The young orphan Crispin and his gentle, red-bearded protector Bear continue their adventures in 14th-century England. Crispin and Bear are finally free to live their lives as they choose. But they soon find that they are being hunted by members of a secret society who believe Bear is a spy. When Bear is severely wounded, Crispin must make some tough decisions, such as deciding who else to trust to help them escape their pursuers. The two make a perilous journey to Brittany-surely the edge of the world! And there they must confront death in order to find true freedom. Avi has written several books of historical fiction for which he has been showered with numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal for Crispin: Cross of Lead. He explores the themes of war, religion, and family in this suspenseful adventure. The superb reading from narrator Ron Keith will enthrall listeners. “This moving, history-packed adventure leaves Crispin on the edge of the world and readers on the edge of their seats. Super storytelling.”-Kirkus Reviews

In December 1850, the dark hours before dawn make 12-year-old Patrick O’Connell shiver. He lives with his mother and older sister in a wet and drafty shack. Patrick has been the man of the family ever since Da, his father, sailed from Ireland to America. But now he has a problem he can’t solve: there isn’t enough money to pay the rent. Suddenly, the village priest pounds on their door. He brings a bank draft with a letter from Da telling them to come to America. Soon Patrick and his family set off for Liverpool to board a ship. They think their problems are finally over, until Patrick meets some helpful strangers who are more than eager to help him care for his new fortune. Filled with irony and excitement, Newbery Award-winner Avi’s adventurous tale is a vivid picture of life in 19th-century Ireland and England. With dramatic flair, narrator Simon Prebble provides the perfect voice for unsavory villains, colorful peasants, and the proper lords and ladies of the gentry.

On a cold January day in 1851, twelve-year-old Patrick O’Connell huddles on the deck of the Robert Peel. He is leaving his impoverished home behind in Ireland, while in America, his father is waiting with the promise of a new life. But as Patrick watches the shoreline fade from view, he feels torn with worry. His new friend Laurence Kirkle, who is running away from home, waits for food in the ship’s hold. If the captain finds the young stowaways, both boys will be arrested. Will Patrick and his companion be able to reach America safely? A master storyteller, Avi has won many awards including a Newbery Award and Newbery Honor. In this dramatic tale, he vividly depicts the overwhelming difficulties Irish immigrants faced in the mid-1800s. From the unsettling opening to the astonishing finish, Simon Prebble expertly narrates the biting irony and riveting suspense of each exciting plot twist. If you enjoy Patrick’s thrilling travels, you won’t want to miss his exciting adventures before sailing for America in Beyond the Western Sea Book One: The Escape from Home.

Maggie Lavchek believes in magic. Magic doesn’t change things. It keeps them the same. Maybe that’s what she was hoping as the plane she had taken from her home in Seattle, Washington touched down on the airstrip in Westport, Connecticut. Maggie’s parents were divorced, and this was her yearly summer visit with her father and his wife Joanna, who had just had a baby. The four of them were going to spend part of the summer at Sawdy Pond, a lakeside cottage in Massachusetts. But from the start Maggie has a feeling things aren’t going to work out. All of Joanna’s attention is focused on the baby, and something is terribly wrong with her father. When he isn’t sleeping, he seems to spend all of his time on the phone. Early every morning Maggie escapes down to the marshes where she had discovered a blue heron her first day at Sawdy Pond. The beautiful gray-blue bird seems to be the only thing she can count upon. But someone is tracking the heron, and Maggie has to stop him before it is too late.

Young listeners will be enchanted by this wondrous tale of magic and wizardry written by Newbery Medal-winning author Avi. When Morwenna is given the gift of wizardry, she must guard the five wishes she has been granted. She must protect herself and the peasants from vengeful King Ruthvin. Virginia Leishman’s spellbinding voice coupled with Avi’s mesmerizing story make this magical audiobook a must-listen.

Eleven-year-old Kevin Cartwright can hardly believe his ears when his father, a brave soldier wounded in the Revolutionary War, announces that he is leaving Philadelphia and never coming back. He is heading into the untamed wilderness of New Jersey, where he hopes to find a peaceful place to raise Kevin and his little sister. But in 1783, New Jersey is filled with secret traps and hidden dangers. Before the family has traveled far, Kevin is captured by the mysterious Captain Grey and his murderous band of pirates. These lawless men of the sea say they have killed the boy’s father and sister. Will Kevin be next? Or will he find a way to escape? Avi, who won the Newbery Honor Award for The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, has once again created a thrilling historical novel packed with adventure and danger. One of today’s most popular and highly acclaimed authors of books for young readers, Avi has been honored with numerous awards, including the Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Books Authors.

