New Releases by Joan Lowery Nixon

12-årige Mike Kelly er vokset op hos sin mor i New York sammen med sine fem søskende. Hans mor har ikke længere råd til at brødføde børnene, og hun sender dem med ’De Forældreløses Tog’ mod vest, hvor hun håber, de kan finde en ny familie, som kan give dem et bedre liv. Inden Mike når at slå rødder hos sin nye familie, bryder den amerikanske borgerkrig ud, og han melder sig som trommeslager til nordstaternes hær. Da hans soldaterkammerat Todd bliver dødeligt såret på slagmarken, afgiver Mike ham et farligt løfte. Han vil bringe Todds lommeur til hans søster, om det så skal koste ham livet. I sit forsøg på at holde løftet til sin afdøde ven kommer Mike igen og igen ud for farefulde situationer, der er nær ved at slå ham ihjel. ”Et farligt løfte” er en spændende børnebog om den amerikanske borgerkrig. Bogen udkom første gang i 1995 og er skrevet til børn fra 10 og opefter. Joan Lowery Nixon (1927-2003) var en amerikansk journalist og forfatter. Hun udgav en perlerække af bøger til børn og unge i mange forskellige genrer. Hendes bøger er blevet oversat til flere fremmedsprog og har opnået stor popularitet i mange lande.

”’Du er jo en stor pige,’ havde han sagt, mens han stak en togbillet i hånden på hende. ’Du er faktisk så godt som voksen. Og du kan sagtens klare rejsen til Chicago på egen hånd.’ Og før Rose havde fået set sig om, var onkel Jimmy forsvundet gennem døren, der førte til New York-færgerne. Hun ærgrede sig stadig over, at hun ikke havde fået fortalt ham, hvad hun mente om ham.” 15-årige Rose har taget den lange og farefulde rejse fra Irland til Amerika med drømmen om at få et bedre liv i den nye verden. Hendes far og brødre har allerede slået sig ned i Chicago, og da Rose endelig når i land på Ellis Island ud for New York, viser det sig, at hun må rejse hele vejen til Chicago alene. Det liv, Rose tror venter hende blandt hendes far og brødre, er langt fra det, hun har set frem til. Faren drikker alt for meget, og brødrene er involveret i noget ulovligt politisk arbejde. Samtidig må Rose slide dagen lang i en forretning for at skaffe penge til, at resten af familien også kan rejse til Amerika. ”Løfternes land” er en spændende historisk roman om de mange europæere, der omkring år 1900 forlod fattigdommen i den gamle verden for at skabe sig et bedre liv i den nye. Bogen er skrevet til unge fra 13 år og opefter og udkom første gang i 1995. Joan Lowery Nixon (1927-2003) var en amerikansk journalist og forfatter. Hun udgav en perlerække af bøger til børn og unge i mange forskellige genrer. Hendes bøger er blevet oversat til flere fremmedsprog og har opnået stor popularitet i mange lande.

Melia tells her writer mother sheÕd like to be a writer too, and as the day progresses she receives many helpful suggestions.

Danny and his younger sister, Peg, are placed in St. Joseph, Missouri, with kind Alfrid and Olga Swenson. Danny is thrilled to have a "real" father again, but when Olga suddenly dies, he is devastated—until he thinks of an ingenious plan to find Alfrid a new wife.

As the saga of the Kelly children continues, Mike Kelly is adopted by a German immigrant farm family living in Missouri. Although they are kind to him, they are mainly interested in having cheap labor.

The Civil War has officially ended and Frances Mary Kelly's true love, Johnny, is back from the war. But to Frances's dismay, Johnny is hesitant to marry her. Attempting to ease her aching heart, Frances accepts an offer to go to New York City and escort a group of orphans out West to new homes. Along the way, she must deal with a flood of painful memories and a threatening stranger. Will Frances be able to complete her mission... and return home to find out what her future will be?

