Owen

Vanja Schmidt is running out of time. As the adopted goddaughter of Death and Fortune, she knows every gift comes with a terrible price. To escape the otherworldly debt owed to her guardians, Vanja makes a ruthless choice. She steals the identity of her former employer, Princess Gisele, using an enchanted string of pearls to leave the real princess with nothing. Now living a lucrative double life, Vanja charms the royal court by day and empties their vaults by night to fund her ultimate getaway. Her perfect heist comes crashing down when she crosses the wrong deity. Cursed to slowly turn into precious jewels stone by stone, Vanja has just two weeks to break the spell. To survive, she must pull off the most dangerous grift of her life. With a sinister royal fiance, a feral half-god, and a relentlessly sharp junior detective closing in on her trail, her web of lies is unraveling fast. You will be swept into a brilliantly twisted fairy tale where stolen lives, fierce magic, and thorny truths collide. This fantasy adventure demands you keep reading until the final thrilling con is complete.

Jump in! What if you could step through a door into a different time? Join Mathew on a super important trip across England to his grandmother's house. He's got a new friend by his side, but when they arrive, things aren't quite as cozy as they used to be. Something feels a little off! Why it pulls you in: Get ready for a mystery! A brave girl named Clara meets a very peculiar neighbor. She makes a special promise to him and starts to discover big secrets about Mr. Lestrange. Can Mathew and Clara work together to solve the puzzles and help each other in a world full of surprises? Discover big ideas: This adventure is all about bravery, friendship, and discovering the truth, even when things seem confusing. It's a journey where every step could lead to a new discovery!

Two years after tearing down her own dangerous cult, Vanja Ros thought she could finally work alone. Now operating as the infamous Pfennigeist, she acts as a rogue folk hero, haunting the corrupt and leaving a signature red penny at the scene of every crime. But when the empire's royalty begins turning up dead with her calling card left on their bodies, Vanja goes from a beloved champion of the desperate to the kingdom's ultimate nightmare. The chaos peaks when the Blessed Empress falls, forcing the seven royal families into a vicious scramble for power that threatens the fabric of reality itself. To clear her name and protect the people she actually cares about, Vanja must step back into the lethal games of the elite. Complicating matters is Journeyman Prefect Emeric Conrad, the brilliant official who once swore he would always find her, right before she broke his heart. You will join Vanja as she reluctantly teams up with Emeric one last time to unravel a bloody conspiracy. Old flames and sinister magic collide in this thrilling, high-stakes conclusion to her extraordinary journey.

Vanja never intended to become a religious icon. But when misfortune strikes the reformed jewel thief, she manipulates a remote village for help and accidentally starts a cult dedicated to a Low God known as the Scarlet Maiden. Things go from bad to worse when her nemesis-turned-suitor, Emeric, arrives to investigate her claims of godhood. Just as Vanja realizes she is in way over her head, the Scarlet Maiden actually appears—and demands Emeric as a virgin sacrifice! Desperate to save the only boy she has ever cared about, Vanja strikes a dangerous bargain: she must collect a drop of blood from seven brothers before the midsummer feast. As they journey through the harsh and lawless Haarzlands, Vanja and Emeric must battle vengeful apparitions, hellhounds, and their own complicated feelings. Get ready for a thrilling, hilarious, and action-packed fantasy adventure where the stakes are higher than ever.

Black smoke fills the sky over Sabor, and Fie knows exactly what it means. The king is dead, and with him dies any hope that Prince Jasimir will honor his oath to protect the persecuted Crows. As the new chieftain of her people, Fie is thrust into a desperate fight for survival when the ruthless Queen Rhusana violently seizes the throne. The witch queen unleashes a deadly plague, twisting it to unite the fractured nation against the Crows and build a monstrous army. Forced into exile, Fie and her band are running out of time before starvation and disease wipe them out entirely. Realizing they cannot outrun the queen's wrath, Fie must rely on her sharpest instincts and summon unlikely allies to infiltrate the royal palace. Inside the treacherous palace walls, Fie discovers that defeating Rhusana requires more than just a hidden army. You will be pulled into a dark, high-stakes political web where unraveling ancient secrets could either save her people or set the entire world ablaze. This sweeping fantasy tests the limits of loyalty, sacrifice, and fierce leadership.

In the heart of the African savanna, a young lion cub named Fearless faces a world turned upside down. When a terrible omen shatters the peace of the Great Herd, the delicate balance of life in Bravelands is threatened. Fearless, born with a destiny he doesn't yet understand, must grapple with the harsh realities of survival and the complex laws of the wild. As ancient rivalries flare and new dangers emerge, Fearless finds himself caught between warring animal families, each fighting for dominance and their very existence. Can one cub rise above the chaos to protect his pride and restore harmony to the land? Join Fearless on an epic adventure where courage, loyalty, and the true meaning of leadership are tested against the untamed forces of nature. This thrilling tale will immerse you in a world where every paw print tells a story and every roar echoes with the spirit of the wild.