From Newbery Medalist Avi comes the thrilling and suspenseful story of an ordinary American family who fall under suspicion. It’s 1951, and twelve-year-old Pete Collison is a regular kid in Brooklyn, New York, who loves Sam Spade detective books and radio crime dramas. But when an FBI agent shows up at Pete’s doorstep, accusing Pete’s father of being a Communist, Pete is caught in a real-life mystery. Could there really be Commies in Pete’s family? As Pete follows the quickly accumulating clues, he begins to wonder if the truth could put his family’s livelihood–and even their freedom–at risk. In the tradition of “Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway?, Don’t You Know There’s a War On?, “and “Nothing But the Truth, Catch You Later, Traitor” tells a funny, insightful story packed with realistic period detail of a boy in mid-twentieth-century America whose family is caught in the wide net of America’s Red Scare.

Newbery Medal-winning author Avi has penned over 50 novels for children and young adults. His historical fiction, in particular, is often singled out for glowing praise thanks to his engaging characters and carefully researched period details. In City of Orphans, Avi transports listeners to the streets of 1893 New York City for an adventure starring young newsboy Maks Geless. Amongst the grime and filth of the streets, Maks and his new friend Willa make a stand against a gang of bullies and embark on a thrilling quest to clear Maks’ sister’s name after she is imprisoned for theft.

Newbery Award-winning, New York Times best-selling author Avi recreates the sights and sounds of wartime Brooklyn in this fast-paced story. Like every student in Miss Gossim’s 1943 fifth-grade class, Howie Crispers has one thing on his mind: World War II. When he isn’t in school, Howie stays busy watching for Nazi spies. So when he notices his principal acting suspiciously, it’s his patriotic duty to investigate. But what he discovers is far more devastating than any headline at the newsstand.

Belching beavers, this is the worst birthday ever for Ereth, the prickly old porcupine! Even his best friend, Poppy the deer mouse, seems to have forgotten about him. If Ereth wants a present, it looks like he’ll just have to get it for himself. But when his quest for salt leads him instead to foster parenthood of a litter of boisterous fox kits, a bad birthday becomes the least of Ereth’s worries. Return to the Dimwood Forest setting of Poppy and Poppy and Rye for an adventure that’s pure fun.

Early Whitcomb’s family needs a miracle. Their Iowa farm has been in the family for generations, but a long drought has withered their savings and left them in debt. Meanwhile, the great Chicago and Northwestern Railroad wants their land, and if the Whitcombs can’t pay their loans, the local banker, Judge Fuslin, will foreclose and sell the farm as his own. Early’s uncle (though he’s more like a brother), Jesse, thinks he has the solution–to head West and dig for gold.

Fueled by reports of prospectors striking it rich in the Rocky Mountains, Jesse can’t think about anything but gold, and his determination to get to the western territories grows stronger by the day. Early is wild to go with him, as much for the adventure as for the gold. But the journey costs money–more than the boys can afford–and when Jesse flees during the night, after being accused of a robbery, Early doesn’t know what to believe. Then Jesse sends an electrifying message–that he has found gold, but his life is in danger–and Early knows he must do whatever it takes to find him, even if it means running away and joining a wagon train with a strange family.

The journey is dangerous and full of hardships, and the closer the travelers get to their destination, the more ruined lives they encounter–lives consumed by the hunt for gold. Then to his horror, Early learns that Jesse has been accused of another, much bigger crime and has fled to a secret place in the mountains. Somehow, Early must get to him without leading Jesse’s pursuers right to his door. And even if he succeeds, Early will still have to make the hardest choice of his life.

After his father is killed fighting for the Union, thirteen-year-old Tom Carroll takes a job at a Brooklyn ironworks to support his family. He quickly learns that they are building an ironclad “unsinkable” ship to be called the Monitor to finally sink the Confederates’ “unsinkable” ship, the Merrimac.

This is a brilliantly written description of a major sea battle through the eyes of a teenaged boy who both helped build the Monitor and fought on it.

Spending the summer with his grandparents in the Pennsylvania countryside is pure joy for young Jamie. There, he fills his days with looking up at the sky, watching the clouds make dragons and knights. There, it doesn’t matter that he can’t read. The special school he attends is far away. But one afternoon, when Jamie sees a man parachute down through the sky, the boy’s fantasy world of clouds is shattered. The man is very real-and very dangerous. How can he convince his grandparents that the man is not part of his imagination? Avi is one of the most popular authors writing for children and young adults today. His works, including The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, have won Newbery medals, ALA Awards, and countless other honors. In Man From the Sky, Avi creates a fascinating, fast-paced tale. George Guidall’s fluid narration instantly engages the listener.

In this colonial adventure tale, set on the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border in 1768, Everett Shinn is enlisted in a search for two runaway indentured servants. Eager for adventure and to become a hero by capturing the runaways himself, 12-year-old Peter York, Shinn’s adopted son, volunteers to join the search. Peter assumes that the runaways are swarthy ruffians. When he discovers, however, that they are mistreated children seeking freedom in Pennsylvania, Peter’s purpose turns from capturing them to helping them escape. Will Shinn, a devout Quaker of few words, foil Peter’s plans, or will the young man receive help from an unexpected source? Avi is an award-winning author. He has written two Newbery Honor books, won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and an ALA Booklist Best Book of the 1980s. Narrator Jeff Woodman captures all the danger and excitement of this tightly-plotted suspense, and keeps the book moving as rapidly as the flooded Delaware River.

Hunting–the predator and its prey–is at the heart of this riveting and suspenseful novel from Newbery Medalist Avi with illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca.

In the computer game world of Bow Hunter–thirteen-year-old Casey’s world–there are no deaths, just kills. In Nashoba’s world–the wolf world–there have been no kills. For this is March, the Starving Time in the Iron Mountain region of Colorado, when wolves and ravens alike are desperate for food.

With the help of a raven, the miraculous Merla, Nashoba must lead his pack of eight to their next meal. The wolf hates being dependent on a mere bird, but Merla is a bird wise beyond her years.

When Casey’s path crosses Nashoba’s, the worlds of two very different hunters collide.

In Dimwood Forest, all the mice know that moving beyond Grey House requires the permission of the great horned owl, Mr. Ocax. No one but Mr. Ocax can guarantee protection against the horrible porcupines who lurk in the forest, waiting to grab innocent creatures. He frequently reminds the trusting mice of his importance, as he snatches careless ones for his frequent meals. But Poppy is a curious mouse, and a little foolish. When she is caught dancing in the moonlight on Bannock Hill, she soon faces not only the great owl, but a huge porcupine, and an impossible challenge. Poppy, an ALA Notable Children’s Book, is a warm and lively tale for young listeners and their parents. Through the award-winning talents of the master storyteller Avi, the tiny creature’s far-ranging adventure provides a hearty lesson about bullies and celebrates the strength of a courageous spirit.

Poppy has saved the creatures of Dimwood Forest from the terrible owl who killed her beloved Ragweed. Now she intends to travel west, to tell Ragweed’s family the sad news. With her grumpy, but loyal porcupine friend Ereth by her side, the spirited deermouse sets out on a journey that will test her courage, but also lead her to a new love. Along the way, Poppy meets a charming golden mouse who looks like Ragweed, and together on the meadow, they dance a silent dance of love at first sight. But when Poppy reaches her destination, she finds that Ragweed’s family is in trouble. Greedy, dam-building beavers are taking over their valley home. Once again it is up to Poppy to save the day. Of course, it can be very helpful to have a porcupine on your side. This is the highly anticipated sequel to Avi’s Horn Book Award-winning, best-selling Poppy. The colorful creatures of Avi’s legendary imagination spring to life with narrator John McDonough’s warm, grandfatherly reading.

Punch is a young orphan boy, hungry and alone. When he is offered a job with a traveling medicine show, he takes it, although he has no idea what his work will be. But after he joins the troupe and sees the owner’s beautiful daughter, Judy, he no longer cares what he has to do, as long as he is near her. Soon the shady medicine show is on the run, just one step ahead of a sheriff who is determined to put them all in jail for peddling their bottles of elixirs. To save the day, Punch will have to take on the trickiest job of all: making people laugh. With Johnny Heller’s lively narration, even reluctant readers will enjoy this rollicking coming-of-age tale. Written by Newbery Award-winning author Avi, Punch with Judy offers an irresistible combination of swashbuckling adventure and old time settings.

