Books with author Ann K. Shepherd

"'The Boy Who Grew Dragons' is good-hearted fantasy fun."-New York Times Book Review"This gently funny title is a must-purchase for public libraries, and a great recommendation for readers of all ages"-School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW "Never has so much toilet humor been so charming."-Kirkus Reviews"Readers will be eager for more."-BooklistThis hilarious middle-grade novel with illustrations throughout sees Tomas discover that he can grow dragons in his own garden!When Tomas discovers a strange old tree at the bottom of his grandfather's garden, he doesn't think much of it. But he takes the funny fruit from the tree back into the house and gets the shock of his life when a tiny dragon hatches! The tree is a dragon fruit tree, and Tomas now has his very own dragon, Flicker!While Tomas finds out that life with Flicker is fun, he also finds that it is very...unpredictable. Yes, dragons are wonderful, but they also set fire to your toothbrush and leave your underwear hanging from the TV antenna. Tomas has to learn how to look after Flicker---and quickly! And then something extraordinary happens: more dragon fruits appear on the tree! Now it's official, Tomas is growing dragons.

It's senior year, and someone's declared open season on bullies.From advanced classes to college entrance essays to baking cakes, Brenna Rutherford's got a lot on her plate with the start of her senior year. The last thing she needs to worry about is the pipe-wielding maniac causing chaos on campus. But after getting a little too close for comfort to the violence, Brenna, along with her best friend, Van Vaughn, is determined to find out who's responsible. Is it pathetic, much-abused Benny McBride; arrogant Cameron Irby, Brenna’s intellectual foe; or someone much closer to her? One thing is for certain – Brenna and Van must uncover the truth and stop the angry villain before the unthinkable occurs.Seeing Red is the first in a seven-book series for young adults based on the seven deadly sins. In 2012, it won second place in the Gotham Writers' Workshop Young Adult Novel Discovery Contest.

Three months ago, Sarah Drake’s best friend, Giselle Rochester, disappeared without a trace. Now Sarah must navigate the treacherous waters of Garfield Preparatory School alone, which would be difficult enough for a scholarship student, but she’s also captured the unwanted attention of Giselle’s twin brother Damien – a dangerous predator who gives cruelty a new meaning. Surviving school would be impossible were it not for Mac Prescott, who’s determined to stand between Sarah and Damien in Giselle’s absence.When she starts having dreams about her missing friend, Sarah and Mac begin their own search for the truth. Secrets confront the pair on every side, and some are much darker than Sarah’s hidden feelings for Mac. The more she learns, the more she is convinced that Giselle and Damien are anything but normal teenagers and that the power struggle between them is still alive and well. And as the danger increases, there’s more on the line than Sarah’s life. She just might lose her soul.

With the Dark Avenger no longer a threat, life has returned to normal for everyone except Mitch Hamilton. He just can’t seem to shake the young, unknown blonde who’s made herself an unnerving presence in his life. With the Halloween Carnival right around the corner, Mitch is already under enough strain, and he turns to Brenna for help. Along with Van’s assistance, the couple fabricates a romantic relationship designed to draw out the stalker. But as the lines between fake and real romance become blurry, it is Brenna who becomes the focus of Mitch’s Mystery Girl. As strange occurrences pile up, Van is convinced that they might not be dealing with a flesh and blood girl after all and that the real danger may be much closer than they think.

Brenna Rutherford wants two things for Christmas: distraction from obsessing over her break-up with Mitch and alleviation of her fears of Abraham's deception. Thankfully, a series of charity fundraisers, hosted by the ASB, provides her with some amusement - especially when Van is chosen to be a participant in the highly anticipated bachelor auction. But all is not merry and bright in Mount Vernon. A festive thief armed with a stun baton is robbing Brenna's classmates where they work. Her decision to keep her investigation on the sidelines is put to the test when one of her friends becomes a victim. As events unfold, it becomes evident that there may be more going on than simple robberies. Is the thief using Brenna to send a message to someone close to her? With romance finding its way into Van's life, an ex-boyfriend intent on winning her back, and a stun-happy thief, it's anything but a silent night for Brenna.

