Geraldine McCaughrean

Gloria is a maid in the palace of Afalia, not a ruler, not a hero, and certainly not Madame Suprema. But when catastrophic flooding strikes and the country’s tyrannical Head of State runs away to save herself, Gloria is forced into a dangerous performance: pretend to be the leader while desperate officials try to keep the truth hidden. The costume fits too well for comfort. Every speech, every order, and every silence could help people survive, or bury them deeper under the lies. Sharp, tense, and darkly funny, this young adult novel drops you into a world where politics is theater, disaster is real, and one teenager must decide whether truth is worth risking everything.

A hole appears outside Inez’s father’s shop. Then another. Then more, until the main street of their Brazilian town is a maze of pits, planks, and dangerous dreams. The word gold has traveled fast, and suddenly everyone seems ready to dig up the town for a chance at getting rich. For Inez and her brother, the excitement soon turns frightening as greed changes neighbors, blocks roads, and threatens the foundations under their feet. This fast-moving middle grade adventure brings a gold rush to life through the eyes of children watching their home wobble between hope and ruin. It is a vivid story about treasure, temptation, and what a town may lose when everyone is chasing what glitters.

Rusti has been trained to serve Tamburlaine, the brutal Conqueror of the World, and to show no fear in battle. Then he sees his first elephant. Kavi, the elephant’s rider, is captured by the Mongol horde and expects only cruelty from his enemies. Instead, a wary connection begins between two boys who should have every reason to hate each other. Set against the violence and uncertainty of war, this historical novel explores loyalty, courage, and friendship under pressure. As Rusti learns more about Kavi, about Tamburlaine’s campaign, and about secrets close to his own life, he must begin asking what kind of warrior he truly wants to be.

Symone Wates is a fourteen-year-old girl who feels utterly out of place in the real world. Her only true confidant isn't a friend from school, but Captain Titus Oates—a heroic explorer who perished in the Antarctic nearly a century ago. To Sym, his voice in her head is her constant companion and guide. So, when her eccentric uncle Victor offers to take her on a dream vacation to the freezing, bleak wilderness of Antarctica, Sym cannot believe her incredible luck. The frozen landscape is everything she ever imagined. But the dream quickly turns into a terrifying nightmare. Victor is harboring a sinister, dangerous obsession of his own, seeking a mythical opening to the center of a hollow Earth. Trapped in the most isolated, unforgiving landscape on the planet with a man rapidly losing his mind, Sym finds herself in a desperate struggle for survival. With no one to hear her cries for help, she must rely on her own courage and the ghostly voice of Captain Oates to outlast the deadly ice and her uncle's madness. Will the explorer who died in this very wasteland be the key to keeping her alive?

Fourteen-year-old Nathan Gull lives a dreary, penniless existence in eighteenth-century England, spending his days dreaming of the thrilling lives of pirates. He imagines high-seas adventures and daring escapes to brighten his bleak reality. So, when Tamo White—the son of a notorious, real-life pirate—invites Nathan to accompany him to his homeland of Madagascar, it seems like the ultimate fantasy come true. But Nathan refuses to leave his timid, mousy sister, Maud, behind, bringing her along on the dangerous journey. Once they reach the beautiful, exotic shores of Madagascar, Nathan quickly discovers that the harsh, brutal reality of pirates is a far cry from his romantic daydreams. Thrust into a strange and unpredictable land filled with ruthless cut-throats and dark secrets from Tamo’s dangerous past, both Nathan and Maud are pushed to their absolute limits. Together, they must adapt to a completely new world where survival is never guaranteed. This sweeping, colorful journey whisks you away to a distant paradise, offering an unforgettable adventure where the stakes are life and death, and true courage is forged in the fires of danger.

When her mother suddenly dies from a deadly snakebite, young Comity Pinny’s life in the harsh Australian outback is changed forever. Stranded in the dusty expanse of the Kinkindele Repeater Station—truly the middle of nowhere—Comity is left entirely alone as her father, the stationmaster, retreats completely into his grief and his telegraph work. Desperate for connection, Comity turns to her vivid imagination and strikes up a profound friendship with Fred, the young Aboriginal yard boy who becomes her only true ally in the desolate landscape. But their fragile peace is shattered when a new station assistant, the ruthless and cruel Quartz Hogg, arrives. Hogg delights in playing vicious, manipulative games, and his arrival brings Comity and her father sharply back down to a terrifying reality. As Hogg's actions grow increasingly violent, he sets his murderous sights on Fred. With her father oblivious and events spiraling dangerously out of control, it is entirely up to Comity to find the courage to stand up against a grown man and stop a tragedy. This gripping, emotionally charged tale builds to an explosive climax that will leave you breathless.

