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Witness the chilling rise of Hitler's Germany through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy in this first book in the action-packed middle grade series Web of the Spider for fans of I Survived and A Night Divided.1929, Heroldsberg, Germany. Rolf might only be twelve years old, but he's old enough to know that things have not been good in his country since the end of the Great War. Half of Germany is out of work, and a new political movement is taking hold that scares him. Every night, Rolf's father and older brother, Romer, have increasingly heated arguments about politics at the dinner table. And when two members of the new Nazi Party, Hans and Nils, move to town as part of the Hitler Youth, Rolf is uneasy to see how enamored Romer is by their promises of bringing Germany to glory. Rolf doesn't trust Hans and Nils for a moment. For all their talk of greatness, they act more like bullies, antagonizing shop owners who are Rolf's friends and neighbors. Yet Romer becomes increasingly obsessed with their message of division, and Rolf watches in horror as his family fractures even further. When there is an act of vandalism against a Jewish-owned business in town, Rolf fears Romer might have had something to do with it. Can Rolf find a way to intervene before things get any worse?

Ella Enchanted meets The Parent Trap in this spellbinding wintery tale where two young enchanters team up to break a centuries-old family curse and accidentally put their entire town at risk along the way. Every winter solstice, when people lock eyes in the Ambrose Ensorcelled Cottage, they fall in love. This year, Alice Ambrose has secretly invited her dad in hopes that her parents will realize they're happier together than apart. With her parents together, Alice will finally feel whole. But when Alice's parents lock eyes…nothing happens. Turns out, the women in her family are cursed to never fall in love. Ronan Knight will do anything to get his enchantress mom to settle on a forever home. Luckily, he's found her a perfect job at a perfect place: the Ensorcelled Cottage. The only snag? His mom would rather run from their mysterious past than settle down. When Ronan learns about Alice's family curse, he figures he can kill two birds with one broken curse, since helping Alice will surely earn his mom points with the owner of Ensorcelled Cottage. But when their meddling causes the town to lose the ability to love all together, and ghosts whisper of the very past haunting Ronan's family, Alice and Ronan discover that happily ever after doesn't look the same for everyone. And sometimes, to get what you want, you'll have to give your heart away.

What happens when a seemingly average seventh grader discovers he has superpowers... and then realizes his life just got super complicated? Find out in this action-packed adventure perfect for young readers.“A spectacular new superhero.”—Kathi Appelt, Newbery honoree and National Book Award finalistAs a baby, Noah Minor miraculously—and mysteriously—survived a fall from a sixteen-story balcony. But ever since then, Noah's life has been pretty boring.As he enters seventh grade, Noah is hoping to be less ordinary and more extraordinary, like his best friends, trumpet prodigy Rodney and the practically perfect Haley. So Noah's sure his star is on the rise when during a standard vision test, he learns he can manipulate gravity and is recruited to train with Gravitas, a top-secret government agency!Noah thinks his life will now be awesome, but instead, he has a whole new set of problems. The biggest one: His great-uncle Saul is on Gravitas's most-wanted list... but might also be the only person who can help Noah reach his full potential.

With hints of magic and plenty of adventure, this seaside story of siblings on a hunt for treasure is perfect for fans of The Penderwicks and The Vanderbeekers.Not many kids have an island in their backyard, but suddenly, the Snolly sisters have three. They're staying at Granddaddy's seaside property for the summer, which includes the mysterious Fairy Islands: Fairy, Little Fairy, and Ghost. The people in Misty Cove call them “in-between places,” and say they're full of magic—a magic that gets inside you.But ten-year-old Bee Snolly doesn't believe in magic—she just wants to help her ill Granddaddy. And if she and her sisters can unravel the mystery of the Fairy Islands in time, they may discover a long-buried secret that could help them all.

A magical adventure about two brave siblings determined to find a treasure that could save their family.When eleven-year-old Pet Martin's dad falls from a ladder on their family farm, it isn't just his body that crashes to the ground. So does every hope her family had for the future. Money is scarce, and Pet's mom is bone-tired from waiting tables at the local diner, and even with the extra hours, it's not enough for a third surgery for Pet's dad. Her five-year-old brother, Simon, now refuses to say anything except the word “cheese.” Worst of all? The ladder accident was Pet's fault.She's determined to fix things—but how? Good old-fashioned grit…and maybe a little bit of magic. When a neighbor recites a poem about an ancient coin hidden somewhere on the grounds of the local abbey, Pet forms a plan. With her brother, a borrowed chicken, and a stolen pony, Pet runs away from home. If she can find the coin, Daddy can have his surgery, Momma can stop her constant working, and Simon might speak again. But Pet isn't the only one who wants the coin…which means searching for it is more dangerous than she ever imagined. This dazzling debut novel filled with magic, family, and adventure is sure to be an instant classic.

