Books with author J. J. Carlson

THERE: In an unnamed Middle Eastern country, fifteen-year-old Laila has always lived like royalty. Her father is a dictator of sorts, though she knows him as King—just as his father was, and just as her little brother Bastien will be one day. Then everything changes: Laila's father is killed in a coup. HERE: As war surges, Laila flees to a life of exile in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Overnight she becomes a nobody. Even as she adjusts to a new school and new friends, she is haunted by the past. Was her father really a dictator like the American newspapers say? What was the cost of her family's privilege? Far from feeling guilty, her mother is determined to regain their position of power. So she's engineering a power play—conspiring with CIA operatives and rebel factions to gain a foothold to the throne. Laila can't bear to stand still as yet another international crisis takes shape around her. But how can one girl stop a conflict that spans generations?

Nick and Lisette O’Connor need a change. They leave New York City for a semester as artists-in-residence at a college upstate, professional leads in a campus production of Hamlet. Threats and accidents follow Lisette, and Nick worries it might be more than just petty jealousy. Maggie Ryan, a student running lights for the show, helps investigate a mystery steeped in the turmoil of 1967 America.This Mystery Company edition restores to print the 1985 novel that introduced Maggie Ryan.

“Levi and Sarah’s Big Adventure” is a fun filled story of a young family going on a weekend camping trip. It is the first camping experience for this young brother and sister, Levi and Sarah. This is a bright and colorfully illustrated story filled with the fun and excitement of new experiences. This story models a healthy family dynamic, while enjoying God’s beautiful creation.

Thrown into a conflict beyond the scope of anything Bye-bye ever imagined, he will be tested in ways he never imaged. Whether that means stopping a war or just taking the girl he likes on a date, he certainly has his work cut out for him. Tensions are rising and if Bye-bye and his friends can’t put a stop to a brewing war, Anvilton and Hammerton might just destroy each other. That is, if the other adventurers don’t destroy them first. With the odds stacked against them, will Bye-bye and his friends survive the Mountain Valley War? Or will the flames of war consume them, leaving nothing but ash in their wake?

“Filled with political intrigue and emotional tension, Carleson’s riveting novel features a teenage refugee caught in a web of deceit and conspiracy.” —PW, starred review When her father is killed in a coup, Laila and her mother and brother leave their war-torn homeland for a fresh start in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. At her new high school, Laila makes mistakes, makes friends, and even meets a boy who catches her eye. But this new life brings unsettling facts to light. The American newspapers call her father a brutal dictator and suggest that her family’s privilege came at the expense of innocent lives. Meanwhile, her mother would like nothing more than to avenge his death, and she’ll go to great lengths to regain their position of power. As an international crisis takes shape around her, Laila is pulled in one direction, then another, but there’s no time to sort out her feelings. She has to pick a side now, and her decision will affect not just her own life, but countless others. . . .Praise for The Tyrant’s Daughter: “Carleson, a former undercover CIA officer, infuses her story with compelling details and gripping authenticity.” —The Boston Globe “Every American should read this book. It’s an eye-opener.” —Suzanne Fisher Staples, Newbery Honor–winning author of Shabanu

Have you ever felt the pressure to fit in? Back in her day, Grandma did too. She bought her clothes from The Hap and tried to be just like Mallory Emma McBane. Until Mallory started acting like Laura LaVan. Young readers will love Cami Carlson's fun, rhyming story that shows the silliness that comes from trying to be just like others. You too can learn to accept the truth when someone says, "Hey! You're Great!"

Prince Lael must prove his strength and loyalty when challenged by an insidious enemy. The tragic loss of loved ones will only fortify his resolve to fight for the freedom of the lost kingdom. Clara and Ian, two kids from Minnesota, will join the adventure to free a captive Sea Princess, battle evil, and overcome lurking temptations. They will meet the legendary White Knight and along the way gain wisdom, love, and friendships.