Showing posts with label middle grade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label middle grade. Show all posts

November 21, 2018

The Camelot Code: The Once and Future Geek by Mari Macusi: A Rockstar Book Tour


Welcome to the The Camelot Code book tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. I don't have a review for you today due, but I do have some pretty great info about the book! Plus, scroll down and you will find a pretty nice giveaway!




Title: The Camelot Code: The Once and Future Geek
Author: Mari Mancusi
Pub. Date: November 20, 2018
Publisher: Disney Hyperion 
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 346



Young King Arthur accidentally time travels to the 21st century and googles himself, discovering the not-so-happily ever after in store for him once he pulls the sword from the stone. He decides he'd much rather stay here--and join the football team instead.


Now modern day gamer geeks Sophie and Stu, with the help of Merlin, find themselves in a race against time to pull a Camelot-size caper--get that sword pulled from the stone and the stubborn once and future king back to the past where he belongs. While Arthur takes on the role of wide-receiver in an attempt to save the football team from a losing season, Sophie and Stu sword-fight, joust, and horseback ride their way through Camelot as they fight to save the timeline. If they fail, the world as they know it (not to mention the existence of pepperoni pizza!) will cease to exist forever.






Arthur watched, enraptured, forgetting he was supposed to be looking for Lucas’s brother. There was nothing more exciting than a joust.
The blue knight struck the green and managed to unmount him, and now they were both on the ground, circling each other, armed and ready to strike. Arthur’s heart pounded with excitement. The two knights seemed very evenly matched. Who would win?
The blue knight’s sword crashed into the green knight’s shield and sparks flew at the impact. The green knight fell backward, dropping his mace. The blue knight took his advantage and a split second later the tip of his sword was at the green knight’s throat.
The crowd went wild.
The knight set down his sword and approached the dais, bowing low to his master. Lord Medieval rose from his throne and declared him victor of the evening. Everyone cheered.
But suddenly, to Arthur’s horror, the green knight rose to his feet, grabbed the discarded sword, and unceremoniously drove it into the blue knight’s back.
Arthur gasped along with the crowd at this display of treachery. The blue knight staggered for a moment, his expression shocked and horrified as he fell to the sand.
What had once been a friendly tournament had now become a murder scene. The blue knight’s men took the field, armed with maces, swords, and poles. But the green knight dispatched them quickly—slaying each and every one of them where they stood.
Arthur steamed with fury. The evil knight should not be allowed to get away with this. But what could he do?
It was then he noticed movement from the blue knight. His heart fluttered with excitement: the man was attempting to stagger to his feet. Arthur looked around, praying someone would notice and help him—give him a weapon to defend himself before the green knight realized he lived. But no one came. They were all on the field. Dead.
It was up to Arthur. The only trained squire left in the place.
Without regard for his own safety, he jumped the barrier, grabbing the nearest sword from the sidelines and diving onto the field. The green knight turned, a shocked look on his face, but Arthur nimbly dodged him and headed straight for the blue knight. Another knight tried to stop him, but he darted away. Finally he reached the blue knight and thrust the sword in his direction.
Use this!” he cried, panting heavily from his run. “Defend us from the evil that plagues this hall.”
Arthur waited for the knight to take the sword—to smite his enemy where he stood.
Dude, what are you doing?” the knight whispered instead.
Arthur cocked his head in confusion. What? He tried again to give the sword to the knight. “Take it. He will kill you otherwise!”
The knight awkwardly took the sword, an uncertain expression on his face. “Um,” he stammered. “Hey, Luke, did George change the choreography and forget to tell me again?”




Mari Mancusi always wanted a dragon as a pet. Unfortunately the fire insurance premiums proved a bit too large and her house a bit too small--so she chose to write about them instead. Today she works as an award-winning young adult author and freelance television producer, for which she has won two Emmys.

When not writing about fanciful creatures of myth and legend, Mari enjoys traveling, cosplay, snowboarding, watching cheesy (and scary) horror movies, and her favorite guilty pleasure—playing videogames. A graduate of Boston University, she lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Jacob, daughter Avalon, and their two dogs.

Mari is pronounced like the name Mary. Mancusi is pronounced man-COO-see.