Perfect for fans of the Storm Runner and Aru Shah series, this “intriguing, fast-paced” (Kirkus Reviews) middle grade fantasy follows a young girl who must venture to the undersea kingdom of the Dragon King in Korea to save her parents from an evil diviner spirit.Twelve-year old Lia Park just wants to fit in. Her parents work with a mysterious organization that makes them ridiculously overprotective. Lia's every move has been scrutinized since she was born, and she'd love to have the option of doing something exciting for once. So when she gets invited to the biggest birthday party of the year—and her parents say she can't go—Lia sneaks out. But her first act of rebellion not only breaks her parents'rules, but also an ancient protection spell, allowing an evil diviner spirit to kidnap and ransom her parents for a powerful jewel that her family has guarded for years. With just the clothes on her back and some very rusty magical skills, Lia finds herself chasing mysterious clues that take her to her grandmother's home in Korea. From there, she has to make their way to the undersea kingdom of the Dragon King, the only person who knows where the powerful jewel might be. Along with her friend, Joon, Lia must dig deep and find courage to stand up for those who are weak—and become the hero her parents need.

A young girl sets out to defeat the evil spirits inhabiting her home in this “thrilling…Coraline-like” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) illustrated middle grade adventure perfect for fans of The Beast and the Bethany and Margaret Peterson Haddix's The Strangers.Lily is used to hospitals—she's spent more time in them than out of them thanks to her recent health issues. But when her mother goes into labor, her parents drop her off at her grandmother's house and rush to the hospital without her. Lily doesn't want the new baby to replace her, and she certainly doesn't want to be sick anymore. Most frustrating of all, she forgot to pack Willo, her favorite toy. Under her grandma's not-so-watchful supervision, Lily sneaks back home to get Willo. Expecting to find an empty house, she is surprised to find her parents there. But something isn't right... They look just like her mom and dad until she gets closer and sees their coal black eyes. And they refuse to let her in—it's their house now. With the help of some surprising new friends that she meets in her garden, Lily is determined to beat these shadowy replacements and be reunited with her real parents. But is she strong enough to triumph?

Fans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, and Disney's Encanto will be captivated by this fantastical novel about a girl who must learn to trust her ancestral powers when she comes face-to-face with the Mexican legend La Lechuza. Omega Morales's family has been practicing magic for centuries in Noche Buena. But over the years, the town's reputation for the supernatural is no longer one the people carry with pride. So Omega's family keeps to themselves, and in private, they're Empaths: diviners who can read and manipulate the emotions of people and objects around them. But Omega's powers don't quite work, and it leaves her feeling like an outsider in her own family. When a witch with the power to transform herself into an owl—known in Mexican folklore as La Lechuza—shows up unannounced, Omega, her best friend Clau (who happens to be a ghost), and her cousin Carlitos must conduct a séance under a full moon in order to unravel the mystery of the legend. Suddenly Omega's magic begins to change, and the key to understanding her powers is more complicated than she thought. Omega will have to decide what's more important—trusting the instincts of others or learning to trust in herself. This spooky middle-grade debut is full of magic, adventure, friendship, and a captivating heroine who isn't afraid of the monsters lurking around every corner—even the dangerous La Lechuza!

For most of his life, Igor and his family have been on the run. Danger lurks around every corner--or so he's always been told....When Igor was five, his father witnessed a terrible crime--and ever since, his whole family has been hunted by a foreboding figure bent on revenge, known only as the Lizard Man. They've lived in so many places, with so many identities, that Igor can't even remember his real name.But now he's twelve years old, and he longs for a normal life. He wants to go to school. Make friends. Stop worrying about how long it will be before his father hears someone prowling around their new house and uproots everything yet again. He's even starting to wonder--what if the Lizard Man only exists in his father's frightened mind?Slowly, Igor starts bending the rules he's lived by all his life--making friends for the first time, testing the boundaries of where he's allowed to go in town. But soon, he begins noticing strange things around them--is it in his imagination? Or could the Lizard Man be real after all?Iain Lawrence is a winner of Canada's Governor General's Children's Literature Prize and the California Young Reader Medal. In Deadman's Castle, he brings readers a mystery filled with intrigue and moments of heart-stopping danger.A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionA Louisiana Children's Choice Honor Book for Grades 6–8

A dead body. A missing will. An evil relative. The good news is, Great Grammy has a plan. The bad news is, she's the dead body.Rosie and Baker are hiding something. Something big. Their great grandmother made them promise to pretend she's alive until they find her missing will and get it in the right hands. The will protects the family house from their grandmother, Grim Hesper, who would sell it and ship Rosie and Baker off to separate boarding schools. They've already lost their parents and Great Grammy--they can't lose each other, too.The siblings kick it into high gear to locate the will, keep their neighbors from prying, and safeguard the house. Rosie has no time to cope with her grief as disasters pop up around every carefully planned corner. She can't even bring herself to read her last-ever letter from Great Grammy. But the lies get bigger and bigger as Rosie and Baker try to convince everyone that their great grandmother is still around, and they'll need more than a six-month supply of frozen noodle casserole and mountains of toilet paper once their wicked grandmother shows up!This unexpectedly touching read reminds us that families are weird and wonderful, even when they're missing their best parts. With humor, suspense, and a testament to loyalty, Ena Jones takes two brave kids on an unforgettable journey. Includes four recipes for Great Grammy's survival treats.A Nebraska Golden Sower Award WinnerA MASL Mark Twain Award WinnerA Volunteer State Intermediate Book Award NomineeNamed to the Sequoyah Children's Book Award Intermediate Masterlist

