Books with author Blackwood

Jinx's Magic is the second book in Sage Blackwood's highly acclaimed fantasy-adventure series, Jinx. This humorous and smart tween trilogy set in a magical forest is perfect for fans of Angie Sage's Septimus Heap, Michael Buckley's the Sisters Grimm, and Brandon Mull's Fablehaven."Readers will thrill to journey with Jinx" (Jinx, School Library Journal, starred review), a daring young wizard's apprentice, as he travels from his home in the Urwald to an unfamiliar desert land in search of ancient magic. He needs that magic badly—there are forces threatening the Urwald from all sides. The more he learns, however, the clearer it becomes that this quest will require more than the magic of a solitary wizard's apprentice, and soon he'll have to call upon all of the Urwald—witches, werewolves, wizards, and trees—for help.

Award winners Roddy Doyle and Freya Blackwood team up to create a heartwarming story of loss, love, and what it means to be a family.When Siobhan was just three years old, her mother died, leaving Siobhan and her father alone in their house in Dublin. They never talk about her, and now, at ten years old, Siobhan no longer remembers her mother's face.One day, Siobhan meets a mysterious woman in the park who tells her that to remember her mother, she just needs to look in a mirror. As Siobhan grows older, she sees more and more of her mother's face in her own reflection. With time, she and her father and her own daughter are able to remember Siobhan's mother with joy and laughter instead of tears.

The young wizard Jinx concludes his suspenseful and dryly humorous adventures in the magical forest of the Urwald with this third installment in the series that ALA Booklist says “deserves a permanent place in the children’s fantasy pantheon, with Narnia and Earthsea” (Jinx's Magic, starred review). This action-packed conclusion is perfect for readers of fantasy adventure series such as Septimus Heap, the Sisters Grimm, and Fablehaven.The forest is under attack and its magic is fading. Can Jinx summon enough of his magic—the bright fire within him—to rescue Simon, defeat the Bonemaster, unite the Urwald, and fight off the invaders? He is the Urwald's only hope. . . .

From the author of the acclaimed Jinx trilogy comes a spellbinding fantasy, perfect for fans of the School for Good and Evil series, about a young heroine fighting to save a world that would dare to tame her.Chantel would much rather focus on her magic than on curtsying, which is why she often finds herself in trouble at Miss Ellicott’s School for Magical Maidens. But when Miss Ellicott mysteriously disappears along with all the other sorceresses in the city, Chantel’s behavior becomes the least of her problems. Without any magic protecting the city, it is up to Chantel and her friends to save the Kingdom. On a dangerous mission, Chantel will discover a crossbow-wielding boy, a dragon, and a new, fiery magic that burns inside her—but can she find the sorceresses and transform Lightning Pass into the city it was meant to be?

Introducing private investigator Charley Field, the true-life inspiration behind Charles Dickens’ Inspector Bucket, in an intriguing new Victorian mystery series. December, 1853. Having found fame as the inspiration behind Inspector Bucket in Charles Dickens’ recent bestselling serialization, Bleak House, former Detective Inspector Charley Field has set himself up as a private enquiry agent – so far without success. Matters become personal however when the body of a local prostitute is found floating in the Serpentine in Hyde Park. Having often enjoyed Rosa’s company, Charley is disinclined to believe the official verdict of suicide. Convinced Rosa was murdered, he determines to track down the mysterious client who visited her the day she died. But when he finally encounters the man he believes responsible for her death, Charley discovers that there’s more to Rosa’s murder than even a veteran sleuth like himself could imagine.

When using magic is punishable by death, what would you risk to save those you love?Tammuz has never left the sleepy fishing village of Aleesia. He longs to see what lies beyond the lake. He grew up listening to the legends of King Riehner and the Battlemages and how he united all the races together; humans, elves, and dwarves alike, to defeat the Kapre and bring unprecedented peace to Iradell. But all that changed a lifetime ago when Tzelder, a former Battlemage student, usurped Riehner and has ruled Iradell since.Now, under Tzelder's rule, magic is illegal, and using it is punishable by death. No one has seen an elf or dwarf in decades, and Tamm feels trapped between the mountains and the lake, drowning in mediocrity. With his sixteenth birthday fast approaching, he must make a choice; choose an apprenticeship like the rest of the young men his age or flee Aleesia in search of the adventure he's always desired. Unfortunately, Tamm soon learns you don't have to leave to find adventure; sometimes it finds you. After someone close to him is fatally injured, Tamm discovers a magic that could save them, but it will put him at odds with the king. All the while, an ancient enemy is poised to return and threatens the town he always thought he wanted to leave.Will his limited knowledge of magic help him save those he loves, or will it get him killed? Can he survive the adventure he's always hoped to find? Through him, can the Battlemages be Reborn?

