Book picks similar to
Shirley Link & The Safe Case by Ben Zackheim
mystery
childrens
kids
middle-grade
Suddenly in the Depths of the Forest
Amos Oz - 2005
Only the rebellious young teacher and an old man talk about animals to the children, who have never seen such (mythical) creatures. Otherwise there's a strange silence round the whole subject. One wretched, little boy has dreams of animals, begins to whoop like an owl, is regarded as an outcast, and eventually disappears.A stubborn, brave girl called Maya and her friend Matti, are drawn to explore in the woods round the village. They know there are dangers beyond and that at night, Nehi the Mountain Demon comes down to the village. In a far-off cave, they come upon the vanished boy, content and self-sufficient. Eventually they find themselves in a beautiful garden paradise full of every kind of animal, bird and fish - the home of Nehi the Mountain Demon. The Demon is a pied piper figure who stole the animals from the village. He, too, was once a boy there, but he was different, mocked and reviled, treated as an outsider and outcast.This is his terrible revenge, one which has punished him too, by removing him from society and friendship, and every few years he draws another child or two to join him in his fortress Eden, where he has trained the sheep to lie down with the wolves, and where predators are few. He lets the two children return to the village, telling them that one day, when people are less cruel and his desire for vengeance has crumbled, perhaps the animals might come back...
Funny Girl
Betsy BirdCharise Mericle Harper - 2017
A portion of the proceeds will support WriteGirl, a creative writing and mentoring organization for teen girls. Publication is set for spring 2017; Stephen Barbara at Inkwell did the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights.
The London Eye Mystery
Siobhan Dowd - 2007
Ted and Kat watch their cousin Salim get on board the London Eye. He turns and waves and the pod rises from the ground.Monday, 24 May, 12.02 p.m. The pod lands and the doors open. People exit in all shapes and sizes – but where is Salim?Ted and his older sister Kat become sleuthing partners since the police are having no luck. Despite their prickly relationship, they overcome their differences to follow a trail of clues across London in a desperate bid to find their cousin. And ultimately it comes down to Ted, whose brain runs on its own unique operating system, to find the key to the mystery.In Spring 2009. the Unicorn Theatre adapted The London Eye Mystery for the stage. The story was adapted by Unicorn Artistic Associate Carl Miller, directed by Rosamunde Hutt and performed by the Unicorn ensemble and received a host of rave reviews.
The Book of Lost Things
Cynthia Voigt - 2013
He also likes to boast (about his acting skills, his wife's acting skills, a fortune only his family knows is metaphorical), but more than anything he likes to have adventures. Max Starling's equally theatrical mother is not a boaster but she enjoys a good adventure as much as her husband. When these two disappear, what can sort-of-theatrical Max and his not-at-all theatrical grandmother do? They have to wait to find out something, anything, and to worry, and, in Max's case, to figure out how to earn a living at the same time as he maintains his independence. This is the first of three books, all featuring the mysterious Mister Max.
Shelve Under C: A Tale of Used Books and Cats
Jenny Kalahar - 2012
Here is a novel all about one bookshop and its resident cats, Stomper and Buglit; and about Kris, a 12-year-old boy who apprentices in the shop. Kris is a little bit like the cats: he’s a foster child getting used to a new family, and the cats are in the bookshop being fostered for the local shelter. Stomper and Buglit are a little bit like Kris: they get into trouble, have some wild adventures, and find out just what family really means. This is the first book in the Turning Pages series of used bookshop novels.Unlike some novels that have a used bookshop setting, Shelve Under C has the shop, its owners, its apprentice, its customers and, especially, its cats as the beating heart of this fuzzy beast. Come inside and breathe in the wonderful book smells of leather and paper and cloth. Pet the resident foster cats (and maybe take one home!). Sit near the sunny windows on one of the comfy chairs to read all afternoon. Or flip through the new arrivals and rare books and browse all of the books, old and new, in the loads of bookcases in No Page Unturned's several packed rooms.The main stars of this book are Stomper and Buglit. That's what they would tell you, anyway. Stomps is a grump, but he may have a tender middle. Bug is new to the bookshop. She misses her former owner, but Mrs. O'Malley is making her life less lonesome and Buglit, in return, is becoming very important to the bookshop owners in some funny and surprising ways. Kris is trying hard to fit into his new foster family, but even after several months he still feels like an outsider. He becomes an apprentice at the bookshop, where he gradually finds a way to fit back into his own world as well as into his foster family's. Shelve Under C is a little bit squishy. It's also funny, with hints of rockabilly, wild storms, doggy bucking broncos, catnip capers, near-deadly chicken salad sandwiches, and . . . books! No need to knock -- the door is open, so come on in, grab something to read, and get comfy on the big, red sofa.
Wildwood
Colin Meloy - 2011
It feels at once firmly steeped in the classics of children's literature and completely fresh. The story is told from multiple points of view, and the book features more than eighty illustrations, including six full-color plates, making this an absolutely gorgeous object.In Wildwood, Prue and her friend Curtis uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval—a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much greater as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness. A wilderness the locals call Wildwood.The bestselling trilogy from Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis consists of Wildwood, Under Wildwood, and Wildwood Imperium.
Tuesdays at the Castle
Jessica Day George - 2011
That's because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it's up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle's never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan- and bookseller-favorite kicks off a brand-new series sure to become a modern classic.