Children’s / Teenage fiction: Action and adventure stories

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Book SynopsisIn this charming middle grade graphic novel, orphan twins Elliot and Liza find themselves taking on a series of mysterious raven quests in order to make money and survive—only for Liza to be mortally injured during one of their adventures. Now, Elliot must team up with a mysterious dark mage in order to save her.Twin siblings Elliot and Liza only have each other. Their parents are gone. Their home was taken, and to survive on their own, they’re forced to scrounge up plastic and metal to trade for coin within an abandoned garbage heap. Desperate to escape the vagabond cycle that they’re trapped in, the answer to their plight seemingly appears when they stumble upon a Raven Quest—magical tasks offered by mysterious message-carrying ravens that when successfully completed, promise the victors coin and untold riches.In a gamble to change their fates, Elliot and Liza follow the trail of Raven Quests to the kingdom’s capital, where the greedy rulers of the Kawumiti Kingdom reign and young people are enlisted to train as royal mages for the kingdom''s army. But the Ravens Quests aren’t as they seem, and the King is on a mission to hunt down vagrant participants like the twins.When a quest goes terribly wrong, Liza is poisoned, and Elliot finds himself racing against the clock to find the cure. Now the only way to save his sister is to join forces with a royal apprentice and a dark mage with mysterious motives of her own—even if it means sacrificing everything.Trade Review“A thrilling, magical adventure from start to finish.” — Gale Galligan, New York Times bestselling author of Freestyle “The popular middle grade–style illustrations and supportive characters infuse the tone with resilience and hope. For those who enjoy adventures such as The Nameless City or NewsPrints, this is another illuminating graphic novel that wraps its social issues around the lives of heart-capturing characters.” — School Library Journal (starred review) “A page-turning adventure, full of heart and charm.” — Kirkus Reviews “The Secret of the Ravens explores a truly unique, adventurous world, in which these lovable siblings play to your heart, but confront just enough horror to mess with your head!” — Bowen McCurdy, author of the YALSA award-winning Specter Inspectors “It's such a unique fantasy middle-grade graphic novel with sprinkles of Filipino wonder! Everything is in there, from magical action scenes, riveting quests, to secrets of the kingdom slowly being discovered, all centering two children, just trying to make it in the world!” — Richard Mercado, author of Coming Out Perfect “A charming story with a sibling bond that tugs at the heart strings, an intriguing magic system and an ending that instantly leaves you wanting more.” — Angela De Vito, co-author and illustrator of Heartless Prince “A magical world filled with mystery, intrigue, and charming characters you can't help but root for. The Secret of the Ravens opens up a daring adventure for any young reader.” — Jes & Cin Wibowo, authors of Lunar Boy “Boldly outlined [and] detailed.” — Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisFrom New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan, Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this sexy, action-packed fantasy about a girl who is caught between two treacherous faerie courts and their dangerously seductive princes. Brie hates the Fae and refuses to have anything to do with them, even if that means starving on the street. But when her sister is sold to the sadistic king of the Unseelie court to pay a debt, she'll do whatever it takes to get her back—including making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the Seelie court. Gaining unfettered access to the Seelie court is easier said than done. Brie's only choice is to pose as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, and she soon finds herself falling for him. Unwilling to let her heart distract her, she accepts help from a band of Unseelie misfits with their own secret agenda. As Brie spends time with their mysterious leader, Finn, she struggles to resist his seductive charm. Caught between two dangerous courts, Brie must decide who to trust with her loyalty. And with her heart.

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Book SynopsisWhen a celebrity chef’s new restaurant threatens Mila’s family’s food truck, she plans to expose them for the recipe thieves they are—even if that means dabbling in the Filipino folk magic she’s tried to avoid. Fans of Tae Keller and Lily LaMotte will cheer for this charming story about food, family, and finding the place you belong.Mila may have moved to Coral Beach months ago, but it still doesn’t feel like home. A few awkward incidents with her new friends make her wonder if she’ll ever neatly fit into the super-samey small town.The only place she can be herself is at her dad’s Filipino-Indian food truck, The Banana Leaf. But when celebrity chef twins the Fab Foodie Brothers open a restaurant nearby, it turns out the food they are serving is exactly the same as The Banana Leaf''s--right down to the recipes!Mila realizes that she needs to take the Fab Foodie Brothers down before they run her fami