Magic has all but disappeared in Brooklyn, but one tenacious young magician is determined to bring it back in this exciting middle grade mystery.Twelve-year-old Kingston has just moved from the suburbs back to Echo City, Brooklyn—the last place his father was seen alive. Kingston's father was King Preston, one of the world's greatest magicians. Until one trick went wrong and he disappeared. Now that Kingston is back in Echo City, he's determined to find his father.Somehow, though, when his father disappeared, he took all of Echo City's magic with him. Now Echo City—a ghost of its past—is living up to its name. With no magic left, the magicians have packed up and left town and those who've stayed behind don't look too kindly on any who reminds them of what they once had.When Kingston finds a magic box his father left behind as a clue, Kingston knows there's more to his father's disappearance than meets the eye. He'll have to keep it a secret—that is, until he can restore magic to Echo City. With his cousin Veronica and childhood friend Too Tall Eddie, Kingston works to solve the clues, but one wrong move and his father might not be the only one who goes missing.

In this duology's finale, Kingston travels back in time and uses his growing magic to save the world.Kingston might have saved Echo City but the victory is bittersweet without his pops by his side. The holidays are approaching and if Kingston could have one wish, it would be to have his father, who is trapped in the Realm, come home. But as new problems arise and blackouts blanket the city, Kingston begins to have a persistent feeling of déjà vu, as if he's lived this same day before—and he has. Echo City living up to its name, is caught in a repeating time loop. Maestro, his father's old rival, has found a way to overwrite reality with an alternate timeline where he rules over all. It will be up to Kingston, Too Tall, and V to find a way to enter the Realm and travel back through time to stop him. But with a magic he still barely understands, Kingston will needs his friends'smarts and their collective courage to figure out the mystery and find Maestro before Brooklyn as they know it is erased for good.

Mia goes on a super surfing family vacation in this eleventh adventure of the Mia Mayhem chapter book series!With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Mia Mayhem chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.

'A space chase that would feel right at home in the world of Star Wars. Unexpectedly out of this world.'—Kirkus Reviews From acclaimed author Sarah Prineas comes an action-packed, funny, and heartwarming outer-space adventure about a troublesome little shape-shifter on the run from the law. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Geoff Rodkey!Trouble knows two things: they are a shapeshifter, and they are running from something--but they don't know what. So when the StarLeague shows up, Trouble figures it's time to flee.Changing from blob of goo form, to adorable puppy form, to human boy form, Trouble stows away on the Hindsight, a ship crewed by the best navigators and engineers in the galaxy, led by the fearsome Captain Astra. As the ship travels, Trouble uses the time to figure out how to be a good human boy, and starts to feel safe. But when a young StarLeague cadet shows up to capture Trouble, things get complicated, especially when Trouble reveals a shapeshifter form that none of them could have expected. Soon a chase across the galaxy begins. Safety, freedom, and home are at stake, and not just for Trouble.From acclaimed author Sarah Prineas comes a rip-roaring outer space adventure about an oddball hero, a crew of misfits, and finding family where you least expect it. Praise for Trouble in the Stars:'A humorous science fiction adventure that is perfect for Star Wars fans... A great choice for middle grade collections and for readers looking for humorous, action-packed science fiction.'—School Library Journal'Trouble in the Stars is a hilarious and heartwarming look at what it means to be human, have a home and hear the stars sing.”—BookPage

Get ready for more round-the-world adventure with Samantha Spinner and her brother, Nipper, in the third book in this hilarious, puzzle-packed series filled with super-secret messages! Perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and classics like Holes.At last! Samantha Spinner tracked down her uncle! Now it's her big chance to learn everything. And now that he's safe and sound, it's time to get some answers.There are so many questions to ask--it's almost impossible to know where to start. Where did the RAIN come from? And what about the SUN? Who made the umbrella and all the incredible ways to travel? What did Uncle Paul mean when he told her to watch out for the...Wait a minute. Nipper's missing. Where did he go? What's that strange trail of yarn? Can't a girl take her eyes off her super-annoying little brother for ten minutes?(If you've been paying attention, then you know that the answer to that last question is'No! Of course not!')Praise for the Samantha Spinner series:'A winning mix of fast-paced action, fascinating facts, bathroom humor, and hidden puzzles... [that is] sure to please action-loving middle-grade readers.'--Kirkus Reviews'Wild, wacky, and occasionally gross.'--The Bulletin

From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Max comes a heartwarming, middle grade story about a misunderstood rescue dog, Poppy, who finds kinship with an outcast girl on the coast of Northern California.Poppy is a dog with a problem. She has too much energy, and her elderly owner can keep her only if she can be trained. When twelve-year-old Hannah moves to the coast of Northern California, she thinks she can help turn this rambunctious puppy into the good dog she knows Poppy is. But Hannah realizes Poppy's reputation as a pit bull means she has to work even harder to prove that Poppy and dogs like her deserve a second chance. Will Hannah train Poppy into the perfect dog before it's too late?

