The magical people, or Karmidee, had been forced to live as an underclass, resulting in some very strange manifestations of magic. 10 yrs+

The City of Trees is in the grip of something strange. Although spring should have already arrived, the city is beseiged by icy cold and unending blizzards. Otto Hush, a magical Karmidee boy, is dismayed to find out that the Normals are blaming the Karmidee for the ill fortune. Otto realizes that even if the Karmidee once knew how to control the weather, by now they have long forgotten. But who or what is causing the unbearable cold? In his quest to save the city, Otto encounters the legendary Wool Bandits, helps a miniature family with a dangerous secret, and, together with new and extraordinary friends, challenges the ancient powers of the sinister Bird Charmers. Book jacket.

Delilah Smart is just an ordinary child who wants to have a normal childhood, but her parents have other plans. They are determined that she wins the Worldwide Junior Extreme General Knowledge Competition and in order to achieve this Delilah must cram all day and only play with educational toys like the Sir Isaac Newton Brain Building Bear. And because Mr and Mrs Smart are Very Busy People they buy a 'childcare robot' to do the boring stuff like looking after her. But Robot Granny Grabbers has hidden qualities and her own views on how to raise Deliliah. She let's her eat chocolate cake and play on trampolines. She builds aircrafts out of household objects and orders pets off the internet. And very soon Delilah is learning how to have fun. Then disaster strikes! ChildCare Solutions learn of Granny Grabbers' errant robot qualities and send a Nanny Deluxe replacement whose circuits are wired to ensure NO IMAGINATION whatsoever. Is Granny Grabbers for the scrapheap? It's instant Action Stations for Delilah Smart and the team ...

In Crossover Fiction, Sandra L. Beckett explores the global trend of crossover literature and explains how it is transforming literary canons, concepts of readership, the status of authors, the publishing industry, and bookselling practices. This study will have significant relevance across disciplines, as scholars in literary studies, media and cultural studies, visual arts, education, psychology, and sociology examine the increasingly blurred borderlines between adults and young people in contemporary society, notably with regard to their consumption of popular culture.

Bearoness Belinda’s suggestion that she and Octavius retire has produced some interesting results. Can he actually become a Consulting Detective Emeritus? They agree on a one year sabbatical tour with the Twins, away from UUI, the Hexagon and above all, criminals. The Octavians are left in charge. First stop - A trip to Australia. See Book 16. The Cases Down Under. But funny things happened on their way around Oz. Two murders, contract rigging, money laundering, petty violence, monsoons, an accident and several near misses. Was Bruce Wallaroo right when he asked, “You’re not really going to retire, are you? Leopards can’t change their spots and bears can’t shed their fur.” More adventures. in Volume 17. Belinda and the Twins make their first off world trips to several exoplanets while the Octavians get involved in defeating a major drug lord. Oh yes, Mlle Woof changes careers. Peace and quiet? Not Likely!

"The Last Last-Day-of-Summer reminds me that all children deserve to exist in magical spaces where their imaginations and familial bonds will them into heroism. Every single child should have the freedom to be one of The Legendary Alstons. And I, for one, am grateful to Giles, and this brilliant story, for that reminder." --Jason Reynolds, author of Newbery Honoree Long Way Down "The legendary heroes of this legendary book are already legendary when the story begins From there things can only get legendary-er " --Tom Angleberger, author of the Origami Yoda series "Lamar Giles has written an instant classic--readers won't want their time with the Legendary Alston Boys of Logan County to end." --Gwenda Bond, author of the Lois Lane series The Hardy Boys meets The Phantom Tollbooth, in the new century When two adventurous cousins accidentally extend the last day of summer by freezing time, they find the secrets hidden between the unmoving seconds, minutes, and hours are not the endless fun they expected. Otto and Sheed are the local sleuths in their zany Virginia town, masters of unraveling mischief using their unmatched powers of deduction. And as the summer winds down and the first day of school looms, the boys are craving just a little bit more time for fun, even as they bicker over what kind of fun they want to have. That is, until a mysterious man appears with a camera that literally freezes time. Now, with the help of some very strange people and even stranger creatures, Otto and Sheed will have to put aside their differences to save their town--and each other--before time stops for good.

Zack and Clovis are obsessed with the strange and unexplained disappearance of their father, Balthazar. Now, many years later, they revive the Ice Angel and plan to carry on their dad's legacy. But great danger looms. Is there a link with their dad's strange disappearance.