Dinner time is here, and your parents have put a plate of food right in front of you. The only problem is that you do not want to take a single bite. Maybe the food looks too green, or perhaps it is just not your favorite meal today. You know exactly how to push the food around your plate to make it look like you are eating when you really are not. This hilarious story explores the epic standoff between you and your parents at the kitchen table. You will laugh out loud as you recognize all the clever ways you try to avoid eating your dinner. It is a funny and honest look at how frustrating mealtime can be for everyone involved. You and your parents can giggle together about the daily struggle of finishing your vegetables and finally clearing your plate.

Jump City has been overrun by strange, shuffling creatures who are absolutely obsessed with finding good sales and eating brains. After a mysterious comet crashes from the sky, the Teen Titans decide the local mall is the perfect place to hang out and investigate the fallout. Robin has a theory that a zombie outbreak is about to happen, and everyone knows that zombies cannot resist a trip to the mall! But the situation quickly spins out of control. As the bargain hungry undead swarm the streets, Robin and his team must step up to save their beloved city. The danger is everywhere, the cemetery is definitely not safe, rival villains are getting caught in the mess, and some of the Titans are coming down with a serious case of shopping fever. Robin must figure out how to keep his distracted team focused long enough to cancel this hilariously terrifying apocalypse.

The summer cabin still has the lake, the cookies, the lemonade, and the places where happy memories used to happen. But this year Grandma is gone, and everything feels quieter and harder to understand. As a young child remembers the special visits she shared with her grandmother, the cat next door becomes a gentle link to the past. The familiar animal seems to remember, too, turning grief into something a child can hold a little more safely. The Cat Next Door is a tender illustrated story about loss, memory, and the small comforts that help when someone beloved is missing. With a warm, quiet tone, it offers young readers a thoughtful way to explore sadness, family love, and the healing power of remembered moments.

Cassie Bowen knows exactly who she wants for her class project partner: her best friend. Instead, she is paired with Aggy Gifford, the new girl almost everyone avoids. Aggy wears odd clothes, lives with her grandmother, and comes surrounded by whispers that make Cassie uneasy. Some kids even think there may be something witchy about Aggy’s home. But as Cassie spends time with her, the easy labels begin to fall apart. Aggy is stranger, funnier, and more interesting than Cassie expected, and choosing kindness may mean standing apart from the crowd. Cassie Bowen Takes Witch Lessons is a realistic chapter book about friendship, gossip, and the courage it takes to see someone clearly. Readers who enjoy school stories with emotional honesty will find a thoughtful look at belonging, difference, and what makes a true friend.

The summer of 1923 is one that eight-year-old Bessie will carry in her heart forever. As the warm months unfold, Bessie, alongside her twelve-year-old brother and their close friend, experiences a season marked by profound change and emotional awakening. What begins as a typical childhood summer soon transforms into a delicate journey of personal sacrifices, heartbreaking realities, and beautifully fulfilled desires. Through quiet moments and striking symbolism, Bessie learns what it means to grow up and face the complexities of the world around her. This moving and richly atmospheric historical tale captures the fleeting, bittersweet essence of youth. It is a beautifully crafted story that resonates with deep emotional truth, offering young readers a poignant glimpse into the fragile balance between childhood innocence and the challenging realities of coming of age.

Melanie Kessler did not ask to spend her summer at overnight camp. Camp Timberwood means strange cabins, unfamiliar kids, outdoor challenges, and a whole new set of rules she is not sure she wants to learn. Her first year away from home brings plenty of embarrassing moments and surprises, but it also brings discoveries Melanie never expected. She learns to handle camp routines, tries new activities, meets people who do not fit neatly into first impressions, and finds that summer can be both uncomfortable and exciting at the same time. A bit of attention from confident Steve Tepper only makes everything feel more complicated. Hail, Hail, Camp Timberwood is a realistic middle grade camp story about growing braver by degrees. Funny, observant, and honest about the worries of being away from home, it captures the mixed-up pleasures and pains of a first big summer adventure.

Simon’s heart starts thumping whenever Cybil Ackerman is nearby. For a fifth grader, that is already difficult enough. Then his best friend Tony decides he likes Cybil too. Suddenly friendship feels less simple. Tony is clever, dramatic, and willing to twist the truth if it helps him get attention. Simon wants to impress Cybil, but he also has to figure out whether loyalty to a friend should mean going along with things that feel wrong. As the rivalry grows, Simon finds himself caught between a crush, a friendship, and his own sense of fairness. The Cybil War is a warm, funny middle grade story about first crushes and complicated friendships. Betsy Byars captures the awkwardness of growing up with honesty and humor, making Simon’s small classroom drama feel big, real, and memorable.