In this highly anticipated sequel to New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor–winning author Tony DiTerlizzi's Kenny and the Dragon, Kenny must cope with many changes in his life—including the fear that he's losing his best friend.What can come between two best friends? Time has passed since Kenny Rabbit's last adventure with his best friend, the legendary dragon Grahame, and a lot has changed in the sleepy village of Roundbrook. For starters, Kenny has a whole litter of baby sisters. His friends are at different schools and Sir George is off adventuring. At least Kenny still has his very best friend, Grahame. That's before Dante arrives. Dante is a legendary manticore and an old friend of Grahame's. Old friends spend a lot of time catching up. And that catching up does not involve Kenny. But there's a Witch to defeat, a pal to rescue, and a mysterious book to unlock. And those are quests for best friends, not old friends. Right?

In this delightfully creepy novel from Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award winner Ronald L. Smith, twelve-year-old Simon thinks he was abducted by aliens. But is it real, or just his over-active imagination? Perfect for fans of Mary Downing Hahn and Louis Sachar.Twelve-year-old Simon is obsessed with aliens. The ones who take people and do experiments. When he's too worried about them to sleep, he listens to the owls hoot outside. Owls that have the same eyes as aliens—dark and foreboding. Then something strange happens on a camping trip, and Simon begins to suspect he's been abducted. But is it real, or just the overactive imagination of a kid who loves fantasy and role-playing games and is the target of bullies and his father's scorn? Even readers who don't believe in UFOs will relate to the universal kid feeling of not being taken seriously by adults that deepens this deliciously scary tale.

Get ready for more round-the-world adventure with Samantha Spinner and her brother, Nipper, in the second book in this hilarious, puzzle-packed series filled with super-secret messages! Perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and classics like Holes.When Samantha Spinner's uncle Paul disappeared, he left presents for his nieces and nephew. Samantha's sister, Buffy, got $2,400,000,000. Her brother, Nipper, got the New York Yankees. Samantha got... a rusty old umbrella.Wow! So unfair, Uncle Paul.Well, it seemed unfair--until Samantha discovered that the old umbrella holds the plans for a super-secret network of transit systems that covers the globe. It's the ticket to danger and adventure beyond anyone's wildest dreams.But Uncle Paul is still missing. And Samantha just received a new gift from him: a pair of strange purple sunglasses. Are they another powerful present? A clue to his whereabouts? Or just a bad fashion choice? Samantha and Nipper need to figure it out fast, because... here comes the SUN!Praise for Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans, Book 1 in the Samantha Spinner series:'A winning mix of fast-paced action, fascinating facts, bathroom humor, and hidden puzzles... [that is] sure to please action-loving middle-grade readers.'--Kirkus Reviews'Full of adventure and survival... [and with] characters [who] are likable, realistic, and well rounded... [Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans is] great for [readers of] series like The 39 Clues.'--School Library Journal

'Hand this to the Rick Riordan crowd, or to kids who like Tui Sutherland's'Wings of Fire'series.'—SLJSet in a vivid, Arab-inspired world filled with friendly and fearsome water dragons, K.D. Halbrook's Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races is a middle-grade fantasy adventure, with illustrations by Ilse Gort, that's perfect for fans of Tui T. Sutherland, Sayantani DasGupta, and Roshani Chokshi.Thirteen-year-old Silver Batal calls the desert home, but her heart belongs to the waters. Although she's expected to become a jeweler like her father, Silver harbors a secret and forbidden wish to race water dragons. Destiny comes calling when her friendship with a mysterious old woman leads her to Hiyyan, a baby dragon that can swim and fly.Risking everything, Silver, Hiyyan, and her resourceful cousin Brajon set off across the desert to join the legendary races in the royal city. But the road to Calidia is filled with danger, and the trio must band together as they encounter ferocious cave beasts, clever desert foxes, and cutthroat competition.As Silver and Hiyyan soar through the skies and speed through the seas, both must learn what they're willing to sacrifice for a shot at glory.

