arrive at the museum, they notice they're being followed by a mysterious stranger. Then a classmate goes missing. Could the unknown spy be responsible? It's up to the Code Busters to find out!
Can you crack the code? Test your brain with the Code Busters to see if you have the right stuff to be an ace detective. Answers are in the back, if you ever get stuck.
Can you crack the code? Test your brain with the Code Busters to see if you have the right stuff to be an ace detective. Answers are in the back, if you ever get stuck.
Publication Date: 04/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Mystery
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Martin can hardly imagine a worse summer. Martin's dad wants him to like "normal" boy things playing sports and exploring the outdoors so he sends Martin to his great-aunt Lenore, who lives on a tiny island called Beyond. Nothing about Beyond is what Martin expects, certainly not the strange, local boy who unexpectedly befriends Martin. Solo can canoe and climb trees and survive on his own in the wilderness, and Martin's drawn to him in a way he doesn't quite understand. But he's not sure he can trust Solo. In fact, can he trust anything about this strange island, where everyone seems to be keeping secrets?
Publication Date: 04/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Mystery
Synopsis: For fans of How to Train Your Dragon comes a new tale about dragon Miss Drake and her human pet Winnie, by a two-time Newbery Honor winner, featuring illustrations by Caldecott Honor winner Mary GrandPré.
Three-thousand-year-old Miss Drake has arranged to send her dear pet Winnie to The Spriggs Academy, an extraordinary school for humans and magicals alike. Winnie is particularly excited about magic class and having Sir Isaac Newton for science. She’s also making new friends—and frenemies. . . .
When a plot to snatch Winnie from her San Francisco home is uncovered, Miss Drake is ready to use all her cunning and magic to thwart it. Not that feisty Winnie needs the help. . . . As a team, the intrepid duo you first met in A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans is unstoppable!
With equal doses of whimsy and humor, Laurence Yep and Joanne Ryder have crafted an enchanting story about true friendship.
Praise for A Dragon’s Guide to Making Your Human Smarter
• "Yep and Ryder keep the magic coming with their whimsical fantasy, enhanced by Grandpré's sweet drawings. The story positively vibrates with fun." —Kirkus Reviews
• " Lighthearted episodes of unusual school lessons and field trips, illustrated by GrandPré’s winsome spot art, are grounded by Miss Drake’s more serious encounters with the goons...a gratifying development as this buoyant, fantastical series continues."—The Horn Book Review
Praise for A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans
• *“Warm humor, magical mishaps, and the main characters’ budding mutual respect and affection combine to give this opener for a planned series a special shine that will draw readers and leave them impatient for sequels.” —Booklist, Starred
• “The tale is alternately comical, suspenseful and sometimes sweetly emotional.” —Kirkus Reviews
• “Miss Drake’s arch narration and the sharp back-and-forth between the characters create an enchanting story, accented by GrandPré’s whimsical black-and-white spot illustrations.” —Publishers Weekly
• “With a black-and-white spot illustration opening most chapters, an engaging narrator, and a consistently fluid writing style, this title makes a fine dragon choice for readers.” —School Library Journal
Three-thousand-year-old Miss Drake has arranged to send her dear pet Winnie to The Spriggs Academy, an extraordinary school for humans and magicals alike. Winnie is particularly excited about magic class and having Sir Isaac Newton for science. She’s also making new friends—and frenemies. . . .
When a plot to snatch Winnie from her San Francisco home is uncovered, Miss Drake is ready to use all her cunning and magic to thwart it. Not that feisty Winnie needs the help. . . . As a team, the intrepid duo you first met in A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans is unstoppable!
With equal doses of whimsy and humor, Laurence Yep and Joanne Ryder have crafted an enchanting story about true friendship.
Praise for A Dragon’s Guide to Making Your Human Smarter
• "Yep and Ryder keep the magic coming with their whimsical fantasy, enhanced by Grandpré's sweet drawings. The story positively vibrates with fun." —Kirkus Reviews
• " Lighthearted episodes of unusual school lessons and field trips, illustrated by GrandPré’s winsome spot art, are grounded by Miss Drake’s more serious encounters with the goons...a gratifying development as this buoyant, fantastical series continues."—The Horn Book Review
Praise for A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans
• *“Warm humor, magical mishaps, and the main characters’ budding mutual respect and affection combine to give this opener for a planned series a special shine that will draw readers and leave them impatient for sequels.” —Booklist, Starred
• “The tale is alternately comical, suspenseful and sometimes sweetly emotional.” —Kirkus Reviews
• “Miss Drake’s arch narration and the sharp back-and-forth between the characters create an enchanting story, accented by GrandPré’s whimsical black-and-white spot illustrations.” —Publishers Weekly
• “With a black-and-white spot illustration opening most chapters, an engaging narrator, and a consistently fluid writing style, this title makes a fine dragon choice for readers.” —School Library Journal
Publication Date: 03/15/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: Fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Peter Lerangis’s Seven Wonders series will embrace this epic adventure in a rollicking new series by a New York Times bestselling author.
