James Preller

Second-grade detectives Jigsaw, Mila, and their friends solve two related mysteries--a lost coin purse, and a magic trick gone awry.

"Try as they might, the McGinn family can't seem to escape from the clutches of the EXIT 13 Motel. Other guests come and go, totally unaware of the fact that Ash, Willow, and the rest of their family aren't able to leave, no matter how hard they try. But as they attempt to get to the bottom of the mystery of the Motel, things only seem to get more bizarre. Ash is hearing and seeing strange things almost every night, and Willow's attempts to learn...

Is there a bear loose in the woods by Jigsaw Jones' town? For once this second-grade detective and his partner Mila Yeh might be out of their depth! One way or another, these two young sleuths will get to the bottom of who, or what, is growling and snapping in those woods in The Case of the Bear Scare.

When third-graders Deon, Kym, Lizzy, and Connor formed the Big Idea Gang, their mission was simply to oust the old mascot in favor of something cooler. But sales from the new mascot paraphernalia have led to extra cash for the PTA, and you can bet this gang has big ideas about how to spend it. A playground pirate ship! An author visit! New basketball hoops! There are lots of ways they can think of to improve their school; but what about a way to make...

Meet Carter, Esme, and Arnold, three students accidentally locked together inside an almost deserted school. They are not friends. They scarcely know each other. But In the basement, a mysterious night janitor waits. And outside, moving in the mist, dark shapes shuffle closer.

Sucked into a strange video game where he finds himself caught in a snowstorm, young Aaron ventures into the nearby woods only to hear scary howls and discover that he is trapped.

In writing in his journal about middle school classmate Morgan Mallen's suicide from bullying, Sam explores whether he was a friend, or one of the bullies who ignored her at school and tormented her online.

Will has no choice. His father drags him along on a wilderness adventure in the footsteps of legendary explorers Lewis and Clark--whether he likes it or not. All the while, Will senses that something about this trip isn't quite right. Along the journey, Will meets fascinating strangers and experiences new thrills, including mountain cliffs, whitewater rapids, and a heart-hammering bear encounter. It is a journey into the soul of America's past, and...

"Popular young-adult authors weave together questions of identity, loss, and redemption into poignant tales for today's teens"--