Get ready for round-the-world adventure with Sam Spinner and her brother Nipper in the first book in a new hilarious, puzzle-packed series filled with super-secret messages! Perfect for fans of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library and classics like Holes.Samantha Spinner's uncle Paul disappeared, and here's what he left: • Samantha's sister got a check for $2,400,000,000. • Samantha's brother got the New York Yankees. • And Samantha got a rusty red umbrella with a tag hanging off its worn handle. The tag says'Watch out for the RAIN.'Thanks a lot, Uncle Paul.After all the strawberry waffles, stories, and puzzles they've shared, how could he just leave without saying goodbye? And what is the meaning of that mysterious message?The answer is simple. Sam knows in her heart that Uncle Paul is in danger. And if he taught her anything, it's that not everything is exactly what it seems. Which is why we should pay close attention to that rusty red umbrella, and never trust a monkey at a hula-hoop contest. The RAIN is coming and Samantha Spinner is about to find herself mixed up in some super-important, super-dangerous, super-secret plans.Praise for Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans:'A winning mix of fast-paced action, fascinating facts, bathroom humor, and hidden puzzles...[that is] sure to please action-loving middle-grade readers.'--Kirkus Reviews'Full of adventure and survival,...[and with] characters [that] are likable, realistic, and well rounded...[Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans is] great for [readers of] series like The 39 Clues.'--School Library Journal

If you like the Avengers, Justice League, or The Incredibles, then you'll love this family of superheroes! This new chapter book series is perfect for reluctant readers. Everyone in Peter Powers's family has super awesome superpowers. His dad controls fire with his mind, and his mom can fly. His big brother makes copies of himself, and his little sister is super-strong. And his baby brother even turns invisible! But all Peter can do is--this is really embarrassing--make ice cubes with his fingertips. That's why Peter's been working hard to improve his ice talents and is more powerful than ever. But when a group of sky pirates come to town, they steal everyone's abilities-including Peter's. Without superpowers, Peter is about to discover whether he's as cool as he thought he was or if he was letting his powers define him. Can he help his family, save his friends, and battle the diabolical sky pirates-or is his goose cooked? Featuring an extra-special power-packed final chapter that will shock readers!Peter Powers and the Swashbuckling Sky Pirates! is the sixth chapter book in a new series of exciting stories about a young boy who has some rather crummy superpowers. Each story is full of humor, action, and fun, but the charm can be found in the heartfelt message about the power of family, friends, and having confidence.

The humor and heart of Modern Family meets wacky contests in book two of this series, which asks: What could be more fun than a fun house? A local theme park called Funland is hosting a huge contest to turn one family's home into the ultimate fun house. Who wouldn't want a slide from the bedroom to the backyard, a bumper-car kitchen, or a ball pit for a living room? The Talaska family is eager to compete! And the stakes are high. Their house is falling apart, and they might have to move away from Piedmont Place forever. Cal knows that his family can win, but it won't be easy. First he and his sister, Imo, need to win a competition at school. Then the whole family has to live at Funland and find a hidden object. Can they really search every corner of the park in just five days? There's only one way to find out. Let the contest begin!

A Forest, A Flood, and an Unlikely Star is the third book in the fictional series, The Rwendigo Tales. Designed for eight- to fourteen-year-old youth, this adventure story is written for children and teens who love reading and learning about faraway and different parts of the world, while relating to characters and issues that seem much closer to home. Just thirteen-years-old, Kusiima has no time for school, sports, or hanging out with the other boys in his African village. With no father or mother to take care of him, he works long hours to support his grandmother and sickly baby sister. Then one day, Kusiima's life suddenly changes when he travels into a nearby protected forest. In the forest, Kusiima is presented with many choices, all with uncertain outcomes. Should he go along with illegal logging? Help to save an endangered baby gorilla? Follow a donkey to who knows where? With each choice, Kusiima has to make yet another decision about what is right in front of him. As he does, he meets a mysterious doctor who holds the key to his past and his future. In the end, Kusiima is faced with the hardest choice of all. Can he forgive a great wrong and heal a broken relationship? Readers of all ages won't want to put down this exciting book that addresses current realities like AIDS, malnutrition, and environmental destruction, all set in a richly detailed African adventure story. Following along as Kusiima makes his decisions, readers will find themselves considering their own choices and growing in empathy for others. This action-packed tale of a boy, his sister, and an orphaned gorilla is also a clear call to give up bitterness and forgive deep hurts, restoring broken lives and relationships.

Fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events and Coraline will devour this dark and creepy, humor-laced tale about four siblings who discover a mysterious world where secrets hide around every corner. When a family disaster forces the four Rothbaum children to live with their aunt Gladys, they immediately know there is something strange about their new home. The crazy, circular house looks like it stepped out of a scary movie. The front entrance is a four-story-tall drawbridge. And the only food in Aunt Gladys's kitchen is an endless supply of Honey Nut Oat Blast Ring-a-Dings cereal. Strangest of all are the doors—there are none. Every doorway is a wide-open passageway—even the bathroom! Who lives in a house with no doors? Their unease only grows when Aunt Gladys disappears for long stretches of time, leaving them alone to explore the strange house. When they discover just what Aunt Gladys has been doing with all her doors, the shocked siblings embark on an adventure that changes everything they believe about their family and the world.