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Moving and suspenseful…Children who are intrigued by history will find [it] enthralling. But this is also a book for young writers. Lowry the magician is willing to take us backstage and show us her tricks. “The Windeby Puzzle” explores not only how a master craftsman builds her story but why.” — New York Times Book Review “This book, [Lowry’s] answer to probing questions, beautifully illustrates the interaction between idea and execution, illuminating the architecture of storytelling. Dramatic full-page art by Stroh as well as photographs add intrigue.” — Kirkus Reviews “Moving and engrossing… After learning about an ancient body found in a peat bog, Lois Lowry imagines the life that might have been in this captivating blend of fiction, archeology and bog biology.” — Shelf Awareness “In this brief, evocative work that examines the past through a meta lens, a vividly sketched portrayal emphasizes the community’s rigid gender roles and rhythms of daily life amid the natural world.” — Publishers Weekly PRAISE FOR ON THE HORIZON: "ON THE HORIZON is deeply felt and emotive, not about sides but about people, sure to lead readers to think deeply on these dual tragedies of war. A must for all collections." — Booklist (starred review) PRAISE FOR THE WILLOUGHBYS: "The tone of this darkly dry pastiche is consistently witty, and it's chock-full of accessible parodic references to...classic children's texts." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) PRAISE FOR THE GIVER: "Lowry is once again in top form raising many questions while answering few, and unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous reader." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “The stories are tightly woven and moving, built of gritty, convincing detail and written in the cadenced rhythm of which Lowry is a master. But it is in the essays that she tackles, head-on, big questions of mortality and meaning in a way that is most unusual, honest, and deeply respectful of her young audience.” — Horn Book Magazine

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Book SynopsisA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionThe third book in the thrilling series about the Widdershins sisters is a spellbinding tale of sorcery, spells, and witches.It should have been a fresh start for the Widdershins, finally free from the misty gloom of Crowstone and beginning a new life. But all is not as it seems in their postcard-pretty village. Their neighbors are acting strangely, and why do they flinch at the mere mention of magic?The Widdershins sisters have their own secret: a set of enchanted nesting dolls with the power to render their user invisible. The sisters must use their wits—and their magic—if they''re to break the dark hold over the village, and save one of their own . . . but have they finally met their match?A dangerous spell cast over an unsuspecting village.An enchanted painting locked in a hidden room.A desperate race against time to break the

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Book SynopsisThis sequel to A Pinch of Magic is another spellbinding sisterly adventure, this time with a haunted shipwreck, a fierce pirate, and, of course, a little magic!The family curse has been lifted, and the Widdershins sisters—Betty, Fliss, and Charlie—are free to leave the misty prison isle of Crowstone. But when a mysterious girl arrives at their inn accompanied by a will-o’-the-wisp, or ghost, it seems another adventure has landed on their doorstep. The stranger, named Willow, is an escaped prisoner from nearby Lament, desperate to clear her father''s name before he''s executed for a crime he didn''t commit. Then Charlie is kidnapped by poachers, swept away on a dangerous mission in search of pirate treasure that''s protected by a vengeful ghost. Betty, Fliss, and Willow pile into their trusty boat and embark on another incredible adventure, one that involves ghosts, fierce pirates, and a journey to a mythic

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Book SynopsisIn this highly anticipated sequel, Maya and the godlings must return to the sinister world of The Dark to retrieve the one thing keeping the veil between the worlds from crumbling: her father?s soul. Perfect for fans ofTristan Strong Punches a Hole in the SkyandWilla of the Wood.The threat from The Dark is far from over. Twelve-year-old Maya knows this. After crossing the veil between the two worlds, saving her father, and narrowly escaping the sinister clutches of the Lord of Shadows, tensions between the human world and The Dark are higher than ever. And even worse, Maya?s orisha powers as a godling are out of control.Now a guardian in training, Maya spends her days patching up veils with her father and cleaning up near-disasters like baby wormholes that her erratic powers create. But when Maya and her friends discover that something went terribly wrong during their journey to bring her father back to the human world, they are forced to return to The Dark and restore what they left behind, the one thing keeping the veil from falling: her father?s soul.The Lord of Shadows is mobilizing his forces for an all-out war against the human world. And this time, Maya and her friends will need all the help they can get. Even if that means teaming up with their greatest enemies, the darkbringers.

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Book SynopsisWelcome to 2048. Every graduate of the B.E.S.T. Program can receive a bionic enhancement as a rite of passage in this inclusive tween series. For Ace Wells, it is just the beginning of his epic augmentation journey in book one of this near-future sci-fi trilogy.Eleven-year-old Ace Wells’s dream has finally come true: he is a new cadet in the B.E.S.T. (Biological Enhancement Systems Technology) Program. Until now, he’s been living in the shadow of his superstar brother, Finn—but not for long.This is new Ace! He knows he can make his mark on the world with SuperSoar wings, but on day one, nothing goes as planned. The antagonistic elevator AI Otis wants to eat his belongings, the physical feats set by his tough-nut coach are impossible, and his celebrity roommates are far from welcoming.It becomes crystal clear that Ace is not prepared to fly—in any sense of the word.As tensions build, Ace has a sinking suspicion that there''s something more going on at B.E.S.T. than meets the eye. Will he ever make it to graduation and get the aug of his dreams? Join Ace and find out as he tests his strength and grit in this page-turning middle grade adventure!

