All Books
Synopsis: Egypt's first female pharaoh disappears around 1457 BCE --- was she murdered? Find out how DNA closes the case. The ancient Arabian Peninsula city of Ubar vanishes, seemingly without trace. Find out how old maps and modern space shuttles help solve the mystery. Sir John Franklin's 1845 expedition to find the Northwest Passage is never heard from again. Find out how spectroscopy points to some probable explanations.
Case Closed? examines these and six other mysteries from ancient and modern times. Accompanied by photos, maps, diagrams and illustrations, this book reveals how modern science sheds new light on people, vessels and entire civilizations throughout history that simply vanished. In some cases, the mystery has been solved. In other cases, readers can examine the latest evidence and decide for themselves.
Case Closed? examines these and six other mysteries from ancient and modern times. Accompanied by photos, maps, diagrams and illustrations, this book reveals how modern science sheds new light on people, vessels and entire civilizations throughout history that simply vanished. In some cases, the mystery has been solved. In other cases, readers can examine the latest evidence and decide for themselves.
Publication Date: 09/01/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Short Story
Synopsis:
From A. Lee Martinez, the Alex Award-winning author of Gil's All Fright Diner, comes Too Many Curses.
Margle the Horrendous takes special pride in never killing his enemies. Instead, the wizard transforms them into various accursed forms and locks them away in his castle. His halls are filled with his collection of fallen heroes and defeated villains.
It's Nessy's duty to tend this castle. It's a lot of work, but she takes pride in housekeeping talents that keep the castle from collapsing into chaos. But when Margle suddenly dies, everything begins to unravel. Nessy finds herself surrounded by monsters, curses, a door that should never be opened, and one very deadly dark wizardess.
Nessy doesn't have might or magic on her side; she's just a kobold: short, furry, and sensible. It would be smarter to walk away, but taking care of the castle is Nessy's job, and that's just what she intends to do.
If only she could find time to polish the silver while beating back the forces of darkness.
"Fans of Douglas Adams will happily sink their teeth into this combo platter of raunchy laughs and ectoplasmic ecstasy." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review on Gil's All Fright Diner
Publication Date: 08/27/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor
Synopsis: Durbin the young mouse saved the forest of Verdancia from a horde of savage rodents. Then he helped Clove find the hidden Elemental's temple where she received the second spell in her quest to become a geomancer. But in the process, the group lost their trusted guide and ally. Durbin must now take the lead, knowing only that their next destination is the vast fields of Korel where the legendary rabbits who protect the critters of the land will help them find the third hidden temple. But when they arrive in Korel it is not the rabbits who are there to greet them, but a giant hawk intent on killing the five forest critters. The group is rescued by a clan of hedge hogs who tell them of the curse that has befallen Korel, where the hawks have defeated the rabbits and enslaved every critter of the land. Together they devise a plan to free the enslaved critters and defeat the hawks. But before them lies a mighty task, as they must climb to the palace at the peak of the giant mountain Talonridge. And many questions remain; Where is the hidden temple that contains the third spell? What secrets do the hawks of Talonridge protect? And what has happened to the brave rabbits who once ruled the land? Talonridge is the second book of the Magefable Saga which follows Durbin and Clove as they journey around the world to gain the powers of a geomancer—a mage with the ability to control the elements. On their journey they must survive terrible tyrants, ferocious predators, and the harsh elements of nature.
Publication Date: 08/26/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: Dini is back from India—with Bollywood star Dolly in tow! But life in the States isn’t all rose petal milk shakes…
Dini and Maddie, very best friends, are back in the same country at the same time! Better still, Dolly Singh, the starriest star in all of Bollywood, is in America too. Dini’s only just returned from India, and already life is shaping up to be as delicious as a rose petal milk shake. Perfect. Then why can’t she untie the knot in her stomach? Because so much can go wrong when a big star like Dolly is in town. All Dini has to do is make sure Dolly has everything she needs, from a rose petal milk shake to her lost passport to…a parade? And an elephant?
Uh-oh… It’s time to think. What Would Dolly Do? If Dini can’t figure it out, Dolly might take matters into her own hands—and that will surely lead to the biggest mess of all!
Uma Krishnaswami has concocted a delicious sequel to her multiple star-reviewed The Grand Plan to Fix Everything, which Kirkus Reviews called “a delightful romp.”
Dini and Maddie, very best friends, are back in the same country at the same time! Better still, Dolly Singh, the starriest star in all of Bollywood, is in America too. Dini’s only just returned from India, and already life is shaping up to be as delicious as a rose petal milk shake. Perfect. Then why can’t she untie the knot in her stomach? Because so much can go wrong when a big star like Dolly is in town. All Dini has to do is make sure Dolly has everything she needs, from a rose petal milk shake to her lost passport to…a parade? And an elephant?
Uh-oh… It’s time to think. What Would Dolly Do? If Dini can’t figure it out, Dolly might take matters into her own hands—and that will surely lead to the biggest mess of all!
