New Releases by Rodman Philbrick

Nick Chase and Jess Hardy are at a local animal rescue facility when the massive earthquake hits, followed by an even more dangerous tsunami--practically buried alive, the two kids and two teachers struggle to survive, unsure if anyone else from their town has escaped the disaster that has destroyed their homes.

Another WILD adventure from Rodman Philbrick, author of Wildfireand Wild River. Wild Wave is the adventure of two kids trapped in the aftermath of a tsunami. It''s kids vs. nature in another edge-of-your seat read! When a tsunami heads for the coast, Nick Chase and Jess Hardy have to run. They make it into the woods above the bay--only to see the sea flooding their whole neighborhood along the shore. Destroying everything. In the broken landscape that''s left behind, the two must try to find their way to safety. But when they come across a stranded elderly couple, it''s up to Nick and Jess to work together and get help so that they can all make it out alive. This is another gripping environmental survival story from the Newbery Honor author of Wildfire and Wild River.

A thrilling historical adventure by the master of adventure himself, Rodman Philbrick. It''s Maine, 1924, and the Ku Klux Klan is on the rise. Davy and Jo Michaud have been recently orphaned. Taken in by a distant relative—a famous aviator—they are now working with a group of stunt pilots who spend their time wing walking, leaping from plane to plane, and flying through fireworks! But though the stunts are dangerous, the real threat is building behind the scenes. The KKK is on the rise in Maine that summer, inspired by the racial fears promoted in Birth of a Nation. They spew hatred of immigrants, Blacks, Jews, and French Catholics—that last, a rage that will be directed at Davy and Jo. When Davy and Jo cross paths with the Klan, they get tangled up in a terrible revenge plan, and held as hostages. Can they escape with their lives?

When a dam fails and rushing waters sweep away their adult supervisors, five middle schoolers on a white-water rafting adventure are left alone with few supplies and the opportunity to forge powerful bonds as well as develop dangerous disagreements.

"Soon we will eat the frozen cattle.... And then, when that is gone, what shall we eat?Shall we eat the snow? Shall we eat the ice? Shall we eat the bark on the frozen trees?What shall we eat?"Spring, 1846: Douglas Allen Deeds dreams of starting a new life out West. When the opportunity to join the Donner Party Expedition arises, he leaves the life he''s known behind to set out on the nearly 2,000-mile trek from Independence, Missouri to sunny California.But progress is slow. Brutal heat, poisoned water, and rough terrain slows the expedition down. Soon they have a choice: continue on the known but grueling trail, or take a shortcut that would cut 350 miles from their journey-but take them through unknown territory. Is it worth the risk?Winter comes quickly in the mountains, and the wrong choice could leave them stranded in the Sierra Mountains when the snow comes, with no shelter, supplies, or even food.Newbery Honor-winning author Rodman Philbrick brings to life the excitement, danger, and horrors of the Donner Party''s journey west.

Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick sends readers rushing down a raging river on a life-or-death adventure when a white water rafting trip goes terribly wrong! Daniel Redmayne is fast asleep on the first night of a white water rafting trip, when he''s awoken by screams. The dam has failed. The river is surging, and their camp will be under water in a matter of moments.As the shrieking roar of the river rushes closer, the kids scramble to higher ground. They make it; their counselors do not.Now they''re on their own, with barely any food or supplies, in the middle of the Montana wilderness. Do Daniel and his four classmates have what it takes to stay alive until they can get rescued? Alone in the wild, they forge powerful bonds -- but develop dangerous disagreements. If nature doesn''t break them, they might just destroy each other.This gripping survival story from the Newbery Honor author of Wildfire is filled with adrenaline-pumping adventure and moments of true bravery.

Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick sends readers straight into the nightmare of a raging wildfire as 12-year-old Sam is trapped by explosive flames and deadly smoke that threaten to take his life. Can he survive? Flames race toward Sam Castine''s summer camp as evacuation buses are loading, but Sam runs back to get his phone. Suddenly, a flash of heat blasts him as pine trees explode. Now a wall of fire separates Sam from his bus, and there''s only one thing to do: Run for his life. Run or die.Lungs burning, Sam''s only goal is to keep moving. Drought has made the forest a tinderbox, and Sam struggles to remember survival tricks he learned from his late father. Then, when he least expects it, he encounters Delphy, an older girl who is also lost. Their unlikely friendship grows as they join forces to find civilization.The pace never slows, and eventually flames surround Sam and Delphy on all sides. A powerful bond is forged that can only grow out of true hardship -- as two true friends beat all odds and outwit one of the deadliest fires ever.At the end of the novel, information about wildfires and useful safety tips add to the reader''s understanding of one of the US''s most dangerous natural disasters.