Step into one of the oldest and most legendary stories in human history, an epic tale that tackles the very things that still matter to us today: unwavering friendship, enduring fame, and the ultimate quest for courage. Gilgamesh is a mighty hero and a restless king, and Enkidu is his fiercely loyal best friend. Together, they are an unstoppable force. They can work absolute wonders, bravely fight terrifying monsters, withstand devastating earthquakes, and travel to the farthest reaches of the ancient world. Their thrilling adventures bring them unparalleled glory and excitement. But waiting quietly in the dark shadows is the one undefeated enemy they can never simply overpower with swords or strength: death itself. When tragedy strikes, Gilgamesh must embark on a final, harrowing journey to seek the impossible secret of immortality. Retold with striking power and imagination, this brilliant adaptation breathes fresh life into the ancient legend of Gilgamesh. It is a spellbinding, unforgettable saga of heroism and heartbreak that will capture your imagination and linger in your mind long after you have turned the final page.

With the devastating threat of World War II looming right on their doorstep, the children of Greenwich, England, are forced to board trains to be evacuated to the safety of the countryside. But four young people sitting in the same carriage make a bold, split-second decision: they simply aren't ready to leave their home behind. Climbing out of the train window just in the nick of time, Laurence, Gemmy, Franklin, and Olive forge an unlikely but fiercely loyal friendship. Heading back into the heart of a city preparing for war, they spend their days trying to be as useful as possible. Laurence constructs a secret machine, Gemmy searches bombed-out homes and rescues an adorable stray mutt, Franklin lies about his age in desperate hopes of joining the fire service, and Olive tenderly cares for her broken-hearted firefighter father. Together, the four friends roam the shifting streets of London, discovering their own incredible resilience. But as the Blitz finally unleashes a merciless barrage of bombs, turning the night sky a ragged, fiery red, can they possibly keep each other safe? Beautifully researched and deeply moving, this is an unforgettable celebration of hope and friendship during the darkest of times.

In thirteenth-century China, the sky is a realm of powerful spirits, biting winds, and unparalleled danger. Twelve-year-old Haoyou knows that his beloved father’s spirit now lives among the clouds, following a tragic and deliberate accident at sea. Desperate to save his widowed mother from a horrendous forced marriage to the wicked man responsible for his father's death, Haoyou makes a terrifying choice. He follows in his father’s footsteps and takes to the skies as a kite rider. Strapped to a massive, beautiful scarlet-and-gold kite, he is launched perilously into the clouds to entertain the awestruck crowds below. When the mysterious Great Miao invites Haoyou to join the traveling Jade Circus, it seems like the perfect chance to earn money, gain his freedom, and escape his greedy relatives. The circus even plans to perform for the mighty Mongol conqueror, Kublai Khan himself! But life as the star attraction is incredibly dangerous, and the circus master may be hiding a treacherous plot of his own. Can Haoyou survive the dizzying heights and the dangerous enemies plotting below? This dazzling, epic journey will sweep you away into a world of breathtaking adventure and fierce family loyalty.

Ailsa absolutely does not trust MCC Berkshire, the strange and eccentric young man who has suddenly talked his way into helping out at her mother's dusty antique shop. He has moved himself in, sleeps on an old bed that is supposed to be for sale, and corners every single customer who walks through the door. His tactic? He tells the most spellbinding, mesmerizing stories about the shop's forgotten antiques. From thrilling pirate adventures and spooky Victorian horrors to laugh-out-loud comedies and sweeping romances, MCC spins a perfect tale perfectly tailored to suit every buyer's taste. At the end of each incredible story, the customers are so deeply entranced that they immediately purchase the item. Suddenly, the struggling shop is a massive success! But Ailsa knows that everything he says is just a massive pack of lies. Or is it? As Ailsa and her mother watch their fortunes change, they must decide whether to encourage his wild fibs. Meanwhile, Ailsa finds herself slowly falling for this magical, maddening stranger. Who exactly is MCC Berkshire, where did he come from, and why is he telling these stories? The ultimate truth might just be the greatest twist of all.

