Books with author John Wagner

Title: The Crash Crystal: a LEGO® Mystery. A middle-grade novel for 9-12 year-olds... Using LEGOS that he assembles in eerily accurate crash-site scenes, Mack McCarthy (12) can predict why planes crash with dead-on accuracy, amazing his initially doubtful mother and father, a top crash-site investigator. But Mack is sure his power is real, passed on to him through a crystal by his mystical grandfather, who dies just as the book opens. Defying skeptics, Mack uses Legos to solve crash after crash, proving he’s got a very rare gift indeed. When Mack’s aunt – his only faithful believer all along – ends up on a criminally doomed flight from Thailand, a daring, international, kids-on-the-run, romping story ensues. Mack teams up with school buddies to evade police, as they use any means necessary to save lives. Then, in the ultimate test of Mack’s rare gift, he gets to prove his doubters wrong once and for all when he and his father team up with a larger cadre of oddly gifted kids (who mysteriously appear with their LEGOS), to rescue themselves when the flight they are all on encounters fatal trouble.

Title: The Crash Crystal: a LEGO® Mystery. A middle-grade novel for 9-12 year-olds... Using LEGOS that he assembles in eerily accurate crash-site scenes, Mack McCarthy (12) can predict why planes crash with dead-on accuracy, amazing his initially doubtful mother and father, a top crash-site investigator. But Mack is sure his power is real, passed on to him through a crystal by his mystical grandfather, who dies just as the book opens. Defying skeptics, Mack uses Legos to solve crash after crash, proving he’s got a very rare gift indeed. When