Irish immigrant Rose Carney has a difficult life in Chicago. She’s working to help pay for her mother’s and sisters’ passages, dealing with her father’s drinking problem, and worrying about her brothers’ involvement in questionable activities. Rose becomes committed to a campaign to clean up Chicago and fight for world peace, but she knows her family responsibilities come first. With everything that’s happening in her life, can Rose hold on to her American dream?

Swedish immigrant Kristin Swensen lives on a farm in Minnesota. She hoped for a new life in America, but she realizes that her parents are clinging as closely as possible to the life they knew in Sweden. Kristin can’t accept coming all this way only to re-create what she left behind. She longs to speak English and help the cause of women’s rights. Her parents, however, want her to settle down and get married. Must Kristin give up her dream of independence and accept her parents’ Old World values?

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Who Are You? from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Kristi Evans and her parents can’t understand why police detectives are telling them that a man named Douglas Merson has been shot. They’ve never heard of him. But it becomes important when they learn that Mr. Merson has kept a secret file on Kristi for her entire life. Suddenly Kristi finds herself investigating who this man is and why he has intruded on her privacy. When Kristi goes to see Mr. Merson in the hospital, she discovers he is a professional artist; he even offers to help her pursue her own dream of being an artist. Kristi has always wanted someone with whom she could share her passion for art. Her parents not only don’t understand it, they want her to do something more practical. Now this stranger seems to be offering Kristi the piece that has been missing from her life all along, but at what cost to her relationship to her parents? Who is this man who seems too good to be true? “[A] fast-paced mystery…[that] hook[s] and hold[s] readers until all is resolved at the finish.” –Publishers Weekly “Appealing characters, an interesting scenario, and a fascinating peek into the big-money art world will keep the pages turning.” –Booklist “Lots of action and Kristi is a likable heroine…A solid offering for mystery fans.” –School Library Journal

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Spirit Seeker from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Holly Campbell’s life has suddenly become a newspaper-headline nightmare. The parents of her friend Cody Garnett have just been found in their home, brutally murdered, and Cody is the main suspect. Holly’s father is the police detective in charge of the investigation, and even he thinks the evidence points right at Cody. Holly knows it’s up to her to prove what she believes it the truth: Cody is innocent. Against her father’s wishes, secretly crossing the barrier of police tape and television reporters that surrounds the Garnetts’ house, she begins her own investigation. Computer files, an odd neighbor, and a mysterious psychic—each might have the evidence Holly needs to help Cody. Or they could all be red herrings that will waste Holly’s precious time. A teenager seeking justice and her interactions with the spirit world make this spine-tingling new novel from the only four-time winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award a surefire winner for mystery fans. “Tightly plotted.” –School Library Journal “Enriched with family troubles, guilty secrets, and a whiff of the supernatural, this page-turner will please.” –Kirkus Reviews “Readers will enjoy.” –Booklist

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Whispers from the Dead from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Only Sarah senses the horror. The minute she steps through the doorway of her family’s new home, Sarah feels a smothering cold mist, and hears the echo of a scream and a heartbreaking whisper in Spanish, “Help me!” Sarah feels compelled to find out who is trying to reach her. But can she uncover the mysteries of the past before terror strikes again? “A master at creating compelling suspense novels, Nixon has written yet another carefully plotted, subtly terrifying thriller.” –Publishers Weekly

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Don’t Scream from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. When two new guys start at Jess’s high school, she thinks the year is really looking up. What she can’t know is that there is a connection between them. One has been given a new identity by the government. The other is seeking revenge. Jess doesn’t know whom she can trust. Will she be the next victim? “A page-turner.” –VOYA “An exciting thriller that will keep teens on the edge of their seats.” –School Library Journal

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes The Stalker from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. When Jennifer Lee Wilcox returns home from the beach, she finds that Stella Trax, her best friend’s mother, has just been murdered. The police think Stella’s daughter Bobbie did it. Jennifer sets out to prove Bobbie’s innocence, but as she uncovers clues, she realizes she’s only leading herself to danger! “An exciting, fast-moving thriller.” –VOYA “A dandy suspense tale.” –Publishers Weekly

Novelist Augustus Trevor has written a manuscript that reveals the darkest secrets of his guests. Whoever can solve Trevor's clues can have his story removed from the book. But when Trevor is bludgeoned to death, the survivors (along with the reader) are challenged to find both the manuscript and the murderer.