Will Wilder didn’t mean to unlock his otherworldly gift. But that is exactly what happens when Will “borrows” a sacred relic believed to protect the town of Perilous Falls for nearly a century. Even though his intentions are good, the impulsive twelve-year-old unwittingly awakens an ancient evil endangering all of Perilous Falls.
As boats sink and hideous creatures crawl from the rising waters, it is up to Will to confront a nightmarish enemy and set things right before it is too late. Along with his sweet—if lethal—great-aunt Lucille, the curator of a museum of supernatural artifacts, Will proves that the actions of one twelve-year-old boy can change the world.
Will Wilder didn’t mean to unlock his otherworldly gift. But that is exactly what happens when Will “borrows” a sacred relic believed to protect the town of Perilous Falls for nearly a century. Even though his intentions are good, the impulsive twelve-year-old unwittingly awakens an ancient evil endangering all of Perilous Falls.
As boats sink and hideous creatures crawl from the rising waters, it is up to Will to confront a nightmarish enemy and set things right before it is too late. Along with his sweet—if lethal—great-aunt Lucille, the curator of a museum of supernatural artifacts, Will proves that the actions of one twelve-year-old boy can change the world.
Publication Date: 03/08/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor
Synopsis: “Combining a 1920s New York setting with ancient Turkish and Arabian folklore and history, this novel reads like a young Indiana Jones adventure. . . . As smart as it is action-packed.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
On a stormy May day in 1929, William and Maxine arrive on the doorstep of Battersea Manor to spend the summer with a grandfather they barely remember. Whatever the cousins expected, Colonel Battersea isn’t it. Soon after they settle in, Grandpa receives a cryptic telegram and promptly whisks the cousins off to New York City to meet an unknown courier and collect a very important package. Before he can do so, however, Grandpa vanishes without a trace. When the cousins stumble upon Nura, a tenacious girl from Turkey, she promises to help them track down the parcel and rescue Colonel Battersea. But with cold-blooded gangsters and a secret society of assassins all clamoring for the mysterious object, the children soon find themselves in a desperate struggle just to escape the city’s dark streets alive.
“A youthful mystery worthy of John Bellairs, with lyrical language reminiscent of Edith Nesbit; yet it stands on its own, creating a fully realized world with clearly defined lines of good and evil, and just a dash of magic.” —Booklist
“Readers of R. L. LaFevers’s Theodosia Throckmorton series as well as lovers of the Rick Riordan books will enjoy this. A well-crafted adventure with a dash of magic.” —School Library Journal
“Brumbach’s vivid descriptions and terse, to-the-point dialogue keep the action moving and readers constantly engaged and surprised. . . . A fast-paced, action-packed adventure.” —Kirkus Reviews
On a stormy May day in 1929, William and Maxine arrive on the doorstep of Battersea Manor to spend the summer with a grandfather they barely remember. Whatever the cousins expected, Colonel Battersea isn’t it. Soon after they settle in, Grandpa receives a cryptic telegram and promptly whisks the cousins off to New York City to meet an unknown courier and collect a very important package. Before he can do so, however, Grandpa vanishes without a trace. When the cousins stumble upon Nura, a tenacious girl from Turkey, she promises to help them track down the parcel and rescue Colonel Battersea. But with cold-blooded gangsters and a secret society of assassins all clamoring for the mysterious object, the children soon find themselves in a desperate struggle just to escape the city’s dark streets alive.
“A youthful mystery worthy of John Bellairs, with lyrical language reminiscent of Edith Nesbit; yet it stands on its own, creating a fully realized world with clearly defined lines of good and evil, and just a dash of magic.” —Booklist
“Readers of R. L. LaFevers’s Theodosia Throckmorton series as well as lovers of the Rick Riordan books will enjoy this. A well-crafted adventure with a dash of magic.” —School Library Journal
“Brumbach’s vivid descriptions and terse, to-the-point dialogue keep the action moving and readers constantly engaged and surprised. . . . A fast-paced, action-packed adventure.” —Kirkus Reviews
Publication Date: 03/08/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure