Books with author Chris Youngblood

The Murphy Gang has moved east from Missouri and is now operating in western Pennsylvania. The notorious band of train robbers is led by John Murphy. His exploits have earned him a reputation and tales of his impersonations and schemes are what legends are made of. On their next train robbery, a fortuitous situation presents itself. A Pinkerton, John Barrister, is on board and traveling to Philadelphia to take charge of the agency’s new partnership with the city and railroad. The World Fair is being hosted in Philadelphia and transport for the fair is very reliant on the railroad. The security risk of valuables being transported for exhibits at the fair has convinced the mayor and president of the railroad to enlist the help of the Pinkerton Agency. John Murphy’s encounter with Barrister on the train reveals the Pinkerton’s reason for travel and the daring plan unfolds. Murphy will impersonate the Pinkerton and take over security of the train he intends to rob! The complacency and misplaced trust of city officials and the Director of the Pinkerton office in Philadelphia allows this breakdown in security to happen. They let down their guard, let this imposter in and pay for this mistake with a special train shipment being robbed from right under their noses. It is now up to their best detective, Robert Holmes, to solve this mystery and restore the reputation of the agency. But it isn’t only Holmes that is attempting to solve this mystery. Unbeknownst to him, his sons, Christopher and Alexander, have enlisted the help of their friends and are on the case as well. Desperately wanting to follow in the footsteps of their father and second cousin, the venerable Sherlock Holmes, the brothers set out to prove themselves and solve this crime on their own. With the help of their friends, a mix of intellects and adventurers, these young sleuths challenge the status quo and follow their one lead which leads them to the robbers and their next big heist, the Pink Diamond.

Boko is a book. He no longer lives in the children's section of the library but has been returned to his original owner, Emily, who, with her two grandchildren Ella and Peter and their friend Stephen, has discovered that Boko can talk, and he tells them of his adventures. Emily has made a big red tote with a clear window so that Boko and his two book friends Sylvie and Big Book can go with them to visit a friend of Emily's who has a farm and where they intend to have a picnic. Previously, the books have always been in backpacks or suitcases and have seen very little, but this time they are excited as they can see where they are going and have a real adventure when a goat runs off with the bag while Gran and the children are enjoying their lunch! They have fun visiting all the animals, and Sylvie names a calf.

Being a true lover, I was inspired to write a story of Boko after observing the way in which people in waiting rooms, airports, and trains unwittingly mistreat their magazines and particularly books. During Boko's travels, he experiences being "hurt" many times, and by weaving these things into his story, I hope that readers will be reminded to value and respects their books throughout their lives.

Life in the rural South is not what eleven-year-old Lindy Jamison wants. Her whole world seems to be turned upside down until she meets Miranda. Miranda’s soft-spoken Southern manner and quiet mystery enfolds Lindy into a friendship few ever find. Life in the South is unique, unusual, and sometimes unfathomable. For Lindy and Miranda terror comes in the form of shadows that come out to dance in the moonlight. But things are not always what they seem. Stories from the past told by Miranda’s enchanting aunt serve as a reminder for one girl and a moment of revelation for the other that home is much more than simply a place to live.