Thirteen-year-old Sam Castine is at summer camp while his mother is in rehab, but when the camp is evacuated ahead of a fast moving wildfire, he makes the mistake of going back for his phone, and finds himself left behind, disoriented, and running for his life, together with a girl, Delphy, from a different camp--finding an old jeep keeps them going, but in the wilds of Maine, there are only logging roads and the deadly crown fire is everywhere.

From Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick comes a delicious, fast-paced whodunit about two socially outcast boys who set out to find jewels hidden for a century--and unwittingly flush out a murderer. In award-winner Philbrick''s new page-turning mystery, Arthur "Bash Man" is the school thug, paid with candy to bully and threaten other students. When genius orphan Darius Drake employs Arthur to help him discover the origin of a suspicious threat, written in blood, they uncover a mystery that involves Darius''s estranged grandfather, who was imprisoned for forging evidence in a search for a long-lost diamond necklace worth millions. The boys make the dangerous decision to search for the jewels themselves -- and in the process, they discover that the car crash that killed Darius''s parents was not an accident at all. Who will be next?Where are the diamonds? And who is stalking the boys? In his first mystery for children, Philbrick delivers yet another suspenseful, unpredictable tale filled with twists and turns that will leave readers breathless.

In this page-turning adventure by Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick, a solar event knocks out our planet''s electricity, and a boy must risk his life to save his sick mother. What would you do if every spark of electricity suddenly vanished, as if somebody had flipped a switch on the entire planet? Cars won''t start, the heat shuts off, there''s no water in your faucet, and your radio, TV, and flashlight go dark. Everyone in Charlie''s small town is baffled. But as time passes, lawlessness erupts and takes an ugly turn. When the market and pharmacy are torched by an anti-Semitic arsonist, Charlie realizes his mother will die without her medicine. So he dons skis and heads off alone, seeking the nearest hospital. After traveling 50 miles through brutal ice and snow, Charlie encounters a burned-out, looted city of terrified citizens. Will he be able to save his mom?Heroic, eloquent, and unforgettable, The Big Dark raises timely questions about responsibility, tolerance, and love.

Ronnie Garrick, a wild but amazingly talented singer from rural Texas, takes it on the road, risking her heart, her voice, and her life, as she claws her way to the top.

Roy and his big brother, Joe, are on the run from their past. When they fetch up at the Bar None ranch their shared passion for horses soon wins them great respect, and Roy is offered the chance of a lifetime – to break in a wild pony that runs like the desert wind. He is even promised that if he can ride Lady Luck, he can keep her – a dream come true. But Roy knows that Joe has a dangerous secret... a dark obsession that could explode at any time and send Roy’s dream, and their whole world, up in smoke. Full of rich detail of life in the American west, Fire Pony is an emotionally charged thriller by the internationally acclaimed author, Rodman Philbrick.

Skiff Beaman has a problem. A BIG problem. He needs to fix up his family''s fishing boat, but to do that he needs money. A whole heap of money. His father isn''t going to help – he can''t see further than the next can of beer since Skiff''s mother died – and nor is his classmate, Tyler, inventor of the nickname "Lobster Boy". But Skiff can still hear his mother''s voice telling him "Never give up". So he comes up with a plan. It''s crazy, it''s dangerous, and it''s going to take all Skiff''s grit and strength to win a great battle against the sea. An inspirational and compelling action-packed tale by the internationally bestselling author, Rodman Philbrick.

A vacation house has a terrifying past—one that only the children know about Jason, his little sister, Sally, and his parents plan to spend the summer in the perfect seaside vacation home. But as soon as Jason steps onto the porch, icy air grips him, and he feels the stare of an invisible being. Although he can’t explain it, he knows that in this house, children are not welcome. Jason soon meets Steve, a friendly kid who teases him about the so-called haunted house and the witch who used to live there. Jason tries to ignore him, but he’s pretty sure there’s truth to the spooky tale. Especially when he meets the pale figure of a child in the house . . . The Haunting is the first book of the chilling House on Cherry Street trilogy from prolific wife-and-husband coauthors Lynn Harnett and Rodman Philbrick, the Newbery Honor Award–winning author of Freak the Mighty.