Uma Krishnaswami has concocted a delicious sequel to her multiple star-reviewed The Grand Plan to Fix Everything, which Kirkus Reviews called “a delightful romp.”
Publication Date: 08/13/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Synopsis: A sequel to Chancey of the Maury River, this heart-tugging story focuses on Macadoo — the gentle giant of the Maury River Stables.
When Macadoo is just a colt, he challenges his father — a huge Belgian stallion — in order to protect his dam. From that moment on, Mac knows that his purpose in life is to help others. From surviving a kill auction to learning how to be a vaulting horse to giving therapeutic riding lessons, Mac is always patient and never loses hope in his mission to serve others — and he finds the courage to “walk on” through even the most difficult circumstances. Told with insight and compassion from Macadoo’s point of view, this is a story that all horse lovers will cherish.
When Macadoo is just a colt, he challenges his father — a huge Belgian stallion — in order to protect his dam. From that moment on, Mac knows that his purpose in life is to help others. From surviving a kill auction to learning how to be a vaulting horse to giving therapeutic riding lessons, Mac is always patient and never loses hope in his mission to serve others — and he finds the courage to “walk on” through even the most difficult circumstances. Told with insight and compassion from Macadoo’s point of view, this is a story that all horse lovers will cherish.
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Synopsis:
Lights! Camera! ACTION!
Lulu in LA LA Land
A screenplay by Lulu Harrison
Scene 1:
ZOOM IN on Hollywood mega stars LINC and FIONA HARRISON singing happy birthday to their daughter LULU. Lulu blows out the candles, and they all gather for a group hug―
CUT!
If only real life were like the movies. Instead, Lulu Harrison's massively important eleventh birthday is just three weeks away―and her parents still haven't RSVPed!
Lulu's not like the rest of her glamorous Hollywood family. She likes tamales and they like tofu. She likes gardening and they like grooming. But all she wants for her birthday is for her whole family to be there. Together. So this year she's planning a super fabulous SPA-tacular party. But what if trying to fit in leaves Lulu feeling even more like she was cast in the wrong family?
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Synopsis: From the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Windsnap series comes a captivating adventure about family, friendship, and the bonds that bridge time.
The sleepy seaside village of Porthaven hides a mystery: Mia’s grandad has vanished, and nobody knows why. When Mia and her mom rush to Porthaven to help her grandmother, Mia imagines long dreary days with no one to talk to except for the old-time fisherman at her grandparents’ pub. But that’s before Mia finds a diary on an empty, docked fishing boat and starts exchanging notes with a local girl named Dee, a girl who seems much like her. Mia is excited about having a new friend, but why do their plans to meet each other never materialize? And why does Dee claim to be stuck at home due to violent storms when Mia sees only sunny skies? Will Mia be able to solve the mystery of where — and when — her grandfather and friend might be before time and tide forever wash away their futures?
The sleepy seaside village of Porthaven hides a mystery: Mia’s grandad has vanished, and nobody knows why. When Mia and her mom rush to Porthaven to help her grandmother, Mia imagines long dreary days with no one to talk to except for the old-time fisherman at her grandparents’ pub. But that’s before Mia finds a diary on an empty, docked fishing boat and starts exchanging notes with a local girl named Dee, a girl who seems much like her. Mia is excited about having a new friend, but why do their plans to meet each other never materialize? And why does Dee claim to be stuck at home due to violent storms when Mia sees only sunny skies? Will Mia be able to solve the mystery of where — and when — her grandfather and friend might be before time and tide forever wash away their futures?
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Synopsis: A boy escapes home to seek his own way in the world in a whimsical new outing by the award-winning David Almond, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.
Stanley Potts’s uncle Ernie has developed an over-the-top fascination with canning fish in the house, and life at 69 Fish Quay Lane has turned barmy. But there’s darkness in the madness, and when Uncle Ernie’s obsession takes an unexpectedly cruel turn, Stan has no choice but to leave. As he journeys away from the life he’s always known, he mingles with a carnival full of eccentric characters and meets the legendary Pancho Pirelli, the man who swims in a tank full of perilous piranhas. Will Stan be bold enough to dive in the churning waters himself and choose his own destiny?
Stanley Potts’s uncle Ernie has developed an over-the-top fascination with canning fish in the house, and life at 69 Fish Quay Lane has turned barmy. But there’s darkness in the madness, and when Uncle Ernie’s obsession takes an unexpectedly cruel turn, Stan has no choice but to leave. As he journeys away from the life he’s always known, he mingles with a carnival full of eccentric characters and meets the legendary Pancho Pirelli, the man who swims in a tank full of perilous piranhas. Will Stan be bold enough to dive in the churning waters himself and choose his own destiny?
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: For Reluctant Readers
Synopsis: The kingdom of Loria has been torn apart by 15 years of war and the bravest of warriors seem to have lost all hope. On the eve of a desperate battle, Keeper Kelvin rallies his men and a messenger is sent to save a hidden child, the last of the legendary Guardians. Before her power can be realized, an ancient evil stirs awake under the mesmerized eyes of a young girl, and seeks to claim the hearts of those who would betray their heritage. Salvation for Kelvin and the child rests miles away, inside the castle at Northwood. But, as the evil spreads, even the stone walls of the ancient keep may not give them enough protection to make their final stand.