Joan Lowery Nixon is the acclaimed author of more than a hundred books for young readers. Over the years, many of her readers have written to her to ask how they, too, can become published writers someday. From her first publication at age ten to her graduation from Hollywood High during World War II, this memoir, which includes advice as well as anecdotes, is her answer. Listening to her favorite programs on the radio, performing puppet shows at orphanages and hospitals, and writing love poems for high school classmates to send to soldiers overseas all planted the seeds from which a prolific writing career grew. Joan Lowery Nixon never forgot what her ninth-grade journalism teacher told her: “A writer must always have faith in herself. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.” Both informative and entertaining, The Making of a Writer is a charming look at one writer’s beginnings. “Nixon tucks her tips into a memoir that stands alone…A delightful look back at a time and a life.” –Booklist “Her writing is clear and interesting, admirably blending her personal history, that of the nation, life lessons, and writing tips…[readers] will appreciate the insights she offers into her own life as well as the development of her signature style.” –VOYA “A lively read…[with] clear and concise advice to writers.” –School Library Journal “A lighthearted biography…It is a nicely focused take on something about the author.” –Kirkus Reviews

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Murdered, My Sweet from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Jenny Jakes and her mother, a famous mystery writer, travel to San Antonio to see their cousin, Arnold Harmony, who’s made his fortune in the chocolate business. Harmony, an eccentric millionaire, wants his will read publicly before he dies; since everyone wants a piece of the pie, this announcement causes quite a stir. When Harmony’s son is murdered just before the reading, Jenny’s mother decides to spring into action as a real-life detective. But Jenny’s mother doesn’t have a clue about solving a real crime, so it’s up to Jenny to use her wits, not only to save her mother’s reputation, but also to keep herself from being killed. “Lively characters...(and insightful) humor.” –Publishers Weekly “Another solid Nixon mystery without too much violence and lots of suspense.” –Booklist “Jenny’s covering for her mother is funny.” –Kirkus Reviews

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Search for the Shadowman from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Twelve-year-old Andy Thomas isn’t thrilled with his teacher’s assignment to explore family history. But when he starts asking questions about his ancestors, he is surprised to discover a black sheep named Coley Joe Bonner. No one wants to discuss what happened in the family’s past. Everyone, including Andy’s own relatives, advises him to stop his investigation. But Andy continues and searches everywhere, from the Internet to the local cemetery, to discover the truth. Will Andy’s search hurt those he loves or make them realize that it’s never too late to seek social justice? “A riveting tale of suspense set against a background of fascinating historical context.” –School Library Journal “Hints of disgrace and treachery…children will read the story for the fun of guessing who is warning Andy off the case.” –Booklist

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes The Weekend was Murder! from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Mary Elizabeth can’t wait for the weekend to begin at the Ridley Hotel, where a famous mystery writer and a troupe of actors are coming to enact a murder mystery for 150 amateur sleuths. Mary Elizabeth’s role is to discover the “body” in Room 1927, which is supposed to be haunted. But nothing prepares her for the real body she finds in Room 1927… “A masterfully constructed, engaging read that…[is] ingeniously plotted, fast-paced and lighthearted.” –Publishers Weekly “Fans will love wading through the myriad details and placing bets on the outcome.” –Kirkus Reviews “Mystery fans will…enjoy trying to solve the various crimes.” –School Library Journal