Everyone thinks they know the classic story of the great Flood: God chose a righteous man named Noah to build an enormous ark, the animals marched on board two by two, and the rain relentlessly fell for forty days and forty nights. But what about the rest of the terrifying story? What about the people locked inside the boat, and the ones left behind? As the heavens violently open and the world drowns, Timna—the sole daughter of Noah—must face a chilling new reality. Trapped below deck in squalid conditions with a chaotic cargo of terrified animals, Timna watches her father become increasingly zealous and detached. How does it truly feel to sail into the vast, watery unknown, turning a deaf ear to the desperate cries of friends and neighbors pleading for rescue in the rising waves? Could all this hunger, fear, and immense suffering genuinely be part of a divine plan? As the agonizing days stretch on and the firm lines between right and wrong begin to blur, Timna must find the unimaginable courage to question her own father when absolutely no one else will. This spellbinding, provocative survival story will completely change the way you see a legend.

King Shahryar is a man consumed by betrayal and fear. Terrified that his wives will eventually stop loving him, he takes a horrifying vow: he marries a new bride each day, only to have her tragically put to death the very next morning. Hundreds of innocent women have perished under his cruel command before the brave and brilliant Shahrazad steps forward. On the terrifying night of her wedding, Shahrazad sets a clever, daring plan into motion to save her own life. She begins to tell her dangerous new husband a mesmerizing story. But as dawn approaches, she intentionally leaves the tale on a thrilling cliffhanger, promising to finish it the following night. Desperate to hear the ending, the King postpones her execution. Night after night, Shahrazad spins the most incredible, engrossing fables—featuring the legendary Sinbad the Sailor, the clever Ali Baba, powerful jinnis, and magical worlds. But can her beautiful imagination keep her alive forever? This gorgeous, masterful retelling weaves together the greatest fables, romances, and adventures of the Arabian Nights, all anchored by a breathtaking race against time. Dive into a magical desert world where the right story is truly a matter of life and death.

Young Gabriel’s life is brutally hard and frighteningly cheap. Bound as an apprentice to a cruel and bad-tempered stonemason, his days are filled with relentless, back-breaking labor and constant danger. Desperate for a way out, Gabriel makes a daring escape into the unknown. Miraculously, salvation arrives in the form of playmaster Garvey—a charismatic man who directs a traveling troupe of actors. Garvey takes one look at the innocent runaway and decides he is absolutely perfect for a very special role: he wants Gabriel to play the part of an angel in their theatrical mystery plays. Soon, Gabriel is soaring above the crowds, so incredibly convincing in his heavenly role that awestruck peasants shower the stage with coins. Finally, Gabriel feels like he has found true security, a loving family, and his true calling in life. But the glamorous, smoke-and-mirrors world of traveling players is full of deeply hidden secrets. Surrounded by dark characters like a man playing the Devil and his scowling daughter, Gabriel soon realizes that in a world built entirely on breathtaking illusions, people are rarely who they seem to be. Will this new life be his ultimate salvation, or his greatest downfall?

In the harsh, unforgiving summer of 1727, a group of men and boys from the remote island of St. Kilda are rowed out to a treacherous, jagged sea stac. Their annual mission is simple: camp on the rocks, harvest birds for food, and wait for the boat to return and bring them home. Every time a young lad goes fowling on the stacs, he comes home less of a boy and more of a man. But this year, the boat never returns. As the days stretch into agonizing weeks, young Quill and his friends find themselves entirely abandoned on a barren rock surrounded by a murderous, churning ocean. With the bitter cold setting in and their food supplies dwindling, a terrifying thought begins to take root in their minds: surely, nothing but the literal end of the world could explain why they have been left behind to die. Clinging to life and battling creeping madness, the boys must push themselves to the absolute limits of human endurance. Inspired by a devastating true event, this breathtaking masterpiece is an extraordinary story of raw courage, fierce loyalty, and the desperate, heartbreaking fight for survival against impossible odds.

Phelim is an ordinary boy until the old stories begin to move. The Stoor Worm, a monstrous World Eater from Britain’s forgotten magic, is waking after centuries of sleep, and its hatchlings are already spreading fear. A strange company gathers around Phelim: a Maiden, a Fool, and an unforgettable black Horse. They insist that he is the one who must face the danger, though he has no idea how a boy is supposed to fight legends that have teeth. Rich with myth, peril, and eerie wonder, this middle grade fantasy sends readers across a Britain where old magic has not vanished at all. The adventure is bold, frightening, and full of questions about courage when the impossible is suddenly real.

Neverland is calling again, but this time the call sounds like a warning. Strange dreams are leaking into the real world: pirates, mermaids, war paint, crocodiles, and nightmares that feel far too solid. Wendy and the Lost Boys know what it means. Peter Pan may need them, and the only way to help is to do the impossible and find their way back. But Neverland has changed, and adventure is waiting with sharper teeth than before. Written as the authorized sequel to J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, this middle grade fantasy blends familiar magic with new dangers, carrying readers into a story of courage, memory, and the wild pull of childhood.