David Bernstein still prefers being called Ali Baba, and fourth grade gives him plenty of reasons to keep the name. Ordinary days have a way of turning unusual when Ali Baba is involved. In these further adventures, he faces the kind of problems that are funny only after they happen: finding someone who might be the real Santa Claus, staying home alone for the first time, and making the sort of mess that seems to grow faster than he can fix it. Through each episode, Ali Baba’s lively imagination and honest mistakes make everyday childhood feel full of possibility. Hurray for Ali Baba Bernstein is a cheerful chapter book for readers who like realistic stories with humor, personality, and quick-moving situations. Johanna Hurwitz keeps the tone light and friendly while showing how one memorable kid learns his way through small adventures at home, school, and beyond.

Professor of Magical History Septimius Dropwort is dead, and his lifeless body is gripping a mysterious note. Now, everyone at the prestigious Galileo Academy for the Extraordinary is a suspect. Galileo has recently transformed into a roaming academy that celebrates students of all cultures and identities. While most welcome this inclusive new era, the stodgy and punishing Dropwort definitely did not. His harsh rules made him the least favorite professor on campus, giving almost everyone a motive. Told from more than a dozen alternating perspectives, you will follow Galileo's brightest young magicians as they race to uncover the truth behind the murder. Each student is absolutely certain that they alone possess the unique skills required to unravel the deep secrets hidden within the academy walls. As you piece together the clues left behind, you will discover that even for straight-A students, magic does not always follow the rules. This unique murder mystery unfolds through the distinct voices of eighteen acclaimed authors, bringing a massive cast of magical suspects to life.

Idaville is full of secrets, but nothing gets past the town's smartest ten-year-old detective. Leroy Brown, famously known as Encyclopedia, uses his incredible brain to solve the mysteries that leave everyone else completely stumped. With his trusty partner Sally Kimball by his side, Encyclopedia is ready to take on ten brand new cases that will test his memory and his eye for detail. This time around, you will face some incredibly bizarre clues, including a ruined tennis shirt, a missing slice of pizza, magical worm pills, and a stolen sheet of toilet paper from Spain. Even when suspects are identical twins, Encyclopedia knows exactly how to spot the liar. As you read through each perplexing case, you will find every single clue you need hidden right in the text. You can race against the clock to see if your detective skills are as sharp as the famous boy sleuth. Whenever a mystery feels too difficult to crack, you can always check the back of the book to discover how Encyclopedia pieced the puzzle together and caught the culprit!

America's favorite Sherlock Holmes in sneakers is back and ready to sniff out the truth! Ten-year-old Leroy Brown is the smartest kid in Idaville, using his computer-like memory to solve the mysteries that leave the adult police force completely stumped. With his tough and trusted partner, Sally Kimball, Encyclopedia is always prepared to protect the neighborhood kids from sneaky thieves and local bullies. In this fun-filled collection of ten interactive mysteries, you get to play the role of the detective. You will need to investigate the strange incident of a shattered vase, figure out a tricky brain game, and, of course, uncover the smelly truth behind a pair of truly disgusting sneakers. Every case challenges you to read the suspects' stories carefully and spot the one impossible detail that proves they are lying. The clues are right in front of you, waiting to be discovered. If you cannot quite crack the case, the brilliant solutions are always waiting in the back pages to show you how Encyclopedia closed the case!

Gather your friends around the table, get your character sheets ready, and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. Whether you are crawling through a dark dungeon or facing down mythical beasts, the journey ahead promises danger, victory, and endless possibilities. But as any tabletop gamer knows, not every question can be answered by rolling a twenty-sided die. This epic anthology brings together fourteen brilliant queer authors to celebrate the magic, community, and sheer joy of tabletop roleplaying games. Through these incredible stories, you will explore vast new worlds with entirely different sets of rules. Dive into an in-game romance with your real-life best friend, navigate the complexities of gender identity alongside an oath-bound paladin, and discover how casting spells and swinging swords can help you understand your truest self. While we might not get skill modifiers or magic spells in real life, the power of a tabletop campaign goes far beyond the board. Get ready to forge unbreakable friendships, find acceptance, and kick some serious monster edge. Adventure is calling your name, so grab your dice and roll for initiative.

When dark forces clash and the balance of power shatters, the world needs heroes to step out of the shadows. Dive into Fall of Magic, an epic collection of sixteen original urban fantasy stories that will push you to the edge of your seat. You will travel across treacherous worlds where gifted teens and everyday humans must rise together to save their realities from utter destruction. Featuring tales from a powerhouse lineup of bestselling and award-winning authors, this anthology delivers non-stop action, intense magical battles, and unforgettable characters. If you love gripping supernatural suspense and high-stakes warfare, this is the ultimate collection to get lost in. Brace yourself for a thrilling ride where magic is deadly, and survival is never guaranteed.