​For updates on all Mari's books, subscribe to her newsletter


Find Mari: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads



3 Winners will receive a finished copy of THE CAMELOT CODE: THE ONCE AND FUTURE GEEK, US Only.

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Week One:
11/12/2018- BookHounds YAExcerpt
11/13/2018- Texan Holly ReadsReview
11/14/2018- Rhythmicbooktrovert- Review
11/15/2018- Here's to Happy EndingsReview
11/16/2018- Christen Krumm, WriterReview

Week Two:
11/19/2018- Feed Your Fiction AddictionReview
11/20/2018- Books a Plenty Book ReviewsReview
11/21/2018- Jump Into BooksReview
11/22/2018- Such A Novel IdeaReview
11/23/2018- Two points of interestReview

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend: A Rockstar Book Tour



Welcome to the Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow book tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Today I have a review for you and also have some pretty great info about the book! Plus, scroll down and you will find a pretty nice giveaway!




Title: Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow
Author: Jessica Townsend
Pub. Date: November 13, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Pages: 544



The captivating and heart-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling and #1 Kids' Indie Next Pick Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, as heroine Morrigan battles a new evil.

Morrigan Crow and her best friend Hawthorne Swift are now proud scholars in the elite Wundrous Society, but life is far from perfect. Does Morrigan have what it takes to prove that she belongs in the Society?

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow was an instant New York Times bestseller, an IndieBound bestseller and a #1 Indies Introduce Pick, with movie rights sold to Fox.




Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks | TBD




This is the sequel to Nevermoor, Morrigan is now at WunSoc and learning about her knack. She is in a group called 919 and they all have promised to keep the secret that Morrigan is a Wundersmith. Lots of trials incur almost like Harry Potter when they are doing the Goblet of Fire and have to learn to trust and work together. In this sequel we get a lot more glimpses of the town of Wondermoor and I think my favorite part was the class where they learn all about the ins and outs of this great town. The way different alleys can have special circumstances when you enter them. The scary ghastly market which kind of reminds me of the evil part of Diagon Alley. There is a train in this series as well but it called the Hometrain and leaves from platform 919 in the Wondersect part of the town. There is lots of action in this second book and I really got involved so much that I read it in two days. Your in for treat if you pick this up and remember that “For one shining moment you became a dragon because Wunder grew tired of you being mouse”





Jessica Townsend lives on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Her pet fascinations include public transport, ancient cities, hotels, opera singers, Halloween, secret societies and gigantic cats - all of which have weaselled their way into Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, her award-winning first novel released in 2017. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow, the second book in this record-breaking series, will be released in 2018.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow was the biggest-selling Australian children's debut since records began. It has won the 2018 ABIA for Book of the Year, Book of the Year for Younger Readers and Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year; the 2018 Indie Book Awards Book of the Year and Children's Category; the 2017 Aurealis Award for Best Children's Fiction; the 2018 Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Younger Fiction and was named a CBCA notable book.



Find Jessica: Twitter | Instagram |  Goodreads




3 Winners will receive a finished copy of WUNDERSMITH: THE CALLING OF MORRIGAN CROW, US Only.


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Week One:
11/12/2018- Between the PagesReview
11/13/2018- To Be ReadReview
11/14/2018- Maddie.TVReview
11/15/2018- The Pages In-BetweenReview
11/16/2018- Bri's Book NookReview

Week Two:
11/19/2018- Do You Dog-ear?Review
11/20/2018- Jump Into BooksReview
11/21/2018- Two points of interestReview
11/22/2018- The Reading Corner for AllReview
11/23/2018- Adventures Thru WonderlandReview

August 4, 2017

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night: A Book Review

Title: The Crowns of Croswald
Author: D.E. Night
Publisher: Stories Untold
Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fantasy
Release Date: July 21st 2017
Source: Publisher for Review
Purchase: Amazon | iBooks | Kobo

In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret...

For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems. When Ivy’s magic—and her life—is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.



If you're a fan of Harry Potter, magic, boarding schools and royalty, then you will love this book!

While reading this book I felt like I was magically transported back to Hogwarts at times. There are many parallels to Harry Potter throughout, but as we further progress through the story you start leaving Hogwarts behind and start venturing more and more into Croswald.

I really enjoyed every aspect of this wonderful story. It did take me a bit to get into it after the long prologue, but once it got me hooked I couldn't put this book down. The characters were quite enjoyable and quite believable as well.

There was one little problem I had with this book, however. Parts of this book seemed as if they were rushed through. The school year went by in a rush as did the final action scene. I don't know if the author was trying to get the whole story in one book or if this will be a series? The ending makes you think there will be more. I, for one, hope that there is more to this wonderful book.







 D.E. Night lives, dreams, and writes in South Florida amid her menagerie––two dogs and two cats––with  her  husband. “The  Crowns  of  Croswald”  is  her  first  book.  She  draws  inspiration from  silver-screen  storytellers,  magical  imaginings,  and  her  younger  brothers.  A  day spent  in Croswald, or another whimsical world, is her favorite kind of day.

Find D.E. Night: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads




March 27, 2017

Audiobook Review: Batgirl at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee @LisaYee1 #AudiobookReview #BookReview

Title: Batgirl at Super Hero High (DC Super Hero Girls #3)
Author: Lisa Yee
Read By: Mae Whitman
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Superheroes
Release Date: January 3rd, 2017
Source: Blogging for Books
Purchase: Amazon

Get your cape on with the DC Super Hero Girls™— the unprecedented new Super Hero universe especially for girls! Readers of all ages can fly high with the all-new adventures of Wonder Woman™, Supergirl™, Batgirl™, and some of the world’s most iconic female super heroes as high schoolers!

Batgirl has always hidden in the shadows—but does she have what it takes to stand in the spotlight at Super Hero High?

Barbara Gordon has always been an off-the-charts, just-forget-about-the-test super-genius and tech whiz, and then she gets the offer of a lifetime when Supergirl recognizes that Barbara’s talents make her an ideal candidate for Super Hero High. Donning the cape and cowl, Barbara Gordon becomes Batgirl, ready to train at the most elite school on the planet, next to some of the most powerful teenagers in the galaxy. She’s always had the heart of a hero . . . but now she’ll have to prove that she can be one. Good thing she loves a challenge!


**I decided that I would let my 7 year old daughter review this one. She is branching into the book reviewing and turning into a wonderful little reader. So this review is from her POV**

I really liked Batgirl. I liked how she was the new girl and how she didn't have any super powers like the other girls did. I never read or listened to the other books in this series, so I really liked how I could understand it and not be lost. Batgirl seems to be very strong and determined to go to this new school. She made friends which is hard when you are the new girl at school. 

I also liked the reader. She had a very pretty voice and she seemed right for this reading part. I think I knew her voice because she sounded like Tinker Bell and I loved Tinker Bell! My mom is going to buy me the book to read so I can read along with the audiobook too!




Lisa Yee’s debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Her other novels for young people, with nearly two million copies in print, include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, So Totally Emily Ebers, Absolutely Maybe, and two books about a fourth grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes). Lisa is also the author of American Girl’s Kanani books and Good Luck, Ivy. Her recent novel, Warp Speed, is about a Star Trek geek who gets beat up every day at school.

Lisa is a former Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence whose books have been chosen as an NPR Best Summer Read, a Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and a USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.


Find Lisa: Website | Twitter | Facebook


Disclaimer: *I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.


September 29, 2016

Argos: The Story of Odysseus as Told by His Loyal Dog by Ralph Hardy Review

Title: Argos: The Story of Odysseus as Told by His Loyal Dog
Author: Ralph Hardy
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: Middle Grade, Retelling
Release Date: May 31st 2016
Source: NightOwl Reviews
Purchase: Amazon

From a compelling new voice in middle grade comes a reimagination of The Odyssey told from the point of view of Odysseus’s loyal dog—a thrilling tale of loyalty, determination, and adventure.

For twenty years, the great hero Odysseus struggles to return to Ithaka. After ten years beneath the walls of Troy, he begins the long journey back home. He defeats monsters. He outsmarts the Cyclops. He battles the gods. He struggles to survive and do whatever it takes to reunite with his family.

