Most Popular Books by Bruce Coville

Following the successful repackaging of Bruce Coville’s My Teacher Is an Alien series, great new covers for another popular backlist series from the bestselling author. IT’S THE WEIRDEST ALIEN INVASION EVER! “I cannot tell a lie,” says Rod Allbright. And it’s the truth. Ask him a question and he’s bound to give you an honest answer. Which is why, when his teacher asks what happened to last night’s math assignment, Rod has to give the only answer he can: “Aliens ate my homework, Miss Maloney!” Of course, no one believes Rod this time, so they don’t bother to ask him why the aliens are here. It’s just as well, since he is sworn to silence about their secret mission and the fact that he has been drafted to help them!

Two collections of favorite short stories by Coville--"Oddly Enough" and "Odder Than Ever"--are now available in one volume.

Pleskit’s alien friend comes to visit in this seventh book in the hilarious, fast-paced, and accessible sci-fi series Sixth-Grade Alien from the bestselling author of Aliens Ate My Homework and My Teacher Is an Alien, Bruce Coville. Maktel Geebrit, Pleskit’s best friend from back home on Hevi-Hevi, is finally going to visit him on Earth. Pleskit is excited, but a little nervous, too. How will Maktel get along with Pleskit’s new friend, Tim? And just how do you cope with having two best friends on the same planet, anyway? As if that question weren’t enough, Pleskit’s Fatherly One has an off-world visitor, an elegant trader named Ellico vec Bur. But is Ellico really a friend, or is the trader also a traitor...the greatest menace that the mission to Earth has yet faced?

Mr. Elives’s magic shop is back, and this time it is on the other side of Tucker’s Swamp. And Tucker’s Swamp is where Charlie Eggleston heads to escape a beating-for lying. Charlie can’t seem to keep from lying, though sometimes his lies are for a good cause. When Charlie stumbles into Mr. Elives’s magic shop, his eyes light upon The Skull. Charlie steals The Skull and it puts him under some sort of spell-he can only tell the truth. Trouble is, now no one believes him. . . .

In the finale of this popular series, BKR, the most fiendish villain in the galaxy, is determined to get at the world-destroying secret locked in Rods brain. Little does Rod know hes being drawn into a web of alien plots that will test his courage. Illustrations.

Beloved for his hilarious and unexpectedly moving novels, Bruce Coville is also a master of the short story. In this follow-up to Oddly Enough, he again presents a collection of unusual breadth and emotional depth. A ghost who died under uproarious circumstances haunts a kitchen baking “Biscuits of Glory,” while in the grand tale “The Golden Sail,” there are unexpected consequences when a young teen goes in search of his seafaring father. The collection includes a heartbreaking new story from Mr. Elives’ Magic Shop, “The Metamorphosis of Justin Jones,” and the bittersweet title story from the critically acclaimed anthology Am I Blue? A perfect introduction to Bruce Coville’s magic for the uninitiated, Odder Than Ever also has a treat for his die-hard fans: three never-before-published stories.

When aliens come to Earth on an interplanetary trade mission, Tim makes friends with the ambassador''s son and together they uncover a plot to sabotage the mission. Series has good covers. 9 yrs+

Some kids lose their homework. Some kids lose their math book, or their sneakers, or their lunch. Pleskit Meenom, first alien kid to go to school on Earth, has a bigger problem: He''s lost his grandfather''s brain!

A collection of nine short stories featuring ghosts, half-humans, unicorns, and other unusual creatures.

An earth girl escapes capture by leaping to the land of the unicorns.

Susan and Peter are the only ones that can save the sixth grade class from the alien teacher who has other plans for them.

Tim and Rafaella must work with Tim''s old enemy, Jordan, to find a missing Pleskit and save the alien embassy''s mission and Earth.

Can the gang save the world before it’s too late? When it comes down to adults versus kids, who’s going to believe the kids—even if they are geniuses? That’s the problem the A.I. Gang faces when they find themselves locked in a death-defying final showdown with the mysterious Black Glove. Contending with danger and disgrace, the team fights on with only the help of a mysterious friend to give them an occasional clue. But these six kids just can’t give up. Would you, if you were the only thing standing in the way of a high-tech horror that could spell destruction for the entire planet? This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Bruce Coville including rare images from the author’s collection.

Having jumped into Luster, the land of unicorns, Cara makes a perilous journey to bring back her grandmother, The Wanderer, in order to release the Queen of the unicorns and allow her to die.

