Stephanie leads a very ordinary life until the death of her novel-writing uncle Gordon. In his will, Uncle Gordon leaves Stephanie his mansion and everything in it. She also inherits Uncle Gordon’s mysterious friend, Skulduggery Pleasant, who just happens to be a wise-cracking, classic car driving detective, an impeccable dresser…and a skeleton with magical abilities!
When a crazed stranger tries to break into Stephanie’s house, it’s Skulduggery who comes to her rescue and reveals a world within her world…a world with magic and vampires and and a slew of creepy villains bent on taking over the world. This is about as perfect a Halloween adventure as you can get – action packed creature combat, a little magic and very funny. Stephanie doesn’t have to worry, Skulduggery’s watching her back…even if he doesn’t have one! The sequel just came out. It’s called Playing with Fire and it’s just as good! Author: Derek Landy
The 39 Clues is a series of ten books that tells the story of a world-wide treasure hunt. It reminds me a lot of National Treasure. You can solve puzzles and look for the 39 clues yourself by reading the books and playing online – you just might win a prize.
To find the 39 Clues: Read the Books – Each 39 Clues book unlocks one Clue. Collect the Cards – Game cards help reveal Clues. Play the Game – Find Clues through online missions.
The first book is called The Maze of Bones. It was written by Rick Riordan – the author who writes the Percy Jackson books. The next nine books will follow one at a time through September 2010. (Number two comes out Dec. 2.)
The Maze of Bones starts off the adventure when Dan and Amy Cahill’s Grandmother dies and includes them in her will. At the reading of the will, Dan and Amy are given the choice of receiving a million dollars instantly or receiving the first of 39 clues that are hidden around the world. They are told that the clues will lead to the source of the family’s power. To accept the first clue means giving up the million dollars. It also means competing against other Cahill family members. Some family members are annoying, some mysterious, and some downright dangerous. Dan and Amy take the first clue of course and it’s up to them (and you) to find the clues. Try to do it without getting blown up, OK? Author: Rick Riordan
A true story. It’s 1948 during the Berlin Airlift. Pilots, who three years earlier were bombing Berlin, are now in the business of saving Berliners from a slow, wintry starvation. One of those pilots is Lt. Gail Halvorsen. In addition to his deliveries of flour and coal, he parachutes Hershey Bars to the watching children. These children have never tasted candy. Halvorsen’s kindness is a hit. He receives fan mail, and in one letter, a child named Mercedes asks the “Chocolate Pilot” to please drop some candy at her house. A knock on Mercedes’ door begins a unique friendship. Author: Margot Raven Illustrator: Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen
Geronimo Stilton’s cousin Trap shows up with a treasure map he found in a trunk belonging to the Stilton’s adventerous Uncle Wally – a rodent Indiana Jones. Geronimo and Trap team up with Thea and Benjamin Stilton and travel to Mongolia and its famous Gobi Desert in search of the treasure. They travel by plane, bus & camel, sleep in a Mongolian gher (tent) and sample delicious Mongolian food – sausages with steamed onion and meat ravioli. Yum! Little do they know that they are not alone in the search for the buried treasure. Out in the desert – danger awaits – and it isn’t just the heat, scorpions & sand storms! Everybody wants this treasure – it’s huge! Author: Geronimo Stilton Illustrator: Claudio Cernuschi and Christian Aliprandi
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis: Dinosaur Artifacts (Like this cast of a dinosaur knowsn as Dromaeosaur, a fast, two legged meat eater with sharp retractable claws!)
While their rambling space station home is being renovated, Art, Myrtle and their 4 million year-old space alien Mom accept an invitation to a vacation resort located out in the far reaches of the universe. The resort, it’s guests and the resort’s owner are not at all what they first appear. Creepy attack puppets, aliens disquised as hats that attach to your head and control your every thought, a maniac evil genius bent on dominating the universe…the usual for Art and Myrtle. Luckily, their favorite space pirate Jack Havock is at the resort too, undercover and ready for action. If you haven’t read Larklight, read it first, then read Starcross – you will be happy to know that a third book called Mothstorm is on the way (Oct. 14, 2008), and that the series has been optioned for a movie. Author: Philip Reeve Illustrator: David Wyatt
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