Blackbeard and the Sandstone Pillar: When Lightning Strikes
Book 2 in The Blackbeard Quartet
Written by Audrey Penn and illustrated by Philip Howard & Josh Miller
Juvenile Fiction (Ages 8-12), 400 pages
978-1-933718-08-8, cloth, $15.95

Four teens from Ocracoke Island, NC, set out on their quest: to locate and return some ancient pirate loot to its rightful owners. After a trip to a secret tunnel, they set out to find some answers, but they encounter a few obstacles. Nothing that a little ingenuity, the willingness to break a rule or two, and a handy forklift can't overcome! The kids also uncover even deeper mysteries with the teens' discovery of another chest and a strange sandstone. This discovery, Blackbeard's ghost fears, could bring the world to the brink of disaster.

This second book of the Blackbeard Quartet is a great mix of comic adventure, pirate lore, historical mysteries, and the supernatural.

Audrey Penn is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Kissing Hand, in addition to Sassafras, Feathers and Fur, A.D.D. not B.A.D., and The Whistling Tree. This continuing series in chapter book format demonstrates that Ms. Penn's talent at storytelling is apparent in any form. She currently resides in Olney, Maryland, near Washington, DC. Visit Audrey Penn's website.

Artist Josh Miller lives in McLean, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC.

Artist Philip Howard resides on Ocracoke Island, NC, and is a direct descendent of William Howard, quartermaster for the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard.

My Brother the Dog
by Kim Williams Justesen
Middle Reader (Ages 8-12), 200 pages
0-9749303-5-0, 978-0-974-9303-5-0 (ISBN-13), paperback, $6.95

Mattie has a couple of dilemmas. FIRST (sigh), her parents are making her babysit her humiliating younger brother nearly nonstop. What could BE more awful than the constant company of a 4-year-old brother who acts like a dog? THEN, her best friend's brother begins to show serious interest in her. Mattie thinks all her prayers have come true, that is, until her best friend Livvy stops returning her phone calls. Is this how a best friend should act? Will she have to choose between her best friend and a budding romance, and who should it be? A family crisis will force Mattie to make some difficult decisions.

This first-time author, Kim Williams Justesen, captures the voice and dialogue of today's girls, along with the drama, the fun, the self-doubt, the awkwardness of this age, and does so with great humor. Visit Kim's website at www.kimwjustesen.com, or read her blog.

Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove
Book 1 in The Blackbeard Quartet
Written by Audrey Penn and illustrated by Philip Howard & Josh Miller
Juvenile Fiction (Ages 8-12), 341 pages
4 full-page black-and-white illustrations, 12 small line drawings
0-9749303-1-8, 978-0-9749303-1-2 (ISBN-13), cloth, $14.95
978-1-933718-09-5, paperback, $7.95

Set on Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, approaching Halloween festivities find Billy, Daniel, Stephanie, and Mark exhausted from their trip to sea to give their eccentric friend Mrs. Nemmish the pirate burial she insisted on. But now they are trapped in a tunnel, locked in by Zeek, local scoundrel and direct descendent of Israel Hands, who is racing against them to find the hidden treasure. Is the treasure's location on the map that Zeek took from them, or could it be in the very tunnel where they are tripping over skeletons and struggling to find another way out? Luckily, they have allies - ghostly allies of Blackbeard and Mrs. Nemmish herself, who has been taken on board the ghost ship Queen's Anne's Revenge. This rollicking tale magically combines this unruly group of youngsters, Blackbeard's ghost, secret tunnels, skeletons, hidden treasure, a very mysterious inheritance, the Bermuda Triangle, the Underground Railroad, and a hurricane hitting the Outer Banks in a page-turning delight, full of mystery, laughs, suspense, and adventure.

This book also captures much of the essence and rich history of this fascinating location. After 30 years of regular visits to Ocracoke Island, the author has come to know the place and the people, and has enriched this fun tale with real characters, locations, lore, and legends passed down through the generations of residents from the days when Blackbeard had his hideout there. This book is a history lesson of the greatest kind - with the past and the present wonderfully and entertainingly intertwined.

Audrey Penn is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Kissing Hand, in addition to Sassafras, Feathers and Fur, A.D.D. not B.A.D., and The Whistling Tree. This first foray into a chapter book format demonstrates that Ms. Penn's talent at storytelling is apparent in any form. She currently resides in Olney, Maryland, near Washington, DC. Visit Audrey Penn's website.

Artist Josh Miller lives in McLean, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC.

Artist Philip Howard resides on Ocracoke Island, NC, and is a direct descendent of William Howard, quartermaster for the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard.

68 Knots: A Novel
By Michael Evans
Young Adult (Ages 15-19), 350 pages
978-1-933718-14-9, cloth, $15.95
Available October 2007

After the sailing camp owner's suicide, eight teens find they have a boat to themselves. The 68 days of summer remaining are full of memorable events: encounters with wildlife and people, yacht races, pirate raids, a near fatal hunt for treasure, onboard parties, romance, and a call to heroism. Underlying the tale of adventures, however, is a subtle yet powerful story of awakening, of teens on the cusp of adulthood. They get to know that gap between who they are and who they want to be by experiencing tests of physical, emotional, and mental limits. A stirring debut, this novel examines issues of late adolescence with authenticity that will speak to YA readers.

Michael Evans, an award-winning journalism professor at the University of Indiana, lives in Bloomington, Indiana. Read a biography of Michael Evans, read an interview with him on teensreadtoo.com, and visit his website.

Reviews "Reading 68 Knots is an experience that will have you waiting impatiently for a summer experience of your own. [more]"— flamingnet.com, Top Choice "For a coming-of-age novel -- and some sailing -- check out this well-written, thought-provoking book from Michael Evans."— www.bookheaven.blogspot.com "This classic coming-of-age novel, set in a fresh and novel location, featuring teens facing and overcoming modern-yet-universal obstacles is a winner by all counts. Though it is Michael Robert Evan's first novel, readers - certainly this one - will wait eagerly for his next."— myshelf.com "68 KNOTS is a very fun read, and I really enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and diverse, and the book is full of great details about sailing a ship. Even though the crew of the (ship) gets into some pretty sticky situations, anyone who reads this is bound to want to go out and experience the same summer at sea as these kids - I know I do!"— teensreadtoo.com, 5 stars Read a review of 68 Knots at CoastalBoating.net. "A great ship, amazing characters, and total freedom at sea--a terrific story!""— NY Times bestselling author Linda Greenlaw