Pleskit loses his grandfather’s brain in this third book of the hilarious, fast-paced, and accessible Sixth-Grade Alien sci-fi series from the bestselling author of Aliens Ate My Homework, Bruce Coville. Some kids lose their homework. Some kids lose their math book, or their sneakers, or their lunch. Pleskit Meenom, first alien kid to go to school on Earth, has a bigger problem: He’s lost his grandfather’s brain! Of course, that’s not Pleskit’s only problem. He’s also feuding with his best friend, Tim. And someone is leaking stories about him to the press. Sixth grade is turning out to be an even bigger challenge than interplanetary navigation. But if Pleskit can’t find that missing brain, none of those other problems will matter. Because how do you explain that you’ve lost your grandfather? And Pleskit may not be the only one looking for him…

Brains are sizzling in the seventh grade... The first day of seventh grade is probably the worst day of Duncan Dougal’s life. He knows that things are really bad when he finds an alien’s hand in a Dumpster and then gets plugged into an alien brain fryer! Can Duncan find out which of the four new teachers in his school is an alien before his brains get fried to a pulp—or before the aliens try to fry the whole planet?

In the first book of the Nina Tanleven Mysteries, Nina investigates the ghost of a haunted auditorium Standing on the Grand Theater’s storied stage, sixth-grader Nina Tanleven is about to audition for the latest local production. But as she launches into song, she sees a mysterious woman dressed all in white appearing out of nowhere. It isn’t until later, after Nina has won a part in the play, that she learns the truth: Fifty years ago, on the Grand’s famous stage, the beautiful actress Lily Larkin—known for her captivating white costumes—was killed by a falling chandelier. Ever since, rumors have swirled that the ghost of Lily Larkin haunts the Grand. When eerie events start disrupting the play’s rehearsals, Nina knows that Lily is responsible. But what is Lily trying to tell her? Along with her best friend, Chris, Nina decides that the only way she can save the play is to get to the bottom of this decades-old murder mystery. The Ghost in the Third Row is the first book of the Nina Tanleven Mysteries, which continue with The Ghost Wore Gray and The Ghost in the Big Brass Bed. This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Bruce Coville including rare images from the author’s collection.

Previously published in a slightly different form, 1992.

Tim and Pleskit are abducted in this eighth book in the hilarious, fast-paced, and accessible sci-fi series Sixth Grade Alien from the bestselling author of Aliens Ate My Homework and My Teacher Is an Alien, Bruce Coville. Tim Tompkins has always wanted to visit outer space—though he didn’t plan to go as a captive of a mysterious alien! But that’s just what Tim, Pleskit, Maktel, and Linnsy have become: captives in an interstellar struggle for control of the galaxy. Can four kids from two very different planets learn to work together? They’re going to have to if they want to survive on the strange new world where they’ve been trapped. But even if they can stay safe, how will the ever find their way back home?

The Last Hunt weaves together all the strands of the great clash between the Hunters and the unicorns. As the Hunters invade Luster, bent on the extermination of the unicorns, the unicorns rally to defend themselves. To do so, they will be forced to make peace with their intimate enemies, the delvers. Even worse, the Hunters may not be the greatest danger. For Luster itself is beginnings to collapse from the damage done to the great world tree when Beloved tore a hole between the worlds. Preventing that collapse will require Cara--reunited at last with her mother and father--to discover the secret of how and why Luster was originally created. But first she must confront her own ancestor, the fierce and wily Beloved!

What happens when the wind stops? The air grows hot and still and hard to breathe. Hospitals fill with patients. The world begins to panic. What happens when the wind stops? For Hurricane, this global disaster strikes at his core; but he must recover the magical horn that will fix everything. Can magic be real? And how can it finding the horn rest on Hurricane''s twelve-year-old shoulders? This classic epic fantasy from beloved author Bruce Coville will enthrall readers while it reminds them of the magic that lies in friendship and that friendship just might have the power to save the world. For Hurricane, this global disaster strikes at his core. He got his name because he was born during a hurricane, and he has always felt a strangely intense connection to the wind. And now his mother is one of the sick people in the hospital. But what can he do? He''s just a kid. When all this turns out to be TRUE, Hurricane embarks on the adventure of his life: a journey to different worlds, where he will make friends unlike any people he has ever known. He will discover courage, strength, humor, and an ability to bring people together.

William wants to know what''s making the strange moans that drift through the castle where he was raised.

