Kids Novels (Series)

From now on, I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight.

In a time when girls are forbidden to be warriors, Alanna of Trebond wants nothing more than to be a knight of the realm of Tortall. So she finds a way to switch places with her twin brother, Thom, and, disguised as a boy, begins her training as a page at the palace of King Roald. But the road to knighthood, as she discovers, is not an easy one. Alanna must master weapons, combat, and magic, as well as polite behavior, her temper, and even her own heart.

So begin Alanna's adventures--filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil--that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and make her a legend in the land.

Sleuthing duo Emily and James tackle their most challenging mystery yet set on the haunting Alcatraz Island in Book 3 of the New York Times-bestselling, middle-grade Book Scavenger series by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman!

Legendary literary game-maker Garrison Griswold is back in action--this time with "Unlock the Rock." For his latest game, Griswold has partnered with the famous--and famously reclusive--mystery writer Errol Roy to plan an epic escape room challenge on Alcatraz Island.

Emily and James are eager to participate, but the wave of fame they are riding from their recent book-hunting adventures makes them a target. Threatening notes, missing items, and an accident that might not have been an accident have the duo worried that someone is trying to get them out of the game at any cost.

When Emily's brother is caught red-handed and blamed for all the wrong doings, Emily is certain Matthew is being framed. With Matthew's record on the line, Emily and James can't afford to leave this mystery uncracked.

Christy Ottaviano Books

Praise for The Alcatraz Escape:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Emily, her friend James, and her brother Matthew travel to Alcatraz for an elaborate puzzle competition based on an original mystery by Errol Roy, a famously reclusive San Francisco writer. Series fans will enjoy following these likable young sleuths to Alcatraz Island, a distinctive setting for a mystery. --Booklist

When an investigation into a series of mysterious deaths leads agents to an elite prep school for rebellious kids, MI6 assigns Alex Rider to the case. Before he knows it, Alex is hanging out with the sons of the rich and powerful, and something feels wrong. These former juvenile delinquents have turned well-behaved, studious--and identical--overnight. It's up to Alex to find out who is masterminding this nefarious plot, before they find him.

From the author of Magpie Murders and Moriarty.

Alex Wise feels like his world is ending. His best friend, Loren, is leaving town for the summer, his former friend and maybe sort of crush Sky hasn't spoken to him since he ditched Alex on first day of sixth grade, and now his mom is sending him and his annoying younger sister, Mags, on a cruise with the dad who abandoned them. And, as if things couldn't get worse, a creepy shadow monster may or may not be stalking him.

But none of this could prepare Alex for the actual end of the world. Too bad that is exactly what's coming, after the definitely-real Shadow Man kidnaps Mags and she is possessed by the ancient spirit of Death--one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Luckily (depending on who you ask), Alex is possessed as well by a powerful god who imbues Alex with their powers in an effort to stop the Horsemen...if he can figure out how to use them. So begins an epic battle between good and evil: Alex, Loren, a grumpy demi-god, and Alex's fourth grade teacher vs. Death, Pestilence, Famine, War, and the waves of chaos and destruction they bring to LA and soon the rest of the globe. Just your average summer vacation.

Alex is more used to being left behind than leading the way, but now he's the only one who can save his sister--and the world. That is, if he can unlock his new powers and see himself as the hero he is.

"Never has the apocalypse been so fun!"
--Mark Oshiro, author of THE INSIDERS and co-author with Rick Riordan of THE SUN AND THE STAR: A NICO DI ANGELO ADVENTURE.

Alexis loves to organize and plan and set goals, which is why she's in charge of the business end of the Cupcake Club. But there's more to Alexis than meets the eye. Like the fact that she has a messy drawer, she likes to secretly dance in her bedroom...and she has a major crush on Matt Taylor--who happens to be her BFF Emma's brother.

When her feelings make things a little messy, Alexis decides to figure it out the way she always does: by conducting research, collecting data, and setting a goal. But is there a formula for love?

Ali Cross has always looked up to his father, former detective and FBI agent Alex Cross. While solving some of the nation's most challenging crimes, his father always kept his head and did the right thing. Can Ali have the same strength and resolve?

When Ali's best friend Gabe is reported missing, Ali is desperate to find him. At the same time, a string of burglaries targets his neighborhood -- and even his own house. With his father on trial for a crime he didn't commit, it's up to Ali to search for clues and find his friend. But being a kid sleuth isn't easy -- especially when your father warns you not to get involved! -- and Ali soon learns that clues aren't always what they seem. Will his detective work lead to a break in Gabe's case or cause even more trouble for the Cross family?

Alex Cross knows it's only a matter of time before his son finds his way into more trouble.

Neither of them expected Ali to get caught up in another case so quickly.

Ali and his friends were just hanging out in Anacostia Park . . . then they became witnesses to a crime.

Alex wants Ali to stay far away from the investigation. But Ali isn't going anywhere, not when his new friend Zoe is in trouble. It's up to Ali to figure out why she's lying to the police--and who she's protecting.

This is Ali's toughest case yet. As long as he trusts his Cross instincts, he may just have a shot at solving it . . .

The #1 bestselling kid detective is back! Mysteries, crime-solving, homeroom--all in a day's work for Ali Cross.

Ali Cross has always looked up to his father, the famous detective Alex Cross. And after helping to solve two big cases, Ali knows he has what it takes to follow in his father's footsteps. Eager to keep solving crimes, Ali and his friends hack into police calls and go to crime scenes to watch the detectives at work--and try to crack the cases themselves.

But when Ali witnesses something horrible, he has to grapple with tough questions about what it means to be a detective and a detective's son. Will Ali find a way to follow in his father's footsteps . . . or will he be the one in danger's path?