Pepper Roux’s fourteenth birthday is a momentous, unforgettable occasion. Why? Because it is the exact day he is supposed to drop dead. Thanks to his aunt’s grim prophecy at his birth, everyone in his life—even his own parents—has been quietly waiting for him to expire. Even Pepper has resigned himself to his fate, though he would much rather prefer to keep living. But when he wakes up on his birthday and surprisingly finds himself still breathing, Pepper decides he isn't going to just sit around and wait for the end. He makes a daring choice: he runs away to sea to sidestep Fate entirely. Naive, trusting, and totally unprepared, Pepper sets a wild course through dangerous waters, constantly looking over his shoulder to outrun death. Along the way, he slips into a variety of hilarious personas, taking on new lives and inviting magnificent mayhem at every single turn. Filled with brilliant dark humor, daring escapades, and unforgettable characters, this riotous adventure proves that the best way to avoid your own death is to truly start living. Join Pepper on the run—if you can possibly keep up!

It is 1893, and the great Oklahoma Land Rush is on! Young Cissy Sissney and her ambitious family have rushed to the sweeping prairies to stake their claim and build a brand-new life. Along with a rugged, stubborn handful of fellow pioneers, they step off the train into the map-born town of Florence—which is currently nothing more than a double plot of sun-baked dirt—and begin to build a community. But trouble arrives as soon as the sun goes down. The greedy Red Rock Railroad Company wants their valuable land and tries to buy them out. When the fiercely proud settlers absolutely refuse to sell, the ruthless railroad president lowers the boom: no trains will ever stop in Florence again. Without the vital railroad, their beloved new town will wither and die. But the railroad boss vastly underestimated the people of Florence. It is completely up to Cissy, her family, and her eccentric neighbors to force the train to stop by any means necessary—fair or foul. Packed with pulse-pounding excitement, clever shenanigans, and gut-busting humor, this is a brilliantly fun adventure about a community banding together to fight for their dreams.

Cyrano de Bergerac is a brilliant, flamboyant force of nature. He is a fiercely brave soldier, an unmatched swordsman, and a remarkably gifted poet who can spin breathtakingly beautiful verses. He seems like the absolute perfect romantic hero, except for one tragically unavoidable flaw: he possesses the most comically enormous nose in all of France. Deeply ashamed of his grotesque appearance, Cyrano hides a painful secret. He is hopelessly and silently in love with his beautiful, intelligent cousin, Roxane. Convinced that she could never look past his ugly visage to love the man beneath, Cyrano's heart breaks when Roxane confesses her infatuation with Christian, a handsome but foolish new guard in his regiment. When Roxane begs Cyrano to protect Christian and encourage him to write her love letters, Cyrano makes a stunningly generous and heartbreaking choice. He decides to write the letters himself, pouring his own passionate, unrequited soul into messages delivered by his rival. As this tangled web of deceit grows, Cyrano delivers the most romantic words ever written—but will Roxane ever discover the true author of her heart's desire? This swashbuckling, hilarious, and tender adaptation brings a legendary tale of love and sacrifice to vibrant new life.

The road to Canterbury is crowded with pilgrims, and every traveler has a story ready to burst out. At Harry Bailey’s inn, a storytelling contest begins: tell the best tale on the journey, and win a free dinner on the return. Soon the Knight, the Wife of Bath, the Miller, and many others are filling the road with adventures, tricks, quarrels, jokes, danger, and flashes of medieval life. Geraldine McCaughrean’s retelling opens Geoffrey Chaucer’s classic to younger readers with lively language and a strong sense of character, while keeping the playful energy of the original frame story. For readers ready for classic literature in an accessible form, this collection is a rich doorway into one of English literature’s most famous works.

Unlock the final volume of the world's most famous fairy tale collection and step into a realm of unmatched magic. This breathtaking anthology gathers thirty-three enchanting stories from the rugged landscapes of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Scandinavia. You will follow the thrilling quest of the Brown Bear of Norway, witness the epic Battle of the Birds, and unravel the mysterious power of the Sea King's gift. From clever thieves who outsmart greedy kings to brave children facing down woodland monsters, these tales are packed with fierce loyalty, shocking betrayals, and dazzling enchantments. Filled with rare Celtic legends and ancient folklore, this captivating book offers a perfect farewell to a legendary series. Grab your sword and prepare for one last, glorious journey into the heart of Fairyland.