A haunted house continues its quest for vengeance on two young children After surviving the wrath of the house that wants them dead, Jason and his four-year-old sister, Sally, face a new challenge—a week without their mom and dad. When their parents are called away to deal with a work crisis, they are left with Katie, a seventeen-year-old babysitter. Katie doesn’t believe in spirits, but that doesn’t matter to Bobby, the ghost of the child who was murdered here. Bobby has become closer than ever to Sally—in fact, he now possesses her. And his hatred of babysitters and desire for vengeance will leave Jason, Sally, and Katie in even more danger than before. The Horror is the second book of the chilling House on Cherry Street trilogy from prolific wife-and-husband coauthors Lynn Harnett and Rodman Philbrick, the Newbery Honor Award–winning author of Freak the Mighty.

When their classmates are kidnapped, Nick, Jessie, and Frasier must defeat the aliens once and for all Nick, Jessie, and Frasier have managed to escape the clutches of slimy alien invaders—only to be taken prisoner by their own parents. The extraterrestrials are controlling the minds of all the adults in town, and the trio is now under house arrest. With locks on their doors and windows, and aliens watching their every move, Nick, Jessie, and Frasier don’t think it could get any worse . . . until they realize they’ll be forced to go to summer school! The three kids know they have to get away before the aliens take over their minds too. But why have their parents been targeted? And why are all the adults doing so much digging? Nick, Jessie, and Frasier must rush to discover the truth about the invasion before the aliens can complete their evil plans. It’s not just their lives on the line—it’s the life of the entire town.

Two children face the terrors of a house that wants them dead Can Jason and Sally survive the evil spirits in the house on Cherry Street until their parents return? Jason looks for clues to the house’s mysterious history—especially the “accidental” fall that killed Bobby, the ghost who still fears his terrifying nanny and whose body was never found. Maybe if Jason and his sister can right the wrongs of the past, the house will no longer be haunted. But that means they’ll have to go back inside . . . The Final Nightmare is the concluding book of the chilling House on Cherry Street trilogy from prolific wife-and-husband coauthors Lynn Harnett and Rodman Philbrick, the Newbery Honor Award–winning author of Freak the Mighty.

Born human and raised as a wolf—but forever destined to be a monster Abandoned as a child, Gruff is taken in and raised by a Wolfmother. She teaches him to survive in the wild—and to be wary of the Legwalkers. When a chance encounter brings Gruff near humans again, he wants to know more about this world to which he no longer belongs. But as he soon discovers, he doesn’t really fit in with the wolves either. As Gruff feels his body change into that of a monster—and hears the evil call coming from others like him—he knows it’s time to face the terrible truth about himself.

When humans rescued the wolf-boy, they were unaware of the danger it would put them in Saved from the werewolves who want him to join them, Gruff is taken in by a family of normal humans. He is fond of Paul and his sister, Kim, remembering the kind of sibling bond he once had with the wolf pups. He tries to behave like a normal boy, eating with utensils and attending school, but he knows there are only a few weeks left before the next full moon and the change he’s bound to endure. Trying to resist the pull of the wereing—the transformation into full werewolf—Gruff must hide when the moon transforms him. But his change is not the only danger that lurks in the small town of Fox Hollow, a place full of people who don’t believe in monsters—even when the monsters lurk among them.

With the adults possessed by alien invaders, can Nick, Jessie, and Frasier save their town? Twelve-year-old twins Nick and Jessie are woken up in the middle of the night by a blazing white light followed by a loud explosion. As they rush to the window, rain suddenly begins pouring down, and the water starts to glow. It is the strangest thunderstorm they’ve ever seen, and it stops as quickly as it started. Nick has a feeling it may not have been a storm at all, but visitors from another planet. When he and Jessie decide to investigate a strange sound downstairs, they find their mom and dad digging a hole in the basement. At least, they think it’s their mom and dad. But since when does their mom let them eat all the junk food they want, and why isn’t their dad going to work? Nick and Jessie know something is wrong, and if their hunch is right, their parents’ bodies have been taken over by aliens. It’s up to Nick, Jessie, and their best friend, Frasier, to solve the mystery and protect their town from an extraterrestrial threat.

Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick presents a gripping yet poignant novel about a 12-year-old boy and his dog who become trapped in New Orleans during the horrors of Hurricane Katrina. Zane Dupree is a charismatic 12-year-old boy of mixed race visiting a relative in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hits. Unexpectedly separated from all family, Zane and his dog experience the terror of Katrina''s wind, rain, and horrific flooding. Facing death, they are rescued from an attic air vent by a kind, elderly musician and a scrappy young girl--both African American. The chaos that ensues as storm water drowns the city, shelter and food vanish, and police contribute to a dangerous, frightening atmosphere, creates a page-turning tale that completely engrosses the reader. Based on the facts of the worst hurricane disaster in U.S. history, Philbrick includes the lawlessness and lack of government support during the disaster as well as the generosity and courage of those who risked their lives and safety to help others. Here is an unforgettable novel of heroism in the face of truly challenging circumstances.

A twelve-year-old boy and his dog become trapped in New Orleans during the horrors of Hurricane Katrina.

Max è un ragazzo grande e grosso e, dicono tutti, un po'' scemo. Kevin ha una rara malattia che ha impedito al suo corpo di svilupparsi. Sono tutti e due soli, ma sono anche la cura che serve all''altro, perché se Max ha gambe forti, così forti da bastare per due, Kevin possiede immaginazione e intelligenza anche per Max. E insieme non sono più né Max né Kevin: insieme sono Freak The Mighty, una creatura capace di qualsiasi cosa. Anche la più impossibile: non farli sentire più né stupidi né malati, ma solo splendidamente vivi.

A companion to Newbery Honor winning author Rodman Philbrick''s Freak the Mighty. This is the dramatic, heart-wrenching tale of Max and Worm, two outsiders who turn to each other for survival. Meet Maxwell Kane, the brooding giant-of-a-boy who escaped from his basement hiding place and faced the real world in FREAK THE MIGHTY.Still grieving over the loss of his best friend, Kevin, Max finds himself defending a young, solitary girl cruelly nicknamed "Worm" because she loves to read so much.When Max gets blamed for a horrific crime, he and Worm are forced to run for their lives. They flee across America -- hunted by the police, and pursued by the mysterious man known as the Undertaker. The only way they can survive is to confront Worm''s darkest and most revealing secret. And that means facing something more frightening than death itself.

A story of determination and survival from the acclaimed author of FREAK THE MIGHTY. "This thrilling and elegant book ... will hold the interest of even the most stalwart landlubber." -- PWTwelve-year-old Skiff Beaman''s mom just died, and his fisherman dad is too depressed to drag himself off the couch and go to work. So these days Skiff has to take care of everything himself. But when his dad''s boat sinks, Skiff discovers it will cost thousands to buy a new engine. Skiff''s lobster traps won''t earn him enough, but there are bigger fish in the sea -- bluefin tuna. If he can catch one of those monster fish, Skiff just might save the boat -- and his family.

A Newbery Honor Book, this warm, funny, & heart-wrenching Civil War novel introduces readers to the Battle of Gettysburg & "Little Round Top," one of the most famous feats of bravery in U.S. history! In this emotive, Newbery Honor-winning page-turner, 12 year-old orphan Homer runs away from Pine Swamp, Maine, to find his older brother, Harold, who has been sold into the Union Army. With laugh-aloud humor, Homer outwits and outruns a colorful assortment of Civil War-era thieves, scallywags, and spies as he makes his way south, following clues that finally lead him to the Battle of Gettysburg and the dramatic story of the 20th Maine at Little Round Top. Even through a hail of gunfire, Homer never loses heart--but will he find his brother? Or will it be too late?With engaging wit and comical repartee reminiscent of Mark Twain, master storyteller Rodman Philbrick introduces us to the unforgettable character of Homer in this groundbreaking historical novel.The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!

After an earthquake has destroyed much of the planet, an epileptic teenager nicknamed Spaz begins the heroic fight to bring human intelligence back to the Earth of a distant future.

Award winner Rodman Philbrick has written a powerful middle-grade novel of determination and survival about a boy''s exhilarating encounter with a fish that first nearly kills him but then saves his life.