New Releases by Tony Abbott

Bestselling author Tony Abbott’s YA novel-in-verse is an unflinching and heartbreaking look at a boy’s junk-filled life, and the ways he finds redemption and hope, perfect for fans of The Crossover and Long Way Down. Junk. That’s what the kids at school call Bobby Lang, mostly because his rundown house looks like a junkyard, but also because they want to put him down. Trying desperately to live under the radar at school—and at the home he shares with his angry, neglectful father—Bobby develops a sort of proud loneliness. The only buffer between him and the uncaring world is his love of the long, wooded trail between school and home. Life grinds along quietly and hopelessly for Bobby until he meets Rachel. Rachel is an artist who sees him in a way no one ever has. Maybe it’s because she has her own kind of junk, and a parent who hates what Rachel is: gay. Together the two embark on journeys to clean up the messes that fill their lives, searching against all odds for hope and redemption. Narrated in Bobby’s unique voice in arresting free verse, this novel will captivate readers right from its opening lines, urging them on page after page, all the way to its explosive conclusion.

Perfect for fans of Gary D. Schmidt comes the companion to the modern classic Firegirl from acclaimed writer Tony Abbott. Life hasn''t been great for Jeff Hicks. After years at his beloved St. Catherine''s, he''s forced to spend eighth grade in the public middle school, which he hates. He''s no longer speaking to his former best friend, Tom Bender, because of "that burned girl" Jessica Feeney. But worst of all, his family is changing, and it''s not for the better. When his mom comes home announcing that she''s lost her job, Jeff begins to worry about things far beyond his years: How will they pay the rent? Will his absentee dad step up and save the day? Is his mom drinking too much? And ultimately, where will they live? The Great Jeff is a powerful look at the life of a troubled boy who finds his life spiraling out of control.

Written by award-winning author Tony Abbott and perfect for fans of The Ethan I Was Before and The Thing About Jellyfish, this bittersweet middle grade novel follows the ghost of Denis Egan as he teams up with his living twin brother to solve the mystery of his death. Denis Egan is dead. He’s okay with that. It’s been five years since he died, and the place where souls go is actually pretty nice. Sure, there are some things about his life and how it ended he can’t quite recall, but that’s how it’s supposed to be. Remembering could prevent Denis from moving on to whatever’s next. However, something is standing in his way. His twin brother Matt can’t let go of him, and as long as the living are holding on to his memory, Denis can’t rest in peace. To uncover the truth about what happened that day five years before, Denis returns to his hometown and teams up with Matt. But visiting for too long has painful consequences for Denis, and Matt’s renewed interest in his brother’s passing is driving a wedge between his still-grieving parents. Can the two boys solve the mystery of Denis’s death without breaking apart the family he’s left behind?

Their first names are Noodle and Zeek, but their middle names are “Danger”—in this “exciting” series from the author of the Secrets of Droon (Booklist). Best buddies Noodle and Zeek love adventure—and that’s a good thing, because they clearly can’t stay out of trouble. “A throwback to the Hardy Boys” mixed with “plotting reminiscent of Saturday-morning cartoons,” award-winning author Tony Abbott’s high-energy series is pure fun (Booklist). This complete set of all six books kicks off with Danger Guys, a “good-natured parody of the likes of Indiana Jones films” (Publishers Weekly). Danger Guys: Best friends Noodle and Zeek are among the first in line when a new store selling survival gear, Danger Guy, opens in their mall. But when a small room in the store turns out to be the back of a truck, they’re in for a terrifying ride to an ancient temple full of treasures. Danger Guys Blast Off: When Noodle and Zeek discover their old science teacher is actually an evil scientist who wants to blow up their school, they must defeat a giant robot, learn to fly a rocket, and defuse the bomb before it’s too late. Danger Guys: Hollywood Halloween: The boys can’t wait to tour a real Hollywood movie studio—until electronic props go haywire and the friends must battle an evil robot, a sneezing dinosaur, and a deadly mummy. Danger Guys Hit the Beach: Noodle and Zeek are about to discover that stopping treasure hunters is no day at the beach. Danger Guys on Ice: On a skiing trip, the boys stumble upon frozen cavemen—and their cold-blooded former science teacher, the evil Mr. Vazny, who plans to reanimate the cavemen and use them to destroy Mayville. Danger Guys and the Golden Lizard: On a jungle quest for the legendary Golden Lizard, the boys must rescue a kidnapped husband-and-wife explorer team, fight off ninja linebackers, and find the treasure before the bad guys.