Ragweed the mouse is four months old and anxious to see the world. So he says goodbye to his family and friends in the Woodlands and, following the advice of a friendly vole, makes his way to the big city: Amperville. In Amperville, Ragweed sees things he’s never seen before–like cats! In particular, he comes face-to-face with Silversides, founder and president of F.E.A.R. (Felines Enraged About Rodents). Silversides wants to make sure mice know their place in the world. With new friends Clutch, a skateboarding mouse with green hair, and Blinker, a pet mouse longing for freedom, Ragweed takes a stand against F.E.A.R. A prequel to Avi’s award-winning Poppy and Poppy and Rye, Ragweed will delight listeners with its exciting adventure and contemporary sensibilities. John McDonough gives hilarious voice to the many wonderful characters in this charming book.

The first new book about Poppy in more than ten years, from Newbery Medal-winning author Avi.

How did Ragweed and Poppy meet and become friends? This book tells their hilarious story! Adventurous golden mouse Ragweed is on a freight train leaving the city of Amperville. On his journey he meets Lotar, a young, annoying, and lost raccoon who’s desperate to reunite with his mother. Though Ragweed doesn’t really want to help the raccoon, by doing so he winds up in Dimwood Forest.

Ragweed is now ready to strike off on his own, but it’s not long before he hears a cry for help. Following the sound of the voice, he finds a cage with a deer mouse trapped inside. When he asks the mouse’s name, she replies, “Poppy.”

The way Ragweed comes to Poppy’s aid, and how Poppy comes to his, is how their rousing and fateful friendship begins. As for that annoying raccoon, he keeps getting in the way.

Fans of animal stories and especially of the beloved previous books in the Poppy series will love Ragweed and Poppy!

It’s springtime at South Orange Middle School. Pete Saltz is in love with Anabelle, a girl in his eighth grade class, and she likes him, too. But they’re both so shy, they won’t even look at each other, much less show their feelings. It will take more than chance to get them together. Fortunately, Ed Sitrow, another eighth grader, has a master plan. He’ll cast Pete and Anabelle in the lead roles of a school production of Romeo and Juliet. Then they will have to kiss each other in the last act. Soon the whole school is looking forward to the play-and the big scene. Avi has delighted countless young readers with his tales of high-spirited adventure. A former librarian, he has won a Newbery Honor Award, an O’Dell Award, a Christopher Award, and honors from the ALA for his works. Romeo and Juliet . is full of slapstick and excitement, and narrator Jeff Woodman’s lighthearted performance heightens the fun.

The South Orange River (S.O.R.) Middle School is famous for its winning sports teams. That is, until the seventh grade soccer squad comes along. Led by Ed Sitrow, who has NEVER played soccer before, this amazing team of non-jocks sets new lows in team spirit and new highs in scoring-for the other team. When they lose their first game 32-0, they’re ready to call it quits. But the teachers insist that the team keep playing through the entire soccer season. They’re sure that with a little time and lots of practice, Ed and his faithful teammates will improve their game. After all, the S.O.R. Losers can’t get any worse-or can they? Avi brings all of his Newbery Honor-winning talents to the story of the wackiest bunch of losers since the Bad News Bears. S.O.R. Losers is a rib-tickling romp across the middle school soccer fields that’s guaranteed to have children-and their parents and teachers-laughing out loud.

In this spine-tingling story from Newbery Medal winner Avi, a boy must solve the mystery of the ghost haunting him.

For most of Tony Gilbert’s life, he has thought of his uncle as “Weird Uncle Charlie.” That is, until Uncle Charlie moves in with Tony and his family. Uncle Charlie is still odd, of course–talking about spirits and other supernatural stuff–but he and Tony become fast friends, and Tony ends up having a lot of fun with Uncle Charlie.

When Uncle Charlie dies suddenly, Tony is devastated. Then he starts seeing Uncle Charlie everywhere! It doesn’t help that Tony switched schools–it was Uncle Charlie’s dying wish that Tony attend the Penda School, where Uncle Charlie himself went as a kid. The Penda School is eerie enough without his uncle’s ghost making it worse. On top of that, rumors have been circulating about a student who went missing shortly before Tony arrived. Could that somehow be related to Uncle Charlie’s ghost?

Full of twists and turns that get spookier by the chapter, School of the Dead is a fast-paced mystery that Avi’s fans will devour!

While young adults listen to this thrilling historical adventure, they’ll also gain fascinating insights into the historical and political complications of Prohibition. Set in the 1930s, it is the story of an Irish-American boy who concocts a dangerous plan to bust the liquor smugglers who are terrorizing his island home.

“What Kenny saw-or thought he saw- were two hands, then two arms, reaching up from the stain, pushing away a box of his mother’s old books that was sitting on it. These hands and arms seemed to be not flesh and blood but sculptured, glowing smoke. It was as if, from under that box, a body was struggling to be free.”-from Something Upstairs Kenny Huldorf is not happy when he learns that he and his family will be moving all the way across the country to Rhode Island, a state smaller than Los Angeles, the city he’s known his whole life. His new home, The Stillwell House, was built in 1789 and, like everything in Providence, it seems old-fashioned and somber. But things start to look a little brighter when Kenny’s Mom shows him his new bedroom: a long, open attic with plenty of room and privacy. While he puts his things away, Kenny discovers a small room at the far end of the attic with a mysterious dark stain covering the center of the floor. All day long Kenny can’t shake the feeling that someone is in the attic with him. Late that night, awakened by sounds coming from where the small room is, Kenny opens the door to a horrifying tale from the past.

Acclaimed children’s author Avi’s many accolades include a Newbery Medal and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. Inspired by true stories from the American Revolution, Sophia’s War begins in 1776, when British troops arrive on the doorstep of 12-year-old Sophia Calderwood’s home in New York. After the disappearance- and possible capture- of her brother, and the execution of Nathan Hale, Sophia has vowed to do all she can to help the cause for independence. But the war will test her in ways she never imagined.

Benjamin was nine years old in the spring of 1855 when his father met with the accident that changed Benjamin’s life. Called home from boarding school, his first sight of his father lying nearly lifeless in the bed petrified him. Gone was the energetic man who had held the family together when Benjamin’s mother succumbed to diphtheria. With the courage and strength that had brought the family to the Oregon Territory, Benjamin and his siblings work to build the barn their father had been excitedly planning when he was struck down. Racing with time, Benjamin hopes to give the barn to his father as a gift-only hoping the barn will be completed before his father dies. Award-winning author Avi brings to life a tender story of loss and faith, that will touch the hearts of listeners of all ages.

Hiding from a cadaverous stalker in 1046 England, Thorston races to unleash the magical charms from the diabolical Book Without Words. Suddenly-with success almost in his grasp-he slumps to the floor, muttering cryptic words. Newbery Award-winning author Avi adds this jewel to his many literary gems offered by Recorded Books. “Thoughtful readers will devour its absorbing plot and humorous elements, and learn a ‘useful truth’ along the way.”-School Library Journal

It’s the week before Christmas, and Eric is already bored with his vacation. His parents have to work, his friends are out of town, and the city is snowed under. Then he opens his apartment door for an exterminator, and is dragged into the adventure of his life. Anje Gabrail carries a crossbow and lives for his work. When he discovers a rat in the basement of Eric’s apartment building, he asks the boy to help him kill it. At first Eric agrees, after all, he doesn’t have anything better to do. But as the week progresses, Eric finds himself in a fight to save not only the rat but himself as well. Avi delivers an unusual story full of the magic of Christmas. Narrator Jeff Woodman’s stirring rendition perfectly captures both Eric’s confusion and his growing sense of purpose as he confronts an angel in a most unlikely form.

In the small, 14th-century English village where he has lived his entire life, the boy has grown up with no name of his own, known only as “Asta’s son.” But when his mother dies, the boy receives both his rightful name, Crispin, and a lead cross, inscribed with a secret that soon has him fleeing for his life. Best-selling, award-winning Avi delights children and adults with historically accurate tales of high adventure.

In this sequel The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts by Newbery Medalist Avi, Oliver’s adventures take him to the 18th century American colonies, where he is forced to fend for himself in the harsh wilderness, live as an indentured servant, and come face to face with the brutality of enslavement. Convicted of thievery and transported from England to America, Oliver Cromwell Pitts, shackled to his fellow prisoners, endures inedible food, filthy conditions, and deadly storms on his voyage across the Atlantic. But the hazardous shipboard journey is nothing compared to the peril that waits for him on the colonial shores. In Annapolis, Oliver’s indentured servitude is purchased by the foul, miserly Fitzhugh, who may have murdered another servant. On Fitzhugh’s isolated tobacco farm, Oliver’s only companion is an enslaved boy named Bara. Oliver and Bara become fast friends with one powerful goal: to escape Fitzhugh. Oliver hopes he can find his sister, Charity, brought somewhere in the colonies on a different ship. Bara dreams of reaching a community of free black people in the cypress swamp who may help him gain his liberty. But first the boys must flee Fitzhugh’s plantation and outrun their brutal pursuer and the dangers that lurk in the swamp.