And what of that family—his devoted wife, Penelope; his young son, Telemachos; his dog, Argos? For those twenty years, they wait, unsure if they will ever see Odysseus again. But Argos has found a way to track his master. Any animal who sets foot or wing on Ithaka brings him news of Odysseus’s voyage—and hope that one day his master will return. Meanwhile, Argos watches over his master’s family and protects them from the dangers that surround a throne without its king.


I absolutely loved this book. I will admit at first it was strange reading from a dogs POV, but once I started getting further into the book the more and more I enjoyed it. I actually found myself looking up some of the gods online to see who they were.

The characters were highly likable and Argos was one character you couldn't help falling in love with. He had such devotion and loyalty to his master Odysseus, even after the 20+ years he had been gone. The tales he learned from fellow animals such as birds and sea turtles was incredible. 

I highly recommend this book to ages 8 and up.





Disclaimer: *I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.



Ralph Hardy graduated from the University of North Carolina with a degree in English and received his MFA from Columbia College, Chicago. He now lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with his wife and children and a dog named Harvey, who is nothing like Argos. He is the author of The Cheetah Diaries, Lefty, and a number of short stories.
Find Ralph: Website | Facebook



September 28, 2016

Rose and the Silver Ghost by Holly Webb Review

Title: Rose and the Silver Ghost
Author: Holly Webb
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Release Date: March 3rd 2015
Source: Publisher for Review
Purchase: Amazon

Time has flown since Rose left the orphanage behind for her new family at Mr. Fountain's magical house. But when the stern Miss Fell comes to stay at the mansion, Rose can't help but notice the extra attention Miss Fell gives her. When Rose sees the flash of a face in Miss Fell's mirror-a face that's familiar and foreign at the same time-her suspicions are confirmed that Miss Fell might know more about Rose's past than she's letting on...

Can a hidden picture, a silver mirror, and a timid ghost lead Rose to the truth about her family?



This was a wonderful book from start to end. It did take some time for me to get back in the swing of things with Rose and the others, but once I did, it was a constant struggle to put this book down.

The characters were wonderful and had some great depth. I especially liked the new characters that were introduced, such as Miranda, Eliza and Miss Fell. We even got to see Bella's magic put to the test in this one.

Not only were we introduced to some great new characters but we got to see the roles these characters played in Rose's past as the past was brought to light and rekindled.

I highly recommend the final installment in the Rose series as this final book brings all the books together and ties everything up nicely.





Disclaimer: *I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.



Holly Webb is a best-selling author in the UK with her books Lost in the Snow and Lost in the Storm. She was born and grew up in southeast London. She worked for five years as a children’s fiction editor, before deciding to become a writer. The Rose books stem from a childhood love of historical novels, and the wish that animals really could talk. She lives in Reading with her husband and three small children.
Find Holly: Website | Facebook | Twitter

January 3, 2016

3 Star Review: The Shrunken Head by Lauren Oliver #3Star #BookReview @OliverBooks #giveaway

Title: The Shrunken Head (The Curiosity House #1)
Author: Lauren Oliver, H.G. Chester
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Genre: Middle Grade, Adventure, Fantasy
Release Date: September 29th 2015
Source: NightOwl Reviews
Purchase: Amazon

What you will find in this book:

– A rather attractive bearded lady
– Several scandalous murders
– A deliciously disgusting Amazonian shrunken head
– Four extraordinary children with equally extraordinary abilities
– A quite loquacious talking bird


Blessed with extraordinary abilities, orphans Philippa, Sam, and Thomas have grown up happily in Dumfrey’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders. But when a fourth child, Max, a knife- thrower, joins the group, it sets off an unforgettable chain of events. When the museum’s Amazonian shrunken head is stolen, the four are determined to get it back. But their search leads them to a series of murders and an explosive secret about their pasts.

This sensational new series combines the unparalleled storytelling gifts of Lauren Oliver with the rich knowledge of the notorious relics collector H.C. Chester.

What you will NOT find in this book:

– An accountant named Seymour
– A never-ending line at the post office
– Brussel sprouts (shudder)
– A lecture on finishing all your homework on time
– A sweet, gooey story for nice little girls and boys.


I have never read a book by Lauren Oliver. To be honest I was a bit skeptical about it. I have read too many reviews where people have complained about her writing style, or she didn't do her research on some books, but that wasn't the case with this one. 

It starts out by welcoming you to the Dumfrey's Dime Museum of Freaks, , Oddities and Wonders. Almost like you are at a circus. Then it takes you in and starts to introduce you to the characters and then there is a bit of an information drop. It's like the reader at parts of this book gets way too much information about everything before it finally gets back into the story.

I did, however, enjoy the plot of the story. These 4 extraordinary children decide to take the law into their own hands and investigate the stolen shrunken head from their museum and the unexplained deaths that seemed to go along with it. They get into trouble along the way and meet some shady characters. But the ending seemed to fit quite nicely with the story. Except for one part, which might be cleared up in the second book.

Overall, this was a pretty great book. Once you get into the book, you get sucked up into the adventures.



Disclaimer: *I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.



Lauren Oliver is the author of the YA bestselling novels Before I Fall, Panic, and Vanishing Girls and the Delirium trilogy: Delirium, Pandemonium, and Requiem, which have been translated into more than thirty languages and are New York Times and international bestselling novels. She is also the author of three novels for middle grade readers: The Spindlers; Liesl & Po, which was an E. B. White Read Aloud Award nominee; and Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head, co-written with H. C. Chester, and a novel for adults, Rooms. A graduate of the University of Chicago and NYU’s MFA program, Lauren Oliver is also the cofounder of the boutique literary development company Paper Lantern Lit.

Find Lauren: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Goodreads



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May 28, 2015

#Spotlight Tour: Young Houdini: The Demon Curse by Simon Nicholson + #Giveaway


The Demon Curse (Young Houdini #2)
by Simon Nicholson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Release: June 2, 2015

Young Harry Houdini is a master magician, an impressive performance artist who dazzles crowds with his daring feats. But when Harry and his friends Billie and Arthur are called to New Orleans by the mysterious Order of the White Crow, the trio is faced with magic of an entirely different kind.

Whispers of voodoo and demonic spells rip through the streets as the city’s mayor continues to suffer from a strange, zombified coma. What’s more, the town is turning blame on the local fisherman—the very community that helped raise Billie. But it soon becomes clear there are other evils at play, and the three friends know something even more sinister is afoot.

To save the city from this truly terrifying evil, Harry will be forced to pull off his most spectacular escape yet!





“A fast paced mystery. Middle-grade readers [...] will gallop through this spellbinder.” —Kirkus

“Nicholson smoothly blends Houdini’s prowess as an escape artist with his fictional hero’s sleuthing skills as he tracks down a missing elderly magician... A cliffhanger ending will leave readers eager for the next installment.” —Publishers Weekly

“Action-packed and fast-paced…will appeal to fans of the ‘39 Clues.’” —School Library Journal



Arthur loosened his tie and pulled in another deep breath. “But where are we? I think it’s safe to say we’re not in New York anymore.”
He stumbled over to the window. Harry and Billie joined him, gripping the windowsill and taking in the scene. More palm trees swept past under a hot, gray sky. The train curved and raced alongside a huge river with a rippling brown surface that glittered in the sun.
“Definitely not New York,” Billie muttered. “Palm trees, that’s the big clue.”
“I’d say we must be two hundred miles south at least, given the palms and the high temperature.” Arthur’s voice had steadied, his English tones neat and precise. “I can’t make head or tail of this. Last thing I properly remember, we were back in the theater in New York, helping Harry with his spectacular escape act, and—”
“And then that letter was delivered, and we opened it.” Billie’s eyes narrowed. “That letter we read, all three of us—and a few seconds later, we were flat on the floor, all three of us, collapsing in some kind of drugged sleep.” Her eyes narrowed even more, and she pointed. “That letter, which is still in your pocket, Harry, right there.”
Harry looked down and flinched. There it was, a folded piece of pale green paper, poking out of his jacket pocket. Arthur was already holding out a handkerchief, and Harry used it to gingerly pull the letter out. He, too, thought back to that moment, the three of them sitting in the theater office. He remembered the act the three of them had just performed, full of the usual tricks involving razor-sharp knives, handcuffs, and fire, and finishing with the most spectacular stunt of all, which involved him escaping from a small iron cage that had been plunged deep into a vat of water. Thrilling stuff, Harry thought with another smile. Then he focused on the letter again.
“There was some sort of dust on the paper, which came away on our fingertips. Now I think of it, I remember that too.” Arthur had taken a magnifying glass from his pocket and was peering through it at the letter. “Gone now, by the looks of it. Still, it certainly was powerful—knocked us out cold.”
“It’s not just the paper we need to think about, but also what the letter actually says. That’s pretty odd too,” muttered Harry, reading it one more time.

To Harry, Billie, and Arthur,

You have impressed us greatly. But your
greatest achievements lie ahead of you—we
will make sure of it.

Sent with the consent of the Order of the
White Crow.

“The Order of the White Crow…” Arthur frowned. “Anyone got the faintest idea what that might be?”
“Nope. In fact, there’s not a single bit of that letter that makes much sense, if you ask me,” Billie said. “This sure is a mystery. Reminds me of the time I woke up and discovered I was tied up in the hold of a shrimp boat off South Carolina, been press-ganged into another crummy job obviously, but it didn’t take me long to escape and—watch out !”
Billie flung herself back against the compartment wall, and Arthur did the same. Harry took care to hold his breath and extended his arm so that he was staring at the letter from as far away as possible. Beneath the handwriting, whitish wisps floated from the page, and more words appeared. Harry carried the letter to the window, where the breeze snatched the wisps away, leaving only the words.

PS Congratulations. If you are reading
these additional remarks, then you are
successfully launched on your mission, and
it is safe to reveal more. Regarding the
suitcases, we apologize, but secrecy is vital,
and so we had to smuggle you out of New
York entirely unseen. Concealed airholes
were drilled, a convenient staple was left
near Harry’s hand for when the drugs
wore off—we expect you managed the rest.
Now, you no doubt wish to be told about our
organization and its purpose. Perhaps it is
simplest to say this: It exists to unmask and
defeat evildoing wherever it may lie, and it
seeks to recruit those capable of helping that
noble cause. Prepare yourselves for your
first investigation.

“That’s some letter,” Arthur said, peering over Harry’s shoulder as the last few wisps drifted away. “Not only coated with knock-out chemical dust, but it’s got some kind of light-activated invisible ink on it too.”
“Sure, but what’s it actually saying?” Billie asked. “It says it’s revealing more, but it’s just making things even more confusing, if you ask me.”
“It’s right about the staple.” Harry held the piece of metal up in his other hand. “I’d have found something else to pick the lock anyway, but it was handy bumping into this straightaway.”
“And guess what? Here are the airholes. Rather small, but they’re there.” Arthur tore back the lining in one of the open suitcases, revealing a row of drilled holes. “Still, defeat evildoing—what’s the meaning of that? As for wanting us to carry out some kind of investigation…” He put his head on one side. “Actually, maybe that bit does make sense.”
It does, thought Harry. He closed his eyes, and his thoughts traveled back again, not just to their time at the theater, but also to the rather unusual events that had taken place shortly before. The whole of New York had been baffled by it—the mysterious disappearance of an elderly stage magician from his dressing room in an inferno of purple fire and smoke. No one had been able to solve it, but he, Billie, and Arthur had investigated the business, and after various adventures—including a break-in at a hotel, a terrifying tightrope walk between two ten-story buildings, the discovery of an ingenious secret doorway, and a showdown with one of Manhattan’s most ruthless villains—they had uncovered everything. And all the time, he reminded himself, someone had been watching them, following them…
“I saw him,” Harry muttered, opening his eyes.
“Saw who?” Billie asked.
“The man who sent us this letter.”
“What?”
“I remember seeing a man watching us from the street when the letter was delivered. About fifty years old, wearing a pale suit…”
“How do you know it was him who sent it?” Arthur frowned. “Just because he was nearby when it arrived, that doesn’t mean anything.”
“I’d seen him before. When we were carrying out our investigation back in New York, he was following us. I’m sure of it.” He closed his eyes and saw him again. Those piercing gray eyes.



Simon Nicholson writes for Nick Jr. including such shows as Tickety Tock, Bob the Builder, and Zack and Quack, as well as for BBC children’s programming. He lives in London. Visit him online at simonbnicholson.com.


Find Simon: Website | Twitter





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