When two sixth-grade friends magically enter classic literary books, their fun-filled adventures are “a treat for reluctant readers” (School Library Journal). They just didn’t want to read the books! Instead, through their school library’s magic security gates, sixth graders Devin and Frankie—short for Francine—are zapped into great works of literature and new worlds of adventure, including Dracula, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Around the World in Eighty Days, A Christmas Carol, Treasure Island, and Romeo and Juliet. “The message that reading is important and can be fun comes through loud and clear” (School Library Journal). Trapped in Transylvania: Transported into Bram Stoker’s vampire classic, the sarcastic sixth graders will need a few stakes, a lot of garlic, and a sharp sense of humor to defeat the bloodthirsty Count Dracula. Mississippi River Blues: These modern middle schoolers learn being a troublemaker is timeless, as they whitewash a fence, run away from home, solve a murder, become pirates, and search for hidden treasure along with Tom and Huck, the original slackers. What a Trip!: When you can travel into books, going around the world is easy. In the company of mad explorer Phileas Fogg, Devin and Frankie embark on a round-the-world journey by train, ship, and hot air balloon. Humbug Holiday: For two sixth graders who feel about school the way Scrooge feels about Christmas, an enchanted trip into Charles Dickens’s tale is just what their spirits need. X Marks the Spot: Devin and Frankie become marooned middle schoolers when they are swept away to Treasure Island and must match wits with legendary pirate Long John Silver. Crushing on a Capulet: Devin and Frankie try to save star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet when they find themselves in Shakespeare’s classic play.

A gripping middle-grade novel from an award-winning author about a boy who must figure out how to save his best friend from abuse.

This concluding book in bestselling author Tony Abbott’s critically acclaimed middle grade adventure series is a mile-a-minute thrill ride. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Ridley Pearson. “Upon my life, I will.” Across the centuries, every Guardian who has protected one of the twelve relics of the Copernicus legacy has taken this vow. But never have the consequences of the promise been more profound. The secret network of the great astronomer’s spies is the target of an assassination plot, led by the despicable Galina Krause. And now the Kaplans are more alone than ever before as they race from France to Antarctica against a deadly ticking clock. There is not much time left for Wade, Darrell, Lily, and Becca to find the remaining relics and defeat their enemies. But are they willing to risk the life of one of their own in order to save the world?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Keeah, Julie, and Neal are determined to find a cure for the poison that transformed Eric into the evil Prince Ungast. Their quest takes them to a lost empire deep in the desert, where the mischievous Sand Children are hiding a magical elixir that may hold the secret to Eric''s recovery. But the journey is filled with danger, for Gethwing is determined to stop them. And the Moon Dragon has a powerful new henchman at his disposal: Lord Sparr. . .

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Eric has been wounded during an epic battle with Ko and his beasts. Now, the young wizard lies in a coma, trapped in a dream-state halfway between fantasy and reality. Desperate to find a cure, Neal, Julie, and Princess Keeah rush to Samarindo, a beautiful but dangerous city famous for its dark magic. But they are immediately attacked by a group of bandits. Can the friends track down the cure before it''s too late?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Oh no! The secret of Droon is a secret no longer. Eric''s mother knows about the rainbow staircase . . . and what''s worse, so does Gethwing. The Moon Dragon has sent his minions to the Upper World to search for a magical object that could give him power over all of Droon. Now no place is safe from Gethwing''s dark magic. . . .