Previously published as Diary of a Mad Brownie. Introducing The Enchanted Files—a new magical, modern-day comedy series by the master of funny fantasy and bestselling author of My Teacher is an Alien: Bruce Coville! In the first hilarious Enchanted Files, Angus is a brownie. No, not the kind you eat! He's a tiny magical creature that loves to do chores. Angus has just “inherited” a new human girl, Alex. To say that Alex is messy would be an understatement. She's a total hurricane-like disaster—and she likes it that way, thankyouverymuch! Living with each other isn't easy but Angus and Alex soon learn there is a curse that binds them. What's worse, it threatens Alex's family! Working together, Angus and Alex will set out to break the curse... without killing each other first... hopefully.This laugh-out-loud adventure, full of humor and heart, is ideal for fans of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library or Chris Grabenstein.•'Smart, amusing, and a lot of fun'—Booklist (starred review)'With magic, mischief, and mayhem to spare, this sweet story of an unlikely friendship ought to delight readers of any age.'—Publishers Weekly'A knee-slapper.'—Kirkus Reviews

If you like the Avengers, Justice League, or The Incredibles, then you'll love this family of superheroes! This new chapter book series is perfect for reluctant readers. Everyone in Peter Powers'family has super awesome superpowers. His dad controls fire with his mind, and his mom can fly. His big brother makes copies of himself, and his little sister is super-strong. And his baby brother even turns invisible! But all Peter can do is--this is really embarrassing--make ice cubes with his fingertips. When Captain Tornado comes to town and begins robbing banks, will Peter Powers and his totally lame abilities step up to save the day--or will he get cold feet? Join Peter Powers and his fantastic family for their first action-packed and fun-filled adventure to find out!Peter Powers and His Not-So-Super Powers is the first in a new chapter book series of exciting stories about a young boy who has the worst superpower ever. Each story is full of humor, action, and fun, but the charm can be found in the heartfelt message about the power of family, friends, and having confidence.

The lovable wackiness of Modern Family meets zany contests in this delightful new series that will have readers laughing out loud! Cal Talaska can't wait for his family to win the Great Grab Contest! The prize? Twenty minutes to grab anything in the world-famous Wish Shoppe! He knows his family will leave the competition in the dust, but first he has to convince them to compete! To get their eyes on the prize, Cal focuses on what his family wants from the Wish Shoppe—a gym for Mom, a whole orchestra for Dad, tools to build a spaceship for little sister Imo, and candy for baby brother Bug! Cal would do anything to get them to compete, even if that means tricking them into it... They'll thank him later! When it comes to the Talaskas, family always comes first. But can Cal convince them to go for first place too?

It's the summer of 1963, and something strange is afoot in the quiet town of Farro, Iowa. The school district's most notorious bully has gone missing without a trace, and furthermore, seventh grader Henry Nilsson and his friends have just found an odd book stashed in the woods by Longbelly Gulch—a moldy instruction guide written to teach the art of'subtle travel,'a kind of out-of-body experience. The foursome will soon discover that out-of-body life isn't so subtle after all—there are some very real, and very dangerous, things happening out there in the woods. The science fiction inventiveness of Madeleine L'Engle meets the social commentary of Gary Schmidt in this thrilling tale of missing persons, first crushes, embarrassing pajamas, and thought-provoking dilemmas.

The third in a contemporary series just like Encyclopedia Brown, but with a little more brawn, and a lot more brainteasers!Super-sleuth Charlie Collier is thinking about taking a hiatus from his detective agency to play a private eye in a school play—but when some real robberies stump the police, Charlie realizes that detective work really is his true calling.He and his sidekicks Henry and Scarlett team up with Charlie's grandma and her old buddy Eugene to set a trap for the robber—one they're sure will catch him. But the trap doesn't work out quite the way they thought it would, leaving Charlie, Henry and Scarlett in grave danger.This high-stakes adventure is filled to the brim with brainteasers. Charlie can solve them all—can you?What people are saying about Charlie Collier's first caper:“I loved reading The Homemade Stuffing Caper. The mystery is challenging. The many characters in the book are great fun. I look forward to reading the next Charlie Collier story, and the next, and the next, and the...”—David A. Adler, author of the Cam Jansen mysteries “The Homemade Stuffing Caper is an exciting mystery, full of jokes and puns, as well as brainteasers and lots of detective work. This may be the first mystery you don't want the detective to solve, because you won't want it to end!”—Bookpage “Brisk and absorbing, author John Madormo's debut tips its fedora to hard-boiled classics with its ‘sixth-grader meets Sam Spade'narration.”—FamilyFun Magazine “With mysteries to solve, codes to decrypt, and an extended cast of colorful characters in tow, this first in a new series offers lots of mystery fans to chew on and will leave them hungry for the next installment.”—Booklist A Bookpage Top Ten Summer Reading Selection for 2012

Charlie Collier is back solving mysteries out of his parents'garage, and this one's a doozey! Actually, there may be more than just one mystery out there to solve. There's Charlie's friend Sherman's brother, who is missing. And then there's a series of robberies in town involving masked teenagers. Could they be related? Charlie has to get himself in a heap of trouble--like getting thrown in juvie!--to figure out what's going on.Filled with action, adventure, humor and brain teasers, this is perfect for an older elementary school or young junior high school mystery fan.