Born in 14th-century England, Crispin has embarked on one adventure after another since learning that he, once known only as “Asta’s son,” has a much grander destiny than he ever could have imagined. But his fate has taken a dark turn. The sweet and kindly Bear, his friend and protector, is dead. Crispin is thereby left to protect Troth, she of the staring eyes and broken face. Having attempted a sea voyage to France-and having their ship and most of their hopes dashed to bits in the process-Crispin and Troth are plagued by hunger and left to fend for themselves. All in all, they have much to fear . and scant prospects on which to pin their hopes. Newbery Medal-winning author Avi completes the Crispin saga with this third installment of the riveting trilogy. Voiced by widely acclaimed narrator Ron Keith, Crispin: The End of Time takes listeners on the journey of a lifetime.

Jonathan’s older brother is away fighting with General Washington in Pennsylvania. But at 13, Jonathan is too young to fight. Still too young. Then one morning, April 3, 1778, the tavern bell sounds, calling men to arms. Eager to prove his mettle, with blood pounding in his ears, Jonathan joins the gathering men at the tavern to hear the news. With a 12 pound, six-foot-long flintlock musket loaned to him by the tavern keeper, Jonathan finds a place in with the other men, marching to battle. Then the moment arrives-the distant sound of drums and the terrible whine of the fife. As the troops march into view, Jonathan sees 30 soldiers-all moving in perfect formation, a bayonet at every waist. “Hessians,” the man next to Jonathan said. “Hessians.” Avi is author of the Newbery-winner The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. In The Fighting Ground he recounts one unforgettable day in the life of young Jonathan, a naive New Jersey farmboy eager for war.

The 300 dogs of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, all know their places. At the top is McKinley, a malamute who’s head dog of the whole town. All of the dogs-and McKinley’s human family-rely on him to protect them and maintain order. Avi, the Newbery Medal author of Crispin: The Cross of Lead, peeks into the secret lives of dogs in this thrilling adventure tale. Robert Ramirez’s narration gives voice to a dog willing to risk any peril to do the good thing.

This dark, spooky tale of suspense is a superb way to introduce young adults to one of early America’s greatest writers. Masterfully imitating the macabre tone of Poe’s fiction, Avi spins a tale of a young boy who asks Edgar Allan Poe to help him escape a plot of murder, calculation, and deception.

A mystery of uncertainties and distrust envelops young Edmund as he desperately searches for his missing mother in the murky streets of Providence, Rhode Island in 1848. His aunt, who went in search of her, is now dead. And now his sister has disappeared! How can he find them when facts are woven into fiction, when people are not who they say they are? Acclaimed author Avi has penned a novel of great intrigue, bringing alive this New England seacoast town in the mid-1800s, haunting the listener with a tale of things which are not what they seem to be. Or are they?

Newbery Medalist Avi carves an imaginative story full of suspense and surprises. For the animals of Central Park, life turns upside down when Big Daddy Duds and his gang of rats move uptown and take over the park. The mayor of Central Park, a squirrel named Oscar Westerwit, is determined to give the park back to its rightful owners-the squirrels, rabbits, and moles. Mark Nilson’s lively narration brings to life the critters of Central Park in 1900. Other Avi books include Crispin and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.

From Newbery Award-winning author Avi comes the gripping and amazingly true tale of a boy plucked from the gutter to become the King of England. England, 1486. King Henry VII has recently snatched the English Crown and now sits on the throne, while young Prince Edward, who has a truer claim, has apparently disappeared. Meanwhile, a penniless kitchen boy named Lambert Simnel is slaving away at a tavern in Oxford-until a mysterious friar, Brother Simonds, buys Lambert from the tavern keeper and whisks him away in the dead of night. But this is nothing compared to the secret that the friar reveals: You, Lambert, are actually Prince Edward, the true King of England! With the aid of the deceitful Earl of Lincoln, Brother Simonds sets out to teach the boy how to become the rightful English king. Lambert has everything to gain and nothing to lose, or so he thinks. Yet in this dangerous battle for the throne, Lambert is not prepared for what’s to come-or for what it really means to play at being a king.