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Nobody’s There from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Furious at her father for breaking up their family, Abbie Thompson acted without thinking and got arrested for malicious mischief. Now the judge has assigned her to volunteer in a program that matches teens with the elderly. But Abbie doesn’t get just any elderly person. She gets Edna Merkel, a cranky, difficult woman who’s a member of the town’s crime prevention group. In fact, Mrs. Merkel is too active a member, and after she brags that she’s on to something big, she is attacked and ends up hospitalized. Suddenly the private investigator game is real, and only Abbie—with the help of Mrs. Merkel’s indecipherable notebook—can figure out who did it. But will Abbie get to the assailant before the assailant gets to her? “Fast-paced and involving.” –Kirkus Reviews “Well drawn and distinct…Nixon’s fans will no doubt enjoy.” –School Library Journal “Another great mystery.” –VOYA

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes The Trap from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Julie has the perfect summer plan. She’ll be with her friends on the swim team, and this year, for the first time, they have a chance to make the Interstates. So when her family tells her she’s being sent to spend the summer with her great-aunt and great-uncle at Rancho del Oro, their ranch in Texas, she feels resentful. Once she’s at Rancho del Oro, however, Julie quickly learns that something strange is going on. Pieces of jewelry and other little objects are missing. The older people on the ranch say they may have misplaced the items—but something doesn’t add up. Julie’s Uncle Gabe only broke his ankle when he fell down the stairs from his observatory, but two other men on the ranch have recently died. The deaths have been ruled accidents, but were they? When Julie figures out that Uncle Gabe’s fall was not an accident, she knows she must discover the killer’s identity. Or she could be next. Joan Lowery Nixon expertly combines a family story with a compelling mystery to keep her readers guessing until the very end. “With its twists and turns, this page-turner is a must for mystery fans.” –School Library Journal “[The Trap] maintains a fast pace, with likeable, interesting characters and a dash of romance.” –VOYA “A teen reader can identify with…Julie.” –Kirkus Reviews

On an island in the Mississippi River, a ghost and his dog stand guard When their aunt buys an old, run-down inn on the banks of the Mississippi, Chris and Amy Holt go south to help her fix up the place. They lend helping hands during the day, but at night, they wonder about the island in the middle of the river—a mysterious place where the townsfolk will not set foot. The island was created by an earthquake which shook the ground so fiercely that the river ran backwards, destroying the house of a bitter old miser named Joshua Hanover, and carrying away his precious hoard of silver coins. And according to legend, Hanover's ghost still roams the island, his phantom dog, Shadow, at his side, searching eternally for his lost treasure. Unable to resist the treasure's lure, Chris and Amy journey to the island to find out if the stories are true. There they find danger, and a mystery that is far more frightening than they could have ever imagined.

While on vacation in Oregon, Chris and Sean encounter a meat-locker mystery Piney Point is one of the most beautiful places Sean and Brian Quinn have ever seen, but as far as Brian is concerned, it's not half as pretty as Jennifer Hicks. And getting to know the hotel manager's daughter while his younger brother goofs off in the pool sounds like the perfect vacation. But when a string of thefts upset Brian's new friend, vacation is over, and the Casebusters spring into action. Large amounts of expensive meat have been disappearing from the Piney Point kitchens, and Jennifer's dad can't figure out who's the thief. Could it be the bellhop? The chef? Or even the security manager? Brian and Sean had better figure it out quickly, or they'll end up just like the missing steaks—dead meat!

On a walk in the woods, Sean and Brian find a scary footprint Sean Quinn does not like the sound of spending a weekend in a neighborhood named Grizzly Hill. Although his friend Alan assures him the development has been bear-free for a century, Sean is not convinced. The woods are thick and dark, and there's an old grizzly den not far from Alan's house. And when Brian discovers a strange footprint on a forest path, Sean starts to wish he had stayed at home with Mrs. Peabody, the babysitter. She's not any fun, but at least she's not a bear! Brian decides the print is too small to be a full-grown grizzly, but it could be a cub. Against Sean's wishes, they follow the tracks into the forest. If there are bears in the woods, Brian wants to know. And if the animal is something even stranger, he can't wait to find out!