Perpetual scaredy-cat Conor O'Neill has the fright of his life when a banshee girl named Ashling shows up in his bedroom. Ashling is--as all banshees are--a harbinger of death, but she's new at this banshee business, and first she insists on going to middle school. As Conor attempts to hide her identity from his teachers, he realizes he's going to have to pay a visit to the underworld if he wants to keep his family safe.'Got your cell?''Yeah.... Don't see what good it'll do me.''I'll text you if anything happens that you should know.''Text me? Javier, we'll be in the afterlife.''You never know. Maybe they get a signal.'Discover why Kirkus has called Booraem's work'utterly original American fantasy... frequently hysterical.'This totally fresh take on the afterlife combines the kid next door appeal of Percy Jackson with the snark of Artemis Fowl and the heart of a true middle grade classic.

Robbie Forester always knew life wasn't fair, but she never thought she could do anything about it--until one day when a powerful charm comes into her possession and guides her, her friends, and her dog Pendleton on the path to justice. Unfortunately, the path has gotten dangerous, and Robbie and her friends find themselves in a menacing world of thievery, arson, big yachts, and even bigger bank accounts. Will Robbie and her band of thieves end up in more trouble than they ever could have imagined?

Casey LaPlante wanted nothing to do with racecar driving. What was so impressive about making a bunch of left turns, one after another? But from what she had seen as the sister of Fliverton's newest stock-car hero, Wade “the Blade” LaPlante, her whole town was interested in little else. Next to her brother, she felt invisible. Even her parents seemed to ignore her athletic victories and academic successes. With so much of her family's income being poured into Wade's racing career, she wasn't even sure her parents would help pay her college tuition.So one late-April evening, Casey decides to get behind the wheel and claim a little of the attention she had been denied. After all, how hard could racecar driving be? But as the first female driver at Demon's Run racetrack, she finds getting up to speed more challenging than she'd expected. Casey soon discovers there's more to stock-car racing than driving around in circles, and more to winning than being first to cross the finish line. Action and suspense run high as Casey navigates some tight corners, on and off the track, showing everyone—especially herself—just what she's made of.

Independent-minded Sam does not like the fact that she has to spend a month of her summer vacation at her grandparents'place. Twelve-year-old Sam adores her grandmother, but Grandma will be at work most of the time during Sam's visit, leaving Sam with the Colonel, her prickly grandfather. Sam's relationship with him is shaky at best, and now that the Colonel has had to retire from his career as a military pilot, he is harder than ever to get along with. Sam soon finds that her grandfather's behavior is even stranger than she expected. He keeps disappearing for long stretches of time and won't let Sam go into the old barn. Sam is eager to solve the mystery, but when she discovers that the Colonel is secretly building an airplane, they both have a decision to make. Will Sam let the cat out of the bag and ruin her grandfather's plan? Or will he relent and let Sam help him finish the plane? In this story filled with interesting facts and aeronautical information, author Kathleen Benner Duble skillfully mines the depth and complexity of human relationships and what happens when dreams, once deferred, may finally be realized.

Freddy's just a normal kid... with an out-of-this-world life!Freddy, his sister, Babette, and their parents have been abducted by aliens! Next stop, the planet Flurb, where things couldn't be more different from their ordinary life on Earth. On Flurb, they snack on yootleturds, the buildings are alive, and the aliens make Freddy King! But his reign won't last long if the evil Wizbad has anything to say about it... or Babette! Her brother as king? No way!

It's an interplanetary disaster!As king of Flurb, Freddy's got it made. Everyone worships him! Well, maybe not everyone. Not Deathsnail, Chewtyke, and Big Bad Wongo—the vicious leaders of nearby planets—who want to publicly pulverize him. Not his scheming sister, Babette, who can't stand being ruled by him. And certainly not the superjealous Wizbad, who will stop at nothing to knock Freddy from his throne!

It's not easy being king....King Freddy has been blasted billions of miles into space, the evil Wizbad is holding Freddy's family hostage in the boiling Flurbian desert, and Freddy's sister, Babette, is being forced into battle against his sidekick, Glyzix! Things are looking pretty bad—but Freddy wasn't made supreme ruler of Flurb for nothing! Can he get back to Flurb in time to beat the bad guys, save the day, and take back his throne?