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Book SynopsisFive orphans. Two sword-wielding vigilantes. One mansion. No rules.April thought she had her happy ending. After all, she has her new house and new friends and new guardian. But she also has a very big new secret.The kids of Winterborne House are the only ones who know that Gabriel Winterborne—famous billionaire and terrible cook—is really a sword-wielding vigilante.What they don’t know is that he’s not the only one.When a masked figure breaks in, looking for something—or someone—it’s clear that Gabriel has met his match, and now no one is safe. April and her friends will have to solve a decades-old mystery in order to hang on to the most important thing in the world: each other.

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Book SynopsisIn this thrilling and epic YA fantasy debut, the only hope for a city trapped in the eye of a cursed storm lies with the daughter of failed revolutionaries and a prince terrified of his throne.Vesper Vale is the daughter of revolutionaries. Failed revolutionaries. When her mother was caught by the queen’s soldiers, they gave her a choice: death by the hangman’s axe, or death by the Storm that surrounds the city and curses anyone it touches. She chose the Storm. And when the queen’s soldiers—led by a paranoid prince—catch up to Vesper’s father after twelve years on the run, Vesper will do whatever it takes to save him from sharing that fate.Even arm herself with her father’s book of dangerous experimental magic.Even infiltrate the prince’s elite squad of soldier-sorcerers.Even cheat her way into his cold heart.But when Vesper learns that there’s more to the story of her mother

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Book SynopsisIn The Last Chance for Logan County, the third Legendary Alston Boys mystery from Edgar Award nominee Lamar Giles—now in paperback—Otto and Sheed team up with the Epic Ellisons against a corporation that wants Logan County’s weirdness for itself!Otto and Sheed are back in yet another legendary adventure that just might take all their deduction skills, and a little help, to solve.With their journey through the last mirror on the left behind them, Otto and Sheed are ready for things to get back to normal. But their trip to that other dimension had side effects, and they come on quickly—starting with a thunderstorm that rains carnivorous frogs!And that''s only the beginning. When a suspicious company called GOO, obsessed with Logan County''s weirdness, shows up and starts buying all the property in town—and threatening to take Sheed away from Otto—some of the adults start acting stranger than usual, almo

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Book SynopsisIn this stand-alone middle-grade novel set in the same world as A Dog-Friendly Town, Josephine Cameron delivers a mystery full of prime-time puppers, Houdini-inspired whodunits, and a reminder that puzzles are best solved with a little teamwork.Eleven-year-old Rondo McDade is starting to feel left out. His older brother, Epic, is heading into high school, and his younger sister, Elvis, is always mad at him. His parents keep pushing him out of their dog-friendly bed and breakfast, the Perro del Mar, and into the company of the new kid in town while a famous TV show films on location at the Perro. It's an important week for the town, and everyone knows Rondo has a history of causing trouble. Even if he doesn't mean to.But when canine actors start to disappear, including Carmelito's most beloved celebrity doggo, Pico Boone, Rondo is sure he knows who did it. Can he win back his family's trust and crack the case before Pic

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Book SynopsisA tribute to Florida, fishing, and family, Cynthia DeFelice''s The Missing Manatee is Sure to hook readers. - BooklistAll Skeet Waters wants is to catch a big, beautiful tarpon on his fly rod - and to keep everything else in his life in Florida the way it''s always been. But on his spring break from school, Skeet overhears his mother telling his father to move out permanently. Then, while riding in his boat to escape his parents'' troubles, he discovers a manatee that''s been shot in the head. Skeet puts aside his search for the manatee and its killer when Dirty Dan the Tarpon Man offers to take him out to catch his first tarpon on a fly. Because of Dan, Skeet begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding the manatee''s apparent murder and his parents'' dissolving marriage.Skeet discovers that life is a lot like tarpon fishing, in which you can''t look just at the surface of the water - you have to look through it, at what lies beneath.<

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Book SynopsisAlthough young Montague Mad-Rat lives in--or rather, under--New York City, he know very few rats besides his mother, who makes hats, his father, who builds mud castles, and his globe-trotting Aunt Elizabeth. But Montague''s life takes an abrupt turn for the eventful the stormy day he meets Isabel Moberly-Rat on his way home from Central Park.Home, for Montague, is an old sewer pipe. He now learns that there is a cityful of other rats out there who inhabit abandoned piers and lead considerably less eccentric and more luxurious lives than his family. What''s more, these rats are in the midst of a grave crises. A human being has decided to turn their piers into parking lots, and an extermination campaign is already under way.As Montague stumbles into this wider, bewildering world, he long to help ratdom (and impress Isabel). But what can he do, when his only talent is painting the seashells his Aunt Elizabeth brings him from her travels? And to make matters worse, it tu

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