Guardians of Ga'Hoole #15: War of the Ember
(Coming November 2008)

The strange, maniacal blue owl known as the Striga has been rousted from the Great Ga'Hoole Tree. Nyra, leader of the vicious Pure Ones, is either dead or laying low in some distant land, leaving the tree finally at peace. As if fed by an invisible spring, learning and the lively arts flourish at the great tree and spread throughout the owl kingdoms.

But unbeknowst to the Guardians, in a long-empty cave deep in the Northern Kingdoms two ruthless villains join forces to conjure an ancient evil, an evil that will do their bidding and wreak havoc on the world.

When word of this growing malevolence reaches Coryn, Soren, and the Band, the young king knows he must do two things: first, he must return the ember to the Sacred Volcanoes, for the same subtle emanation from the Ember of Hoole that stimulates the quest for knowledge and invention at the great tree, also magnifies the powers of those who seek to destroy it and all for which it stands. Second, he must gather allies. Two armies grow. Gadfeathers, bears, dire wolves, and greenowls join with the Guardians, while on the other side ancient evil takes to the sky.

Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 256 Pages

When the Starbuck family moves to a houseboat in the Florida Keys, Liberty and July discover they share a wonderful telepathic link with the dolphins in the area. When they find that someone is poisoning the water with toxic waste, and that the creatures of the Keys are dying, the twins must stop the culprits before it’s too late.

Paperback: 216 Pages

Before the Starbuck family embarks on a trip to New Mexico, a whisper comes through the wind to Liberty. It leads her and her twin, July, to an ancient hillside dwelling that was the site of a tragedy. In their quest to rectify the wrongs of the past, the twins encounter a group of thieves who will stop at nothing to steal the artifacts in the ancient home.

Paperback: 192 Pages

Guardians of Ga'Hoole #14: Exile

The Striga, former dragon owl from the Middle Kingdom beyond the Unnamed Sea, has come to stay at the great tree. He has earned the trust of all by saving Bell, Soren's owlet, from Nyra, and he grows daily closer to the young king Coryn, with whom he seems to share a strange bond. The Striga senses the power of the ember hidden in Bubo's forge and draws it closer. As his power waxes, he accuses the Band of treason and produces flimsy evidence to support his abominable claim. And so the Band is exiled, strengthening the Striga's hold over Coryn. The Band seeks refuge in distant forests and enlists the help of old friends, but every action they take is construed as further treason, and agents of the Striga—former Guardians—hunt them mercilessly, until, for safety sake the band itself, they must separate. Old friends, loyal family and allies help devise a plan to shake the hold the Striga has on Coryn and to free the young king and the tree from this new, insidious tyranny. It will take courage, daring and wisdom, but the Band will meet the new challenge—for the sake of the king, and the Great Ga'Hoole Tree.

Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 224 Pages

Guardians of Ga'Hoole: A Guide Book to the Great Tree

Studious by nature, fortunate to have been present at the most glorious moments in the tree's recent history, and above all, honored to count as friends its most ardent champions, I, Otulissa, have decided to write a compendium, a catchall—a guide, in short—to the history, life, and spirit of the tree. Pause a moment before the next adventure begins to read of its natural history, its origin, and yearly changes. Read of its lesser-known heroes: of Strix Sturma, before she became a ryb; of the brothers Ifghar and Ezylryb and the treachery that bound them; of Theo, the peaceful warrior. Many are the adventures still unsung, and many the brave deeds unheralded! Read of ages lost and dark; of strange ailments infecting the tree itself. Learn the feasts and holidays celebrated under moon and sun. Dear reader, though you be distant from the Great Tree, lift this tome to your eyes and learn what it is to be a Guardian!

Paperback: 168 Pages

The Last Girls of Pompeii

POMPEII, A.D. 79
Julia and Sura lead opposite yet inextricably linked lives. Julia is the daughter of a wealthy ship-builder; Sura was kidnapped from her parents as a small child. Julia bears the Curse of Venus—a withered arm; Sura's beauty turns heads. Julia is free; Sura is her slave. The summer has already been a trying one for Julia, with two older sisters' weddings to endure. Then she begins to suspect that her parents have a terrible plan in mind which will affect not only Julia's life, but Sura's as well. Yet what no one in Pompeii suspects is that beneath the verdant vineyards that grow on Mt. Vesuvius, a beastly volcano slumbers. When it finally erupts, it forges a path of destruction that throws everyone's futures into question and forces Julia and Sura to confront the true meaning of freedom.

Get an exclusive sneak peek now!

Reading Level: Ages 11+
Hardcover: 160 Pages

Camp Princess #2: Unicorns? Get Real!

When rumors of wild unicorns come to Camp Princess, there's a frenzy of excitement as the royal maidens prepare for the Unicorn Round-Up. But Princess Gundersnap has more important things to worry about. Her war-inclined mother has taken her beloved pony, Menschmik, into battle, and Gundersnap fears for his life. Besides, Gundersnap is much too practical to believe in unicorns. Or is she? Both the magical tapestry in the tower and her favorite local witch, Berwynna, seem to be trying to tell Gundersnap something. Could the Unicorn Round-Up be more than just a bunch of royal hooey?

Reading Level: Ages 8-12
Hardcover and Paperback: 160 Pages