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Everything in Droon is changing. Lord Sparr has disappeared. Ko and Gethwing have fled to the Dark Lands. And an old villain is back -- Ving, leader of the Hawk Bandits! This time, he has his twin sister in tow, along with her band of wicked pirates. Arrrg! They''re snatching magical stones from all over Droon, and using them to build an enchanted passageway that will transport nasty dragons from the past into the present. Can Eric and his friends put a stop to the pirates? Or will they be lost at sea?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! It''s a dangerous time in Droon. A mysterious ancient sorcerer has arrived, waking the infamous Warriors of the Skorth and wreaking havoc. He seems to be an expert in the most evil, long-ago magic, and leads Eric and his friends on a treacherous journey to the Dark Lands. But what awaits them there? And what is the mysterious sorcerer really after? Eric hopes that it''s not too late to find out -- and stop him.

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Eric, Julie, Neal, and Keeah are on a rescue mission! Galen, Max, King Zello, and Queen Relna are being held prisoner in the forbidding forest of Jabar-Loo, and it''s up to the kids to save them. But setting them free is easier said than done. For Jabar-Loo is a place of ancient, unfathomable magic, where even the closest friend can be mistaken for a deadly enemy. . . .

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! The home of Khan, king of the Lumpies, has been ransacked! A treacherous band of thieves, the Rat-faced Snitchers of Zoop, has stolen a mysterious treasure that the Lumpies had vowed to protect. Now Eric, Neal, Julie, and Keeah must pursue the Snitchers back to their hideaway on the edge of the Dark Lands. But they are not alone. For Ko, the kids'' most fearsome enemy, is after the treasure, too. Can Eric and his friends find it before the king of beasts?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Ko is back in power -- and nothing in Droon is safe! His beasts have found a lightning-powered submarine hidden in the secret Fortress of the Treasure Queen. Now Eric and his friends have to stop Ko before he destroys Jaffa City. But first they''ll need help from their worst enemy -- Lord Sparr. If he can be trusted . . . .

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! There''s no place like home! Eric and his friends have finally restored the Rainbow Stairs, but that was the easy part. Now Gethwing is loose in the Upper World, and the Moon Dragon is causing big trouble. Eric, Julie, and Neal have to protect their town, but they''re up against mysterious creatures, strangely-behaving parents, and powerful magic. Can the kids stop Gethwing before he destroys the Upper World -- for good?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Ko''s beasts have taken over Doobesh, a dangerous city full of thieves and pirates. Now they''re hard at work at the magical forge in the nearby Dark Lands, creating powerful armor that will make them unstoppable. That is, unless Eric and his friends destroy the armor first. The race is on! Can the kids beat the beasts, flatten the forge, and dash out of the Dark Lands in time? On your mark . . . get set . . . GO!

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Galen is back, and the kids are going to need his help. But first, they have to find him! Eric and his friends soon learn that the old wizard is trapped in the city of Parthnoop, on the dark side of the moon, and only Queen Zara''s flying chariot will take them there. But with genies, urn-riders, and secrets around every turn, can they reach Galen in time? Or will they be trapped in Parthnoop, too?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! There''s only one passage between the Upper World and Droon -- the magical rainbow staircase. At least, that''s what Eric and his friends have always believed. But now Ko and his beasts are attacking Zorfendorf Castle, a magical fortress that''s hiding a huge secret: the Fifth River, another passage to the Upper World. Ko will do anything to get to the river -- and to the Upper World. And Eric, Julie, Neal, and Keeah will do anything to stop him!

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! The city of Ut is a city of secrets. Mysteriously, it only appears once every one hundred years. And to enter, you need the key, which is kept in the magical bottle of Ut. Eric, Keeah, and the others need to get inside the city to help a friend. The good genie, Hoja, is being held prisoner there, and he needs rescuing! They have discovered the secret of the magic bottle, and so they know they can get inside the city walls. But what they don''t know is that Ut holds other secrets. Dark, dangerous secrets. Secrets that involve a certain sorcerer named Sparr...

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! An immortal dragon. A long hidden secret. The kingdom of Droon is at the brink of war. . .The situation in Droon has never been more desperate. The wizard Galen is missing. Eric has been forced undercover with Gethwing, the all-powerful Moon Dragon. And millions of beasts are assembling outside Jaffa City, ready to attack Droon''s capital.Eric, Keeah, Neal, and Julie will do whatever it takes to save their beloved kingdom. But to defeat the Moon Dragon, they''ll need to uncover the greatest secret in all of Droon. . . .