While on vacation at a dude ranch, the Casebusters chase a horse thief Sean and Brian Quinn can't think of anywhere cooler than the Austin Dude Ranch. Although neither has ever ridden a horse, they're positive that playing cowboy is going to become their favorite pastime. But before they can learn to rope and ride, they're going to have to practice their other favorite hobby: solving mysteries. A racehorse has been stolen from the neighboring farm, and the ranch's owners think that their horses may be the next to disappear. To find the missing pony, Brian and Sean will have to confront something even more scary than horse thieves: the ghost of the crazy old gold prospector who is said to haunt a nearby abandoned mine. Whether the culprit is living or dead, Brian and Sean must catch him faster than they can say, "Giddy-up!"

The Casebusters investigate accidents at an abandoned theater—where a ghost is the chief suspect! Ever since the new mall opened on the other side of Redoaks, the area around the historic Culbertson Theater has been abandoned. But when a local developer wants to bulldoze the area and turn it into a shopping center, someone inside the theater decides to take matters into his own hands—hands that may be alive or dead. After a sandbag falls on a building inspector's shoulder—the latest in a string of suspicious accidents—kid detectives Brian and Sean Quinn decide to investigate. Sean's friend Sam suspects it is the work of the ghost of Horatio Hamilton, an actor who died in the theater decades before, but Miss Beezly—the strange old woman who runs the theater—says that Horatio's ghost is too polite for such misbehavior. Someone is pulling these dangerous pranks, and Brian and Sean better find out fast—in case the next sandbag falls on a detective!

The sons of a private detective investigate a crazy art museum caper—and try to avoid a spooky statue! Ever since they were very young, Brian and Sean Quinn have helped their father solve mysteries. Even though their dad is a professional detective, he always likes to hear his kids' opinions. Sometimes they even help him catch a crook! But when a pair of priceless Leonardo da Vinci drawings disappears from the local art museum, their father is stumped, and only the boys can crack the case. The robbery was an inside job, which means the drawings could be anywhere—even inside the museum. Sean and Brian inspect the premises and get to know the staff. And everything goes fine until they get to the Anubis Room, where the famous Egyptian statue is rumored to come alive at night. The Quinn boys will nab the thief—as long as the statue doesn't catch them first!

Great middle greats fiction.

EDGAR AWARD WINNER For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes The Other Side of Dark from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Stacy wakes up in a hospital room, in a body she doesn’t recognize. Her mother is dead—murdered—and Stacy is recovering from a gunshot wound. She is the sole eyewitness to the crime, but she has only a shadowy memory of the killer’s face. Will Stacy be able to regain a clear memory of that fateful day before the killer reaches her? The Other Side of Dark is one of Joan Lowery Nixon’s most intriguing, suspenseful, and dramatic mysteries. “The compelling premise…and Nixon’s mastery of suspense are gripping.” –Publishers Weekly “Tense and dramatic…[The Other Side of Dark has a] quick pace, and the determined protagonist should attract and hold readers.” –School Library Journal

Ann, a young girl in eighteenth-century Williamsburg, wants to become a doctor like her father, but she is not allowed even to study Latin or mathematics.

It's 1866 and 12-year-old Will Scott is not happy to be riding the orphan train. That's because Will's not really an orphan. He has a father--Jesse, a circus performer. But Will is no good at circus tricks, and Jesse tells him he'd be better off with a new family out West: "I'm giving you a better life, Will." Will is placed with the kindly Dr. and Mrs. Wallace. Assisting Dr. Wallace on his rounds of the local farms, Will finds to his surprise that he's really good at something--helping people who are sick and hurt. But he still misses his father terribly. And then one night, Jesse's circus comes to town.... "From the Hardcover edition.