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: In this “fast-paced adventure filled with thoughtful life lessons” (School Library Journal), becoming a real boy is just the beginning.
Since he changed, Pino has struggled to live a quiet life with his father Gepetto. But a boy who used to be a wooden puppet doesn’t fit in well with the other villagers. When Pino creates a replica of Gepetto’s late wife and brings it to life, the two are chased out of their village by an angry mob demanding the resurrection of their own loved ones. On the run with a dying Gepetto, Pino must face a world that would seek to use—and misuse—him for his powers. And when Pino discovers that his abilities are slowly transforming him back into a puppet, he faces a choice: strike a deal with those who only want to use him, or stand up for who he really is.
Since he changed, Pino has struggled to live a quiet life with his father Gepetto. But a boy who used to be a wooden puppet doesn’t fit in well with the other villagers. When Pino creates a replica of Gepetto’s late wife and brings it to life, the two are chased out of their village by an angry mob demanding the resurrection of their own loved ones. On the run with a dying Gepetto, Pino must face a world that would seek to use—and misuse—him for his powers. And when Pino discovers that his abilities are slowly transforming him back into a puppet, he faces a choice: strike a deal with those who only want to use him, or stand up for who he really is.
Publication Date: 08/06/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
Synopsis: Hector's father used to be a Golden Gloves champion boxer. Now he's an unemployed alcoholic. Hector is trying to stay focused on winning his first amateur MMA fight, but it's not easy when his dad is MIA, his mom is against his training, and his best friend and girlfriend have betrayed him. Can he find the right moves to win over his opponents inside the cage and out?
Publication Date: 08/01/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Jackson James wants three things: to succeed in MMA, to join the military like his father, and to protect his little brother from ending up in trouble like he did. But it's a challenge to stay in control of his life at school, at home, and at the dojo—especially with the distraction of Tyresha Harris, one of the new female fighters. When faced with tough choices, can Jackson learn to make the right ones inside the cage and out?
Publication Date: 08/01/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: "Madeleine's the newest arrival at the famed Dario Quincy Academy of Dance. She's worked hard to gain admission, and she's determined not to lose her scholarship. That means not asking too many questions when her antique necklace goes missing, and certainly not breaking curfew. So how does she find herself exploring the creepy tunnels that run underneath the school?
As if rivals at dance practice weren't bad enough, Madeleine begins to suspect that there's an ancient evil on the academy grounds. And when Madeleine and her rivals join together, sneaking out at night to explore the school's depths, the evil might just follow them back upstairs."
As if rivals at dance practice weren't bad enough, Madeleine begins to suspect that there's an ancient evil on the academy grounds. And when Madeleine and her rivals join together, sneaking out at night to explore the school's depths, the evil might just follow them back upstairs."
Publication Date: 08/01/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: "Kayley's had a run of bad luck. She'd been struggling at dance practice for a while, and then her instructor decided to give Kayley's next role to another girl. Even so, Kayley isn't ready to bow out. She has a plan.
The old ballet shoes on display at Dario Quincy Academy have a legend behind them. They're supposed to give anyone who owns them good fortune. But when Kayley steals the vintage slippers, she doesn't just turn her dancing around. She starts to see her friends get hurt. Will she return the shoes before something truly tragic strikes the academy? Or is it already too late?"
The old ballet shoes on display at Dario Quincy Academy have a legend behind them. They're supposed to give anyone who owns them good fortune. But when Kayley steals the vintage slippers, she doesn't just turn her dancing around. She starts to see her friends get hurt. Will she return the shoes before something truly tragic strikes the academy? Or is it already too late?"
Publication Date: 08/01/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: For Reluctant Readers
Synopsis: When their parents, two temporal researchers who travel through time to document history, are transferred to 16th-century Prague, Dawk and Hype hardly expect to find themselves in the middle of an alchemical mystery. In fact, the new, boring job is meant to be a punishment for Dawk and Hype’s bad behavior at their last temporal post. The two teenagers are from the 25th century―how could medieval Prague compare? But when they meet a man who claims he can turn metal into gold, Dawk and Hype find out that Prague holds deeper secrets.
Publication Date: 08/01/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Mystery
Synopsis: The Mountain’s Depths is the first book, and in many ways the last book, of the Mysterious Mountain series. This series consists of seven books which tell of tales of exciting adventurous following one man’s extraordinary journey. Once a poor orphan working as a stagecoach driver, encounters a man who changes his fortunes forever. Years later, he finds himself propelled into adventure after adventure. Within the pages of The Mountain’s Depths , tells his tale of his first mountain adventure; an adventure which may very well be one of his last. His adventure leads him across the world, through darkness and danger, chasing the unknown. Need more of an explanation? Then perhaps you ought to read the book to obtain the answers of which you seek.
Publication Date: 07/30/13
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure