New Releases by Chris Lynch

Join the Brigadier and Benton in nine short stories looking at life in the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. Ever wondered what happened on Benton’s first official day in UNIT, or why he left to sell used cars? Ever wondered how Benton earned his sergeant stripes? Or what he got up to on his days off? How Does UNIT select new recruits? And what happens when the clean-up after an alien incursion goes wrong? In Operation Wildcat and Other Stories, you’ll find these things out – and a lot more. Features stories by Tim Gambrell, Simon A Brett, Iain McLaughlin, Sharon Bidwell, James Middleditch, Baz Greenland, Sarah Groenewegen and Jonathan Macho.

A dog walking venture helps thirteen-year-old Louis, who would rather kick back than stand out, learn how to be a friend.

Robin is a fairly ordinary robin. He eats, sleeps and sometimes catches a worm. But, one day, he meets an old man and Robin makes a new a friend, a friend with birdseed! One day his friend does not turn up and Robin hatches a plan to find out why. A story about hope and the power of simple gestures; simple gestures that mean the world.

"All the sizzle, chaos, noise and scariness of war is clay in the hands of ace storyteller Lynch." -- Kirkus Reviews for the World War II series Discover the secret missions behind America''s greatest conflicts.Danny Manion has been fighting his entire life. Sometimes with his fists. Sometimes with his words. But when his actions finally land him in real trouble, he can''t fight the judge who offers him a choice: jail... or the army.Turns out there''s a perfect place for him in the US military: the Studies and Observation Group (SOG), an elite volunteer-only task force comprised of US Air Force Commandos, Army Green Berets, Navy SEALS, and even a CIA agent or two. With the SOG''s focus on covert action and psychological warfare, Danny is guaranteed an unusual tour of duty, and a hugely dangerous one. Fortunately, the very same qualities that got him in trouble at home make him a natural-born commando in a secret war. Even if almost nobody knows he''s there.National Book Award finalist Chris Lynch begins a new, explosive fiction series based on the real-life, top-secret history of US black ops.

Volume of two this award-winning series emerges from the shadows with a fresh crop of extreme horror. This collection of ten stories features authors from all over the globe for an international perspective on fear. Take care as you reach into these dark places, for the things here bite, and you may withdraw a hand short of a few fingers. Toll Road, by Antonio Simon, Jr. —A professional kidnapper gets more than he bargained for when his latest abduction leads to terrifying supernatural encounters on the Florida Turnpike. Boxed, by Bryan Cassiday —A group of strangers trapped in an elevator run short of time and bullets as they attempt to discover who among them is infected with a deadly plague. A Murder of Crows, by Reed W. Huston —Daniel, Rebecca, and their cat Southpaw have just moved into a new home, and the local wildlife is not happy to receive them. It’s more than coincidental that a group of crows is called a murder… We All Ate The White Flesh, by Chris Lynch —In the depths of a harsh winter, a starving family unearths a massive turnip and unexpected horrors. The Lonely Man, by Barnaby King —Thomas’s investigation into an idyllic English village uncovers the tragic story of two young lovers, and the ghastly secret the villagers thought they’d left buried in the past. The Queen Beneath The Earth, by Ken Pelham —Charles Bonham knows better than anyone that grave-robbing is a lucrative business. While in Ireland to ply his trade, he learns that some secrets are better left buried. Dear Sir, by Steven Samuel Stafford —Two field medics on the Western Front race against time to fulfill a soldier’s dying wish and stop an unspeakable horror. Colder Still, by Justin Cawthorne —A relic from John’s past holds a portentous future for his son and the secret to a fatal gypsy curse. Quarry Lake, by Kelson Hargis —Ghosts have beset Whit ever since his kid brother drowned. Whit is determined to plumb the secrets of Quarry Lake, but at what cost? God May Pity All Weak Hearts, by Daniel Russell —Something dreadful lives within the walls of Dr. Crippen’s home. More dreadful still is what it has in common with him.

Keir Sarafian must finally confront his past when tragedy strikes during his first year of what has been an eye-opening first year of college.

Powerful, riveting, real. Sixteen celebrated authors bring us raw, insightful stories that explore guns and teens in a fiction collection that is thought provoking and emotionally gripping. For fans of Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock and Give a Boy a Gun, and with an array of YA talent like the late great Walter Dean Myers, the poetic Joyce Carol Oates, the prophetic Elizabeth Wein, and the gritty Chris Crutcher, these are evocative voices that each has a different perspective to give. Capturing the hurt and the healing, victims and perpetrators, these stories get to the heart of the matter. From a boy whose low self-esteem is impacted when a gun comes into his possession to a student recalling a senseless tragedy that befell a favorite teacher, from a realistic look at hunting to a provocative look at a family that defies stereotypes, each emotional story stirs the debate to new levels. The juxtaposition of guns and their consequences offers moving tales, each a reminder of how crucial the question of guns in our society is, and the impact they have on all of us. Other acclaimed contributors are Marc Aronson, Edward Averett, Francesca Lia Block, Alex Flinn, Gregory Galloway, Jenny Hubbard, Peter Johnson, Ron Koertge, Chris Lynch, Eric Shanower, Will Weaver, and Tim Wynne-Jones.

A teen runs away from his broken life and invents a new one in this “absorbing and satisfying” (Booklist) adventure from Printz Honor winner and National Book Award finalist Chris Lynch. Crystal City called for him, and Kevin answered. And why wouldn’t he? His relationship with his father is broken—as is his arm. With barely anyone to miss him or care if he’s gone, it seemed like the perfect time for Kevin to run away to his estranged uncle and create an entirely new identity. New name. New attitude. New friends. Maybe even a new girl. From the first moment of adventure, Kevin’s life takes a turn for the exciting. Making friends seems easy with his new persona, especially when a group of homeless beach bums instantly includes him in their crew. But do they like the real Kevin, or the guy he’s pretending to be? And will this new lifestyle help Kevin escape from the misery of his former life—or will it drag him right back into the reasons he left home?

From National Book Award nominee Chris Lynch, the second action-and-humor-filled futuristic series about talking pets who are tired of being pets ... and the boy who must help them. Zane has made an enemy for life in the evil scientist Dr. Gristle. Not only is Gristle angry about the damage Zane has done to his reputation, he''s also extraordinarily jealous of Zane''s ability to use technology to talk to animals. The result? He''s now working on a new device to control animals'' movements and speech - and Zane''s dog, Hugo, is one of the first targets.

From National Book Award nominee Chris Lynch, the third action-and-humor-filled futuristic series about talking pets who are tired of being pets ... and the boy who must help them. Zane and his animal comrades have foiled Dr. Gristle''s terrible plots twice--he can''t talk to animals, and he can''t get at the heart of what makes them wild. Zane can talk to them. He can understand them. He almost is one. Almost. Zane keeps getting in Dr. Gristle''s way though - and he''s being sent as far out of the way as Gristle can get him. In fact, he''s being sent right into the middle of a new plot of the bad doctor''s--and in his new, utterly foreign surroundings, he''s entirely too human.

*From National Book Award nominee Chris Lynch* Zane''s wired life is about to be unplugged. . . Zane lives a life of luxury in a completely wired world. He doesn''t ever have to leave his building to have exciting (virtual) experiences. His room knows everything he eats and what he needs for school. Even his pet dog is wired. There''s only one problem: When Zane gets a device that enables animals to talk to him, he finds out that his world is a lie. The animals don''t want to be wired -- they want to rebel. And Zane''s going to be a part of their revolution, whether he likes it or not. In the process, he''ll have to enter a world he''s never confronted before: Nature. Join award-winning author Chris Lynch on a nonstop adventure through a not-so-distant future, where one lone kid has to prove he can be an animal''s best friend.

"The best Vietnam War novels yet for this age range." -- Kirkus Reviews Morris, Rudi, Ivan, and Beck were best friends. So when one of them was drafted into the Vietnam War, the others signed up, too. They promised to watch out for one another. They pledged to come home together.Now, that pledge has been broken. One of the four has been killed in action. And the remaining three are the only men alive who know the awful truth about their friend''s death.Each is left to deal with their secret in his own way. One of them will accompany his friend''s body home to Boston. One of them will defy orders in an act of protest. And one of them will decide it''s up to him to single-handedly win the war.In the end, Vietnam may claim more than their lives. As the war grinds on, their very souls are at stake. And their shattered friendship will prove either their salvation... or their ruin.

Previously published in 1994 by HarperCollins.

Two teens discover the true danger of love in this “beguiling” novel from Printz Honor–winning author Chris Lynch that will leave you “wondering just what is the truth” (VOYA, starred review). Oliver loves Junie Blue. That’s true. Pretty much everything else is a lie. Both known for their deceit, Junie and O’s relationship was the only honest thing they had. But now that’s over. Oliver’s been dumped, and he’s miserable. Junie says they’re done. Unless she’s lying? Junie’s father works for One Who Knows, the head of an organized crime family. He won’t tell O where Junie is, not even after O hears a rumor that Junie’s won the lottery—and that One Who Knows expects to be given her ticket. O fears Junie’s in danger, and he’s determined to come to her rescue. But is there honestly anything he can do?

Earl doesn''t want to be a bully. It''s not his fault that his body is as big as a football player''s! Thirteen-year-old middle-schooler Earl has the body and facial scruff of a man—and this gets him into trouble. Everyone thinks Earl''s a tough guy, but he''s just trying to get by. Thinking he knows what''s right from wrong—and using his fists to prove his point—earns him a week''s suspension from school. Earl thinks he''ll have a relaxing week, but things soon slip out of his control when his home life starts to fall apart. He may be as big as a grown-up, but Earl will learn that being a man means more than how you look on the outside.

The He-Man Women Haters are rocking out in a punk band! With Wolfgang newly installed as their leader, the He-Men recruit club members Scratch and Cecil, and form a garage punk band. In no time at all, Scratch and the Sniffs is born—the problem is, no one can actually play an instrument. But lack of talent doesn''t stop the He-Man Women Haters Club from chasing stardom—or at least a few bucks!

Two best friends are caught in a love triangle with fatal consequences Pauly and Oakley have been best friends since they were kids. When newcomer Lilly moves to their small New England town, both boys fall in love with her immediately. Unbalanced Pauly becomes Lilly''s boyfriend, and Oakley becomes the one she confides in—the one who always puts things right. But a love triangle can''t stay peaceful for long, and erratic, obsessive Pauly can''t be trusted. How can Oakley keep making things right when things are so very wrong?

Ten stunning short stories explore the dark and light sides of teenage life By turns suspenseful and absorbing, wrenching and poignant, these ten short stories illuminate love, loss, and betrayal: A young man must come to terms with his alcoholic father; a teen girl faces an unexpected pregnancy; and a brother must confront his evil twin. An exploration of sexuality threatens disaster, while a love triangle leaves its biting mark. With these masterful tales, Lynch leaves the reader thinking about his characters long after his stories end.

The He-Men must stay strong when one of their members starts talking to the enemy: a girl! One of the He-Man Women Haters blatantly violates the main rule of the club: consorting with the enemy. And this enemy''s not just any girl; she''s someone''s sister—Ling''s sister! When Wolfgang is put on trial for his misdeed, the boys discover it''s getting tougher to be feared and respected in their neighborhood, especially with dissent in the ranks.

The He-Man Women Haters Club is about to discover something more terrifying than girls: camping! In this follow-up to Johnny Chesthair, thirteen-year-old Steven has been ousted as the leader of the club he formed for boys only. As the members reorganize under new leader Jerome, Steven''s father and uncle decide to take the boys into a real man''s world—a place where men can be men: the deep woods! Now, Steven, Ling-Ling, Wolfgang, and Jerome must deal with eating bugs, a paintball war, and a wild storm. To make it through the weekend, the He-Men will need to man up!

In the He-Man Women Haters Club, there are no girls allowed! Convinced that girls don''t play by the same rules as guys and are impossible to understand, thirteen-year-old Steven forms a club for "He-Men" only. Jerome, Wolfgang, and Ling-Ling are the other members: three misfits who have no idea what it really means to be a "He-Man." Steven wants to be a "Johnny Chesthair" just like his bully of a father, and he tries to create the club rules and take charge. But soon the club is out of his control. Girls laugh at him, and his friends won''t listen. Does Steven have what it takes to be a "He-Man"? And what is a "He-Man," anyway?

Is being popular really as fun as it seems? After surviving high school orientation camp, Elvin and his two best friends embark on their freshman year at an all-boys school. High school serves up all sorts of hardships: the dreaded rumor mill, dances with the local sister school, and jockeying to be seen with the "right" type of people. But for overweight Elvin, figuring out who the "right" people are is almost as confusing as his relationship with food. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Chris Lynch including rare images from the author''s personal collection.

