Books with author Blackwood

Picking up where Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days left off, Phileas Fogg's teenage son, Harry, is in trouble. He has made a bet that he can drive a steam-powered motor-car around the world in 100 days. So along with a brilliant but shy mechanic, a sly female journalist, and the son of his opponent in the wager, Harry sets off on a race against time. The trip isn't easy, especially with dissension within the group. The question is, will they be able to finish . . .because the stakes are inconceivably high."A thrilling, thoroughly road-worthy joy ride." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review"Fun and suspenseful." - Booklist

The highly acclaimed first book of a fantasy adventure series set in a mysterious forest, starring a daring new hero."Readers will thrill to journey with Jinx" (SLJ, starred review), a wizard's apprentice, as he sets off on a quest through the dangerous Urwald, a magical forest full of wizards and were-creatures, and discovers that it is more complex than he could imagine, and that it needs him more than he could ever guess.This humorous and smart tween fantasy adventure is perfect for fans of Septimus Heap, The Sisters Grimm, and Fablehaven.Supports the Common Core State Standards

Intrigue, danger, chess, and a real-life hoax combine in this historical novel from the author of The Shakespeare StealerPhiladelphia, PA, 1835. Rufus, a twelve-year-old chess prodigy, is recruited by a shady showman named Maelzel to secretly operate a mechanical chess player called the Turk. The Turk wows ticket-paying audience members and players, who do not realize that Rufus, the true chess master, is hidden inside the contraption. But Rufus’s job working the automaton must be kept secret, and he fears he may never be able to escape his unscrupulous master. And what has happened to the previous operators of the Turk, who seem to disappear as soon as Maelzel no longer needs them? Creeping suspense, plenty of mystery, and cameos from Edgar Allan Poe and P. T. Barnum mark Gary Blackwood’s triumphant return to middle grade fiction.

Intrigue, danger, chess, and a real-life hoax combine in this historical novel from the author of The Shakespeare StealerPhiladelphia, PA, 1835. Rufus, a twelve-year-old chess prodigy, is recruited by a shady showman named Maelzel to secretly operate a mechanical chess player called the Turk. The Turk wows ticket-paying audience members and players, who do not realize that Rufus, the true chess master, is hidden inside the contraption. But Rufus’s job working the automaton must be kept secret, and he fears he may never be able to escape his unscrupulous master. And what has happened to the previous operators of the Turk, who seem to disappear as soon as Maelzel no longer needs them? Creeping suspense, plenty of mystery, and cameos from Edgar Allan Poe and P. T. Barnum mark Gary Blackwood’s triumphant return to middle grade fiction.

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.

Intrigue, danger, chess, and a real-life hoax combine in this historical novel from the author of The Shakespeare StealerPhiladelphia, PA, 1835. Rufus, a twelve-year-old chess prodigy, is recruited by a shady showman named Maelzel to secretly operate a mechanical chess player called the Turk. The Turk wows ticket-paying audience members and players, who do not realize that Rufus, the true chess master, is hidden inside the contraption. But Rufus’s job working the automaton must be kept secret, and he fears he may never be able to escape his unscrupulous master. And what has happened to the previous operators of the Turk, who seem to disappear as soon as Maelzel no longer needs them? Creeping suspense, plenty of mystery, and cameos from Edgar Allan Poe and P. T. Barnum mark Gary Blackwood’s triumphant return to middle grade fiction.

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.

Jinx has become the leader of the Urwald, and now the magical forest isunder attack. Jinx's people expect him to lead them into battle, but theterrifying Bonemaster is stealing Jinx's magic and has captured his wizard master,Simon Magus.Jinx must make a dangerous journey into the icy depths beneath the Glass Mountains, to rescue Simonand defeat the Bonemaster.Only then will he be able to unite the Urwald and fight off the invaders.He is theforest's only hope.Fire and ice, goodand evil, magic and knowledge: all collide in this action-packed conclusion tothe acclaimed Jinx trilogy.

Jinx can do brilliant magic and he is becoming better than his wizard master, Simon. But someone or something is slowly killing the deep forest that Jinx loves, and destroying his people as well. It's up to Jinx to save them, but he is still struggling to understand his gifts, and his powers come from the very forest that is being destroyed. Before long, Jinx realizes that the terrifying Bonemaster, with his equally brilliant magic, is involved. When the Bonemaster captures Simon, Jinx sets off on an adventure through the forest to protect all he holds dear, and to try to hold on to his own precious magic.

A gift book that's a gift book - for very young picture book readers, with a warm Helen Oxenbury feel.Ivy loves to give gifts, even though she doesn't always give the right present to the right person. (The dog doesn't need glasses! The cat doesn't need a pacifier!)And Ivy finds that sometimes it's hard to give BACK something you've borrowed and fallen in love with.But in the end, everyone is matched up with the right present, Ivy gets to keep the thing she likes best, and gives her sister the best gift of all: a big, warm hug!