There's never been any love lost between Brenna Rutherford and Alexis Rydell. When Brenna discovers the cheerleader unconscious and naked while out for a morning run, she can't help but wonder if Finn and his puppet are behind it. Alexis certainly isn't interested in Brenna's offer of help. But after nude photos of Alexis in provocative poses show up in lockers at school, the two girls form an uneasy alliance to bring the perpetrator to justice. That task is more complicated than it might seem, especially when other girls fall victim to the same crime. How do you find the guilty party when every guy has sex on the brain? And while the culprit might be targeting would-be Prom Queens, he has an unnatural obsession with Brenna, and he's not the type of guy who takes no for an answer.

It's the worst winter Mount Vernon has seen in decades, and the Big One - the epic blizzard that the weatherman has been predicting for weeks - has finally hit, making virtual prisoners of the town's residents. Abraham is forced to come to terms with his deception and his deteriorating relationship with Brenna while being snowed in with the one person he can't afford to get close to. Stuck at the police station, Duke must decide between a future with Kelly and the life he loves. Trapped in the Woodward Opera House, Brenna and Van must stay one step ahead of a killer holding a grudge against Van for stepping into the coveted role vacated by an injured Nick Anders. In one night, loyalties will be tested, secrets will be revealed, and everything will change.

Bones and relationships have mended in the months following the blizzard, and now Brenna is ready to learn about Abraham’s history with Clayton Finn. Even as she gains new insight into the dark mind of the nefarious Puppet Master, life takes an unexpected turn for the worst when several people, including her uncle, end up in the hospital after eating cakes she made. Is it food poisoning or is there something more sinister at work? As far as her classmates are concerned, Brenna is trouble and some are eager to punish her. Could that be the intention of Finn and his puppet or is there a bigger target centered in the crosshairs? Sprinkle in an insecure boyfriend, the return of his domineering father and neglectful mother, the pressure to choose a college, and Brenna’s got a recipe for disaster.

Brenna Rutherford has plenty of reasons to smile. She's graduating as valedictorian, preparing for a long-awaited trip to Italy, and finally in love. But as the end of her senior year approaches, so does the final chapter of Finn's deadly game. Nothing can prepare her for Mitch's return and Abraham's abduction. Embarking on a dangerous hunt, Brenna must unravel Finn's clues in order to find her uncle. But as Brenna and her friends get closer to the end, Brenna realizes that this may be one battle that she has to fight on her own. One thing's for certain - death is coming to Mount Vernon.

This hilarious middle-grade novel with illustrations throughout sees Tomas discover that he can grow dragons in his own garden!When Tomas discovers a strange old tree at the bottom of his grandfather's garden, he doesn't think much of it. But he takes the funny fruit from the tree back into the house and gets the shock of his life when a tiny dragon hatches! The tree is a dragon fruit tree, and Tomas now has his very own dragon, Flicker! While Tomas finds out that life with Flicker is fun, he also finds that it is very...unpredictable. Yes, dragons are wonderful, but they also set fire to your toothbrush and leave your underwear hanging from the TV antenna. Tomas has to learn how to look after Flicker---and quickly! And then something extraordinary happens: More dragon fruits appear on the tree! Now it's official, Tomas is growing dragons.

Bones and relationships have mended in the months following the blizzard, and now Brenna is ready to learn about Abraham’s history with Clayton Finn. Even as she gains new insight into the dark mind of the nefarious Puppet Master, life takes an unexpected turn for the worst when several people, including her uncle, end up in the hospital after eating cakes she made. Is it food poisoning or is there something more sinister at work? As far as her classmates are concerned, Brenna is trouble and some are eager to punish her. Could that be the intention of Finn and his puppet or is there a bigger target centered in the crosshairs? Sprinkle in an insecure boyfriend, the return of his domineering father and neglectful mother, the pressure to choose a college, and Brenna’s got a recipe for disaster.