Middle-school readers ages 8-12 can experience a story of action and adventure in Smuggler's Treasure, book 3 in the Wall Trilogy series which presents historically accurate fiction that brings the past to life in a kid-friendly way. As the Cold War begins to thaw, West Berliner Liesel discovers a shocking family secret, with answers that can only be uncovered in East Berlin.Smuggler's Treasure is perfect for:kids interested in stories about spies, mysteries, adventure, and friendshipproviding a fun and interesting series that helps readers 8-12 understand history in a real and understandable wayhomeschool or school librariesback to school reading, birthdays, and holiday giftsIn Smuggler's Treasure, life is good for Liesl in West Germany in 1989. But as she works on a class project, she stumbles onto a startling secret no one will talk about. Will she ever learn the whole story about her family and what happened to them after the building of the Berlin Wall?If you enjoyed Smuggler's Treasure, be sure to check out the first two books in the Wall Trilogy for the entire story: Candy Bombers and Beetle Bunker

Middle-school readers ages 8-12 can experience a story of action and adventure in Beetle Bunker, book 2 in the Wall Trilogy series which presents historically accurate fiction that brings the past to life in a kid-friendly way. In 1961 East Berlin, Sabine discovers a forgotten underground bunker that could possibly take her family under the wall to West Berlin and freedom … if they can find a way to get her across.Beetle Bunker is perfect for:kids interested in stories about spies, mysteries, adventure, and friendshipproviding a fun and interesting series that helps readers 8-12 understand history in a real and understandable wayhomeschool or school librariesback to school reading, birthdays, and holiday giftsIn Beetle Bunker, Sabine lives in 1960s East Berlin, where neighbors spy on each other, books are forbidden, and people sometimes disappear in the middle of the night … to the west side of the Berlin Wall. When Sabine discovers a forgotten underground bunker, she first uses it to escape her crowded home and comments on her physical disability, then thinks of a new use for the bunker. Could it take her family under the wall to freedom?If you enjoyed Beetle Bunker, be sure to check out the other books in the Wall Trilogy for the entire story: Candy Bombers and Smuggler's Treasure

Daniel knows it would be dangerous if anyone found out about his tiny twin brother. But when his sister accidentally posts a video of Pablo on her blog, Daniel is catapulted to instant stardom. Everyone is wowed by his special-effects skills—because there couldn't actually be a miniature boy dancing on camera, could there? Daniel's fear of Pablo being discovered is soon overshadowed by the lure of superstardom. Everyone is thrilled for him—except Pablo. Pablo can't help but be jealous—after all, it's his talent that's getting Daniel noticed. Pablo's tired of being left in the background, and decides it's time for a drastic move. Will Daniel come to his senses before Pablo changes their lives forever?

It's 1849, the year John Huffman's father is sentenced to London's Whitecross Street Prison. He's been put away for gambling debt—leaving fourteen-year-old John and his family out on the street. But it seems gambling is the least of their problems: Father Huffman is accused of treason. Surrounded by a cast of sinister and suspicious characters, John's not sure what to believe…or whom.

You know how your stomach growls when you're really hungry? That's how it started, except the growling wasn't coming from my stomach. It was coming from behind my eyeballs....'Help!'I screamed. But my voice wasn't normal either. It was the voice of a small person. A very very very small person. Meet Daniel Funk, a regular guy who's stuck living in a house full of girls. Why couldn't he have a brother instead of all those sisters? That would be so cool. When Daniel shrinks to the size of the fourth toe on his left foot, he discovers that he actually does have a brother. A little brother. A very little brother. He's Pablo Funk, Daniel's tiny twin, who is a toeful of trouble. When Daniel and Pablo decide to have some fun at their sisters'party and let loose a giant hissing cockroach just to watch the girls scream, they find out that it's dangerous to be so small. Lin Oliver's hilarious new series, with Stephen Gilpin's comical illustrations, reveals that sometimes big-time fun comes in very small packages.

Although it is 1914 and the world is changing all around him, Felix LeBlanc feels trapped on his Louisiana farmhouse, where nothing ever happens. When he hears his uncle,'Nonc Adolphe, play the fiddle for the first time, he knows there's music in his blood, and he's determined to be a musician, too. However, he's too poor to buy his own fiddle, and to make matters worse, Maman has forbidden him to even touch one, fearing that he'll choose the wayward life of a fiddler. And so Felix begins to build his own fiddle out of a crude cigar box and a piece of cypress wood, keeping it a secret from his family and even his best friend, Chance. It is a solitary journey that will require all of his ingenuity—and place at risk the relationships that are dearest to him. Set against the colorful backdrop of the Cajun bayous, Fiddle Fever relays an important message about the universal need for self-expression and the compromises we must all make in our search for individuality. Glossary of French terms.

Plots, shots, flight, pursuit — all are part of this story from the exciting chapter in America's history when thousands of Loyalists fled to Canada to evade the vengeance of the American Revolutionaries. Twelve-year-old Ned Seaman tells this lively tale of his family's perilous journey. Escape may be fiction, but Martha and Caleb Seaman and their children actually existed.