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Evil Lord Sparr has collected all Three Powers, something he has been trying to do since the very first DROON adventure. Armed with the Coiled Viper, the Red Eye of Dawn, and the Golden Wasp, Sparr is ready to journey to the Isle of Mists - an eerie place of fog and darkness. Eric, Keeah, and the others are hot on his trail. But they are worried. The Isle of Mists is where Sparr''s stepfather, Emperor Ko, mysteriously disappeared. Some even say that the evil ruler is still alive there.Sparr plus the Three Powers plus Emperor Ko? For Eric and his friends, that''s not a good equation....

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Keeah, a junior wizard, has always dreamed of the day she would receive her Wizardbook. So when her mother presents her first one, Keeah is overjoyed. But what she doesn''t realize is how very powerful and dangerous a Wizardbook can be. If she isn''t careful, she might accidentally destroy the entire kingdom of Droon! Keeah will need the help of her friends, Eric, Julie, and Neal, along with Max the Spider Troll, to keep her on the right path...For the first time ever readers get to hear Keeah''s point of view as she tells readers about the exciting adventures and wondrous magic of Droon!

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Magic is on the move... into the real world. As Eric and his friends venture beyond the jeweled door and down the dark stairway, they enter a whole new chapter in their Droon adventures. They enter the "Upper World" -- our world. In this exciting special edition, for the first time ever, the magical world of Droon is expanding into the real world. Wizards, goblins, and all kinds of magical mischief are in store -- and this time, it''s not just a wonder of Droon. It''s a reality.

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Eric and his friends have faced off against Lord Sparr time and time again. They''ve befriended him as Kid Sparr and battled him as an ancient sorcerer. Now the Lord Sparr they know so well is back at the height of his power. And this time, he''s telling his own story.

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Eric, Julie, Neal, Keeah, and all their friends are about to discover one of Droon''s biggest secrets, in a Special Edition like we''ve never seen before! The kids are transported to Droon''s past and future and we read the story from their different points of view.

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Trapped! The Rainbow Stairs have disappeared, and Eric, Neal, and Julie are stranded in Droon with no way home. Even worse, Young Sparr and Gethwing have escaped to the Upper World! Eric and his friends have just 24 hours to restore the stairs -- but how? The answers are at the end of a long, enchanted caravan that leads the kids all through Droon''s past and present. On the way, they learn that only the magical Five Wizards of Eshku can bring the Rainbow Stairs back. But can the kids find all five wizards in time? Or will they be trapped in Droon forever?

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Lord Sparr is back... and meaner than ever! This time, he is in search of the Coiled Viper, an ancient magical object of unknown, incredible power. Princess Keeah and her Upper World friends - Eric, Neal, and Julie - know they have to stop Sparr from uncovering the Viper. But there''s one little catch. The Viper can''t be found in Droon... because it''s hidden somewhere in the Upper World!

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Forget Frosty... there''s a new snowman tromping through Droon! An ancient snow beast named Murn has woken up from a deep sleep, and he is NOT a morning person. In fact, Murn is destroying villages all over Droon! Eric and his friends must journey up north to the mysterious ice caves to stop the beast. Finding the cave entrance is tricky, but that''s nothing compared to what they find deep inside. Surprise! The "ice beast" is not at all what they expected...

A hidden door. A magical staircase. Discover the world of Droon! Cats don''t bark. They meow. Or at least they did before Eric used Droonian magic in the Upper World. When he cast a spell with the wand of Urik, everything got messed up - now weird stuff, like barking cats, are all over!Eric and his friends hurry down the magic staircase only to find more trouble. Earthquakes have rocked Droon; and Galen''s under a nasty spell. Time for some back-up! The brave Knights of Silversnow could help, but they''re in a deep sleep in the Ice Hills. The knights have the power to make things right again, but only if the wand of Urik has the power to wake them up.