How can a pint-sized,self-avowed word nerd master otherworldly forces when she hardly has thewherewithal to master calculus? That's exactly the conundrum for ArielRobinson, who arrives at Montana State University and quickly encounters farmore than the normal share of freshman woes. Siren Song: Book 1 of the Siren Song Trilogy is author B.A.Blackwood's first of three wildly inventive, humor-inflected young adultfantasy novels starring fallen angels who roam the earth, and the unsuspectingwho happen across their high-flying paths.With wit, suspense, and a romance that transcends the human plane, it'sa smart, fantastical foray certain to absorb readers who relish a read that'sequal parts fantastical and downright funny. When Ariel receives the glossy brochure from MontanaState University, the outdoorsy tomboy feels like a lifer who's been shown thesecret escape passage from her parents' Dallas socialite scene. But when shearrives in Bozeman with her trunk load of books and headful of ten-dollarwords, the welcoming committee is far from what she had hoped for. Ariel'sactually been lured into the training grounds of two battling factions of theFallen Angels, who are convinced that she can lead them to the Piece of Home, amysterious, coveted object that will determine who wins their war. All is notlost, however. A ridiculously good-looking senior named Michael seems intent onpopping up everywhere to chaperone her home. While her blonde bombshell roommate Kristin and geekyclassmate Todd insert themselves into their relationship in various vexingways, Ariel is soon initiated into a world of Fallen Angels, including thekindly, patriarchal Achimalech, snooty Daniel, robotic Cyrus, and superstarlawyer Lucian. Can Ariel find the Piece of Home and settle the age-oldscore--and snag a super hot boyfriend in the process?

When an outbreak of the deadly Black Plague closes the Globe Theatre, William Shakespeare's acting troupe sets off on a tour of England. Widge, the orphan-turned-actor, knows that he'll be useful on the trip. Not only does he love the stage, but his knack for a unique shorthand has proven him one of the most valuable apprentices in the troupe. But then a mysterious man appears, claiming to know a secret from Widge's past-a secret that may forever force him from the theatre he loves."An exciting, well-written tale that is sure to leave [readers] clamoring for more." (School Library Journal, starred review)

Mallada Eloja Malbith is a different sort of person, with an odd sort of name, who has always been estranged from her family and neighbors. Her mother is nearly insane; her father and sister are indifferent; and her brother is heartlessly cruel. As a result, she develops a love for the nearby forest, which is filled with all sorts of fantastic creatures that only she can see. One day she’s called through the mouth of an oak tree by Tuesday the nymph: a young woman who seems to dislike Mally at first, but who grows to love her over the course of their adventures. She is ushered down a steep flight of steps into Banbanoxé, a marvelous land filled with the very creatures she has come to befriend. But the land has long been held in shadow by Bringol the Black Bear, and no one, including King Grinbo the Grey Wolf, has been able to overthrow him. When it comes to light that Bringol is working alongside the evil witch Adonaia, it seems that all hope for Banbanoxé is lost. That is, until Mally learns a long-kept secret which changes everything she has ever known about herself – and which makes all the land wonder, if perhaps she is the one who will finally save them.

Long before the Amazing Race television show there was the Great Race—a thrilling true story that will grab readers from the start to the finish line.In February of 1908, six cars from four countries gathered in Times Square for the pistol shot that began the first around-the-world automobile race. Gas-powered cars hadn€™t been round very long, and roads were nonexistent as this group of hardy pioneers set out to drive from New York to Paris, hoping to cross the ice of the Bering Strait along the way. The Europeans were sure their cars were superior, but it would be the scrappy Americans in their Thomas Flyer, after braving twenty-foot snowdrifts, bandits, and many near drownings, who would win the race.In a book published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the race, Gary Blackwood, author of well-known historical-fiction novels, crafts a thrilling narrative of great courage and splendid folly, illustrated with original, never-before-published photo

Paired Passages for grade 6 offers pairs of nonfiction and fiction passages for students to compare and contrast. Aligned to state standards, students will read high-interest passages about topics such as Black Beauty, chess, American football, campsite wildlife, unexpected snow, and more.Help your students meet rigorous college- and career-ready expectations by improving reading comprehension skills. Paired Passages helps students meet and exceed reading standards by teaching them to compare and contrast fiction with nonfiction, fiction with fiction, and nonfiction with nonfiction. When students finish reading a pair of passages, they will rely on the text to complete the accompanying questions and activities.The Paired Passages series for grades 1 to 6 improves reading comprehension skills by providing passages for students to compare, contrast, and synthesize. Filled with content that appeals to today’s learners, the passages represent a variety of genres such as literature (narrative, poetry, realistic fiction, and more), social studies, and science. Each topic features a pair of passages and is followed by two pages of text-dependent questions and activities. By using this research-based instructional approach, you are preparing students for a successful academic journey this year and for years to come.