Franny is thrilled when she's accepted by the Allbright Academy, an elite private boarding school designed to train leaders. But she knows she's not as smart as the other kids there—or as beautiful, accomplished, confident, or mature. The fact is, the Allbright students—from their shining teeth and flawless complexions to their sky-high test scores and long lists of honors—are absolutely perfect. Then the Allbright magic begins to rub off on Franny, too. The question is: Is this a good thing? Can Franny and her friends Cal, Brooklyn, and Prescott un-ravel the Allbright Academy's secret, or will they, too, succumb to its eerie perfection?

Explores the meaning of being a teenager through a study of these classic mystery series, which began in 1927 and are still popular reads for children today.

Animals are being tortured and killed by a villain whose name is talked about only in whispers ... Homes is an iPad using, stick loving dog with a craving for disguise and custard cream biscuits. After spending four years in the local dogs home he identifies wheelchair-bound Susan Queen as possessing all of the required attributes to be his owner. The pair soon find themselves with a mystery to solve. Aided by Susan's two best friends, a group of pigeons with problematical bowels and a cat who is a recovering kleptomaniac they must face a school bully and two Russian hit-men as they attempt to put a stop to the cruelty being inflicted on animals by ... Jack the Ripper! The Mysterious Case of the Mysterious Case is an extremely funny tale highlighting the importance of friendship, the impact of bullying and the fact that throwing and catching a stick can be enjoyed irrespective of one's level of intelligence!

"Boys and girls (9-15 years) join Jeff, Mindy, and K.J. on their international adventures as the Reel Kids media club travels around the world. Each well-researched, exciting story is set in a different country, so children not only experience a page-turning adventure but also learn about the people, culture, or history of the nation in which the story takes place. A meaningful series of missionary challenge for young readers who enjoy action! A Suitcase brings the media club face to face with danger in Colombia.

Murder Most Puzzling is a gorgeous and witty book that invites readers to play detective and solve a series of absorbing, murder-mystery-themed puzzles. Readers are cast as the faithful sidekick to amateur sleuth Medea Thorne in order to solve 20 puzzling cases. Meet a cast of colorful characters—from ghost hunter extraordinaire Augustin Artaud, to Leonard Fanshawe, a competitor in the Annual Perfect Pickled Foods Festival. • A witty riff on the classic whodunit that brings out everyone's inner detective • Each mystery is sumptuously illustrated. • The mysteries require different deductive tactics, making them a good brain exercise A body in the topiary garden, a death at a clairvoyants' convention, and the mysterious accident of the boating lake—prepare for a whirlwind adventure, laced with humor and a dash of the macabre. This book will delight fans of Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Edward Gorey. • This is a collection of darkly humorous puzzles. • Features illustrations in a gorgeous gothic style by Stephanie von Reiswitz • Perfect for Edward Gorey fans, mystery buffs, puzzle addicts, and fans of true crime podcasts and TV shows • You'll love this book if you love books like The Gashlycrumb by Edward Gorey, File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents by Lemony Snicket, and The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket.

In this delightful memoir, the book critic for NPR’s Fresh Air reflects on her life as a professional reader. Maureen Corrigan takes us from her unpretentious girlhood in working-class Queens, to her bemused years in an Ivy League Ph.D. program, from the whirl of falling in love and marrying (a fellow bookworm, of course), to the ordeal of adopting a baby overseas, always with a book at her side. Along the way, she reveals which books and authors have shaped her own life—from classic works of English literature to hard-boiled detective novels, and everything in between. And in her explorations of the heroes and heroines throughout literary history, Corrigan’s love for a good story shines.