"A “chip off the old block” Ali Cross is the perfect image of his D.C. detective dad, Alex Cross. However, he is still a kid with typical growing-up issues like obedience to parents, impulsivity, and appropriate cell phone use. His loving family and his best buds are there to help. At a local concert in the park, one of his pals is shot in the hand leading Ali and the gang to doggedly pursue t ...

"I believe I can just see you on the streets of that bright city." Gran's gone now, but her words live on with Nicholas Dray, almost twelve, as he makes his way from the hot cotton fields to that Queen of Cities: San Francisco. Nick's on his own for the first time, with nowhere to turn. Then he meets jaunty, talkative Pat Patterson, owner of the most beautiful store-and the friendliest golden dog- ...

The book rides a wave of intrigue and action from the opening sentence ("The boy appeared out of nowhere.") to the final page. Along the way, the author introduces concepts begging for discussion: family, friendship, honesty, cleverness, problem-solving, and more. Young fans of mystery and action will have difficulty putting the book down as its march toward the protagonist-antagonist showdown is ...

"The rescue is everything," explains Siria's firefighting father. While watching her courageous father chase sirens through city nights, Siria worries she will lose him, her only parent. Enter a stray dog, suspicions about a close friend who may be an arsonist, and the caring love of several adults, and Siria soon learns despite danger, courage can lead to extraordinary outcomes. As Christmas and ...