Baseball-loving seventh grader Richard has hopes of turning himself and the new kid, Napoleon, into the best baseball players Boston has seen since the Gold Dust Twins "As long as you have baseball on your side you can overcome anything." Seventh grader Richard Moncreif is convinced baseball will ease newcomer Napoleon Charlie Ellis''s transition to life in Boston. Napoleon is unlike anyone he''s ever met: poised, well educated, and a cricket player from the Caribbean. Napoleon is one of the few black students at Richard''s school, where racism is pervasive. But Richard believes that he and Napoleon can get through any hardship and become the next Gold Dust Twins, just like the famous pair of Red Sox rookies from 1975. After all, Napoleon is a natural athlete, and Richard knows everything anyone could possibly know about baseball. He just needs Napoleon to play along. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Chris Lynch including rare images from the author''s personal collection.

Kit includes 20 copies of the book and discussion questions.

Gordie Foley can''t wait to coast through his senior year—so how did he end up running for mayor? The best girl, the best car, and the best class schedule—Gordie Foley has it all in his final year of high school. When his beloved grandfather, the former mayor of the town, gives Gordie his trademark Studebaker Gran Tourismo Hawk for his eighteenth birthday, Gordie can''t wait to live the most awesome senior year ever. But his grandfather has other plans. Calling the shots from prison, where he has been sent for racketeering, he sets up Gordie to run for town mayor to keep the family name in the news. Now Gordie is heading down the campaign trail—and this is a ride he can''t just coast through. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Chris Lynch including rare images from the author''s personal collection.

If you do it right, it can be a life. The hothouse, the guys, the glory. But just like that, it can all go up in smoke. In the beginning it was strange, ya know, because of all that we had lost. But there was something about it that felt so good and so right, too: "I''m so proud of you, Russ." "We''ll always be here for you, man." "Heroes don''t pay for nothin'' in this town." It was nonstop. The mayor shook my hand. Ladies sent food. I''ve never eaten so much baked ham in my life. And now? Now the phone won''t stop ringing from the crazies ready to blame me. My mom has to cry herself to sleep. They take a firefighter, a man, and they pump him up so big. . . . But once they start taking it away from you, they don''t stop until they leave nothing on the bones. First they needed heroes, then they needed blood.

"The best Vietnam War novels yet for this age range." -- Kirkus Reviews Of all his friends, Ivan is the only one looking forward to war.That''s because Ivan has never backed down from a fight--especially when it comes to fighting for what''s right. He has protected his friends from bullies for years. And now, as war erupts in Vietnam, Ivan wants nothing more than to fight for his country, just as his father did in World War II.Enlisting in the United States Army, Ivan is trained to be a sniper. And he''s good at it. Very good. But Vietnam is not the war he was expecting. Somehow the glory and heroism of his father''s war stories do not come so easily in the jungle.Now, for the first time, Ivan is forced to question what he''s really fighting for... and whether it''s a fight he can hope to win.

Four best friends. Four ways to serve their country. Morris, Rudi, Ivan, and Beck are best friends for life. So when one of the teens is drafted into the Vietnam War, the others sign up, too. Although they each serve in a different branch, they are fighting the war together--and they pledge to do all they can to come home together.Haunted by dreams of violence and death, Morris makes it his personal mission to watch over his friends--and the best place to do that is in the US Navy. Stationed off the coast of Vietnam on the USS Boston, Morris and his fellow sailors provide crucial support to the troops on the ground.But the Boston itself isn''t safe from attack. And as Morris finds his courage and resolve tested like never before, he keeps coming back to a single thought.He made a pledge. He must keep them safe.

Delve into the mind of a teen whose journey of self-discovery leads to the unthinkable in this tense and terse novel from award-wining author Chris Lynch. Alexander, who wants to be called Xan, is a misfit. He has never fit in—not in academics, sports, or social life. He’s an awkward loner who hasn’t been able to find his place in the world. Robert is Xan’s half-brother, and unlike Xan, Robert seems to have his life together. At eighteen, he’s enrolled in community college with a decent job and a great girlfriend. Robert often teases his brother, but he’s also his biggest supporter. No matter what, he’s got Xan’s back. When Robert starts to suspect that Xan is traveling down a dangerous path, he may be the only one who can save Xan from self-destructing—before it’s too late. But can Robert save himself? This edgy exploration of what goes on in the mind of someone pushed to the brink examines the seeds of extremism that exist in everyone—and is sure to captivate readers of all kinds.

The research project is a major component of most higher education sport courses. While undertaking a research project can be an exciting and rewarding experience, it can all too easily lead to stress and disappointment. Mistakes made early in the process – in the design of experiments, for example – can lead to frustration later on. This accessible book guides students through the process, from the initial stages of research (identifying problems and designing questions) right through to the presentation of their findings.