In 1925 Colorado, 14-year-old Ida Bidson dreams of becoming a teacher, but she knows it won’t be easy. When the school board closes the town’s one-room school, threatening to keep Ida from finishing eighth grade and moving on to high school, it looks like her dream will never come true. Then she and her classmates come up with a plan for a secret school-with Ida as their teacher!

Best-selling author Avi has won numerous honors, including the Newbery Medal for Crispin: The Cross of Lead. In The Traitors’ Gate, Avi spins a Dickensian tale of 19th-century London. Young John Huffam is having a disastrous time. His father has been jailed and John himself is being followed by Inspector Copperfield-just one of the many eccentric characters in this delightfully Victorian tale. “[This] is the novel I’ve always wanted to write. It was inspired by the true tale of young Charles Dickens …”-Avi

Avi’s swashbuckling tale of murder and mutiny on the high seas has a fascinating twist: the heroine is a 13-year-old girl. In 1832, Charlotte Doyle boards a ship bound for America and is caught in a battle between a mad captain and his ruthless crew. If you’re looking for an action-packed adventure story for girls, you’ll find it in The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.

High adventure from a master storyteller about one boy’s attempt to fend for himself among cruel orphan masters, corrupt magistrates, and conniving thieves. In the seaside town of Melcombe Regis, England, 1724, Oliver Cromwell Pitts wakes to find his father missing and his house flooded by a recent storm. He’s alone in his ruined home with no money and no food. Oliver’s father has left behind a barely legible waterlogged note: he’s gone to London, where Oliver’s sister, Charity, is in trouble. Exploring damage to the town in the storm’s aftermath, Oliver discovers a shipwreck on the beach. Removing anything from a wrecked ship is a hanging offense, but Oliver finds money that could save him, and he can’t resist the temptation to take it. When his crime is discovered, Oliver flees, following the trail of his father and sister. The journey is full of thieves, adventurers, and treachery–and London might be the most dangerous place of all. In the tradition of his Newbery Honor book The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Avi mixes high adventure and short, page-turning chapters with a vivid historical setting featuring a cast of highwaymen, pickpockets, and villainous criminal masterminds.

Eve is haunted by her dead cats, Willie is not content to turn a blind eye to suffering, and Maria carries on lengthy conversations with a silent caller. Theirs are the odd, but strangely realistic stories you will find in this collection. Avi’s stories address real concerns in a way young people can relate to. Always entertaining, they broach difficult topics like divorce, teenage runaways, adolescent cruelty, and homelessness. Here even “bad” kids can make moral choices, and the behavior of adults is often bizarre and small-minded. Recipient of Newbery Honors and numerous other awards, Avi is recognized as one of the most innovative authors for young people today. These stories are just quirky and irreverent enough to appeal to finicky pre- to post-adolescent listeners. Already engaging, they take on new energy when performed by our talented narrators.

A fast-paced, madcap adventure–with a fresh new cover treatment–from the always surprising raconteur, Avi! It’s the spring of 1945 in Brooklyn, and while WWII rages in Europe, sixth grader Frankie Wattleson–inspired by the heroics of The Lone Ranger and other radio show idols–sets out to right the wrongs of the world. Frankie is so caught up in his superhero stories that he becomes convinced the tenant renting his brother’s room is a mad scientist. Can Frankie and his trusty sidekick, Mario, save the world from an evil genius? Or will Frankie’s mother pull the plug on their schemes before they can save the day? Told exclusively through dialogue and radio excerpts, this fast-paced story shows off Avi’s versatility and incomparable storytelling skills.

Tony has saved $300, enough to buy a small sailboat. He will use it every day during his three-week stay with his grandmother on the Connecticut shore. Once Tony learns to sail, he starts exploring the waters around a group of tiny islands offshore. One day, he sees two people in diving gear on a motorboat. But instead of greeting him, they wave him away. The next time he sees them, he discovers that they will do anything to hide what they have found. He is chased, and his boat is stolen. Now, lost and alone, with night falling fast, Tony wonders if he will ever get back to his grandmother’s–and safety–again. Avi is the author of dozens of books for children, including the Newbery Honor Book The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. In Windcatcher, he crafts a story crackling with excitement and danger. It is sure to capture the attention of even the most reluctant reader, especially with Audie Award-winner George Guidall’s narration.