New Releases by Lauren Magaziner

Pick-your-own-path and puzzle-packed mystery collide in the first book in Lauren Magaziner’s hilarious and high-stakes four-book middle grade series in which the reader must help Carlos and his friends put together the clues to save his mom’s detective agency. In this wildly entertaining and interactive adventure, YOU pick which suspects to interview, which questions to ask, and which clues to follow. You pick the path—you crack the case! Carlos Serrano has never solved a mystery in his life. But when Carlos’s mom gets sick with a flu on the morning of an investigation that could save her failing detective agency, Carlos takes on the case. With the help of his best friend, Eliza, and her wild little brother, Frank, Carlos must uncover a mystery involving an eccentric local millionaire, anonymous death threats, and a buried treasure. But with tricky riddles, cagey suspects, hidden secrets, and dozens of impossible choices, they need your help! Can you help Carlos and his friends find the culprit and save Las Pistas Detective Agency? Or will it be case closed? Middle grade readers will enjoy all four books in this favorite series: Mystery in the Mansion (#1), Stolen from the Studio (#2), Haunting at the Hotel (#3), and Danger on the Dig (#4)!

Take the hilarious, magic-infused world of Eva Ibbotson''s Which Witch, add the lovable feuding family from The Incredibles, and you''ll get Wizardmatch--funny, fantastical, action-packed, and totally heartwarming. Twelve-year-old Lennie Mercado loves magic. She practices her invisibility powers all the time (she can now stay invisible for fifteen seconds!), and she dreams of the day that she can visit her grandfather, the Prime Wizard de Pomporromp, at his magical estate. Now Lennie has her chance. Poppop has decided to retire, and his grandchildren are coming from all over to compete in Wizardmatch. The winner inherits his title, his castle, and every single one of his unlimited magical powers. The losers get nothing. Lennie is desperate to win, but when Poppop creates a new rule to quelch any sibling rivalry, her thoughts turn from winning Wizardmatch to sabotaging it...even if it means betraying her family. Comedic, touching, and page-turny, Wizardmatch is perfect for fans of Mr. Lemoncello''s Library, The Gollywopper Games, and The Candymakers.

Troublemaking George has never heard of Pilfer Academy, a top-secret school for cultivating young crooks, until he''s kidnapped as its newest student. The teachers are kooky at best, and naughty does not even begin to describe his sneaky, smart, and morally bankrupt new classmates. Between disguise classes, cracking safes, and DIY gadgets, George becomes an expert bandit and finds true friendship with Tabitha, his new partner-in-crime. But everything is ruined when George comes to a shocking realization- He is just toogood-heartedto be a thief! Unfortunately, not thieving is not an option at Pilfer Academy, and ''misbehaving'' students face Dean Deanbugle''s favorite punishment-the Whirlyblerg! In order to gain their freedom, George and Tabitha must pull the biggest heist the school has ever seen and reveal their true colors not as thieves, but as kind (and, okay, mischievous) kids. Praise forPilfer Academy- ''Magaziner creates another weird and silly world that mirrors Hogwarts without the magic . . . A fun fantasy romp.''Kirkus Reviews Praise forThe Only Thing Worse Than Witches- ''CombinesRoald Dahl''s WitchesandLouis Sachar''s Wayside School . . .readers will banish themselves from the ordinary world to finish this book in a flash.''Kirkus Reviews, starred review ''A rollicking tale . . . first-time novelist Lauren Magaziner fashions a rich and compelling alternative reality.''The Chicago Tribune ''Magaziner''s debut has echoes ofDahl''s Matilda . . .a fun, frothy story that will, well, charm its readers.''Publishers Weekly ''Mrs. Frabbleknacker is as awful as her name, with antics reminiscent of scenes fromLouis Sachar''s Sideways Stories from Wayside Schoolgone wrong.''School Library Journal ''Ideal for middle-grade readers who loveRoald Dahl''s Matilda(1988) and enjoy humor with their fantasy, this debut novel is madcap and fantastical. It''s the perfect thing for kids not quite ready forDiane DuaneorMadeleine L''Engle.''Booklist ''The kids'' slowly forming friendship has real grace and authenticity . . .Eva Ibbotsonfans will appreciate the quirky humor.''BCCB ''This hilarious, light-hearted debut would be a great read-aloud for middle grade classrooms.''Library Media Connection

Roald Dahl meets Eva Ibbotson in this hilarious middle grade debut * "Fifth-grader Rupert Campbell lives in a world that combines Roald Dahl’s Witches and Louis Sachar’s Wayside School. Readers will banish themselves from the ordinary world to finish this book in a flash." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review Rupert Campbell is fascinated by the witches who live nearby. He dreams of broomstick tours and souvenir potions, but the closest he can get to a witchy experience is sitting in class with his awful teacher Mrs. Frabbleknacker, who smells like bellybutton lint and forbids Rupert’s classmates from talking to each other before, during, and after class. So when he sees an ad to become a witch’s apprentice, Rupert simply can’t resist applying. But Witchling Two isn’t exactly what Rupert expected. With a hankering for lollipops and the magical aptitude of a toad, she needs all the help she can get to pass her exams and become a full-fledged witch. She’s determined to help Rupert stand up to dreadful Mrs. Frabbleknacker too, but the witchling''s magic will be as useful as a clump of seaweed unless Rupert can figure out a way to help her improve her spellcasting—and fast!