In the second book of the Nina Tanleven Mysteries, Nina, the world’s number-one sixth-grade ghost buster, embarks on a treasure hunt with help from the ghost of a Civil War soldier Not too long ago, Nina Tanleven would never have thought that her dream vacation could take place at a creaky lodge in New York’s Catskill Mountains. But when her architect father agrees to renovate the three-story inn, it’s the perfect opportunity for Nina and her best friend, Chris, to investigate rumors that the rambling old building is haunted. It isn’t long before they learn the truth: Not only is the place haunted by the ghost of a Confederate soldier, it also holds secrets that lead to a buried treasure! The soldier hid his trove as a gift for the New York abolitionist who cared for him before he died, and his last wish is to see it unearthed. The clock is ticking as Nina and Chris race to solve the phantom’s mysterious clues. But they aren’t the only ones seeking the valuable bounty. Can they manage to find it first? The Ghost Wore Gray is the second book of the Nina Tanleven Mysteries, which begin with The Ghost in the Third Row and continue with The Ghost in the Big Brass Bed. This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Bruce Coville including rare images from the author’s collection.

On the Oregon trail, a theater troupe strives to reach California After months in the cramped confines of a Conestoga wagon, Fortune Plunkett is dreaming of the life she left behind in Charleston. It was her father’s dream to lead his band of actors to California, but he died on the trail. Fortune’s only inheritance is a trunk of old costumes, a handful of plays, and a passionate drive to reach the Pacific Ocean, no matter what hardships she might endure along the way. At the time of her father’s death, the actors were heading toward an engagement in the little town of Busted Heights—a place that held a fascination for Fortune’s father that he never explained. There Fortune meets the greenhorn Jamie Halleck, a naive young man who convinces her to let him join the group. With Jamie onboard, they hit the trail again, ready to reach California and find their destiny. This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Bruce Coville including rare images from the author’s collection.

Fourteen-year-old Marina and sixteen-year-old Jed accompany their parents'' religious cult, the Believers, to await the end of the world atop a remote mountain, where they try to decide what they themselves believe.

Pleskit’s alien pet causes widespread panic in this sixth book in the hilarious, fast-paced, and accessible sci-fi series Sixth-Grade Alien from the bestselling author of Aliens Ate My Homework and My Teacher Is an Alien, Bruce Coville. Having a pet shapeshifter might be one of the coolest parts of being from a different planet. So when Jordan accuses Pleskit of lying about his Veeblax’s abilities, Pleskit decides take his pet to class—without asking parental permission. Bringing the Veeblax to school turns out to be a bigger mistake than Pleskit ever thought possible when it frightens his classmate Misty, causing an intergalactic incident. As the situation spins out of control, it becomes clear that Pleskit may lose his pet, his teacher may lose her job, and Earth may lose the benefits of the alien connection. Running away may be the only way for Pleskit to save the his pet. But where can you hide when you’re the only purple kid on the planet? Plus, escaping may not be the best idea, because someone—or something—is following him.

Pleskit and Tim’s plan to prank a bully goes horribly awry in this second book of the hilarious, fast-paced, and accessible sci-fi series Sixth-Grade Alien from the bestselling author of Aliens Ate My Homework, Bruce Coville. All Pleskit Meenom wants to do is fit in on his new planet. But bullies like his classmate Jordan Lynch make it clear he never will. Not even taking a trip to the mall and getting some Earth-style clothing is enough to stop Jordan’s teasing or blend in at school. After one dig too many from Pleskit’s bully, Pleskit and his best friend Tim decide to teach Jordan a lesson. So they borrow a shrinking ray from the embassy. Shrinking rays are tricky machines, and this one turns out to be more than the boys can handle. Instead of cutting a mean kid down to size, they end up making Tim and their teacher Ms. Weintraub no bigger than a pair of pencils! If word gets out of this misuse of alien technology, it could ruin Pleskit’s mission. But how can you hide the fact that you’ve shrunk your teacher?

On an island of geniuses, a gang of kids must use their smarts to survive When five brilliant but wacky friends get dragged to a deserted island by their scientist parents, they decide to do what any self-respecting young brainiacs would: beat the adults at their own game. The only problem is, before the group can discover whether artificial intelligence is an impossible dream or the solution to mankind’s problems, they’ll first have to save themselves from a horrifying death trap—and the entire island from destruction at the hands of a mad bomber! This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Bruce Coville including rare images from the author’s collection.

Mike and Kevver announce the Monster of the Year contest as a joke, but end up with actual contestants.

An ancient betrayal echoes across time and space Boring—that’s what Marilyn thinks her family is. Completely, horribly normal. All except for her great-aunt Zenobia, a scandalously independent world traveler with the most exciting stories. Marilyn always looks forward to her spirited great-aunt’s visits, but this time, Zenobia seems to have something unusual on her mind. Marilyn can’t refuse when the obviously worried Zenobia asks her to hold on to something for safekeeping—a beautiful amulet found in the Egyptian desert, with a center stone so vivid and sparkling, it almost seems . . . alive. Suddenly Marilyn’s dreams turn dark as she’s tasked with a terrible mission: to keep whatever is inside the amulet from gaining its freedom—and with it, revenge. This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Bruce Coville including rare images from the author’s collection.

The stone toad is back! From the author of Diary of a Mad Brownie, this follow-up to the bestselling Goblins in the Castle blends laugh-out-loud humor with fantasy and edge-of-your-seat adventure. In the year since William and Fauna freed the goblins from imprisonment in Toad-in-a-Cage Castle, peace has reigned over both the human and goblin kingdoms. Then one cold night William receives a strange book from an unknown visitor, a book that leads him and Fauna to the mysterious stone toad that sits in the castle’s Great Hall. When an accidental spell brings the stone creature to life, the giant toad hops away—with William between its jaws! Fauna is no match for a ten-foot-tall frog made of rock, but she has magic—and a good amount of grit—on her side. Determined to save her friend, Fauna ventures forth on a journey through dangerous lands filled with fearsome giants, talking bears, and packs of rogue goblins. And in order to save William and reveal the mystery behind the stone toad, Fauna might have to divulge a secret that could turn her friends against her forever.

From Bruce Coville, the master of tween comic suspense, comes a tale of monsters, the bond between brothers, and saving the world. Jake''s baby brother, LD, may be a monster (complete with fangs and fur!), but together with his best friend, Lily, Jake isn''t going to let anything happen to that baby. Even if it turns out LD may be the key to saving the world—or destroying it. Soon Jake and Lily are on a perilous quest through Always October, a land populated with monsters. Perfect for fans of Bruce Coville''s beloved books, such as Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, the Unicorn Chronicles series, and My Teacher Is an Alien series.

Tim finds the alien Beebo Frimbat''s pranks annoying, but begins to wonder if there is something else behind them when Beebo locks Pleskit''s bodyguard into an alternate dimension.

"Angus Cairns is a brownie, a magical creature with a fastidious nature. Alex Carhart is the messiest eleven-year-old in the United States of America. Together, this unlikely pair embarks on an unforgettable adventure"--

Whan an ordinary looking fifth grader purchases a talking toad, she embarks on a series of extraordinary adventures.

A young scientist discovers a zero-gravity homicide onboard a space station Rusty McPhee was born on Earth, but he hasn’t been on solid ground for so long that he hardly remembers what it’s like. He was raised on the space station known as ICE-3, and he knows the ins and outs of this floating research platform better than anybody. He’s working in the waste disposal unit, watching garbage dissolve and be recycled, when he sees something terrifying: a dead body, half decomposed, face down in the muck. Before he can tell anyone what he’s found, the machines finish processing the body, and he’s left without any evidence that a murder ever happened. Not one of ICE-3’s twenty-five thousand inhabitants is missing—so where did the body come from? As he tracks the zero-G killer, danger lurks around every airlock, and it will take just one misstep for Rusty to fall from the sky. This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Bruce Coville including rare images from the author’s collection.

The spirits of an old house uncover dangerous family secrets Sixteen-year-old Lisa Burton can’t believe her parents dragged her to a summer house for the entire month of August. After five days of rain, she and her younger sister, Carrie, have never been more bored. So when their grandmother suggests a silly parlor game, the girls are excited—until an unseen power takes over Lisa’s hand and writes a puzzling message: “Welcome Home.” Who—or what—is trying to reach the Burtons, and how does it know that their grandmother’s family once lived at the estate? As she uncovers family secrets one by one, Lisa realizes that to make the past right, she’ll have to journey through the corridors of an unsettled mind powerful enough to trap them all inside. This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Bruce Coville including rare images from the author’s collection.

Bruce Coville''s best-selling My Teacher series gets an exciting, updated look this season.

Stuart sees the ad for a summer movie camp and knows that''s the place for him. He doesn''t know the man who runs the camp makes the world''s scariest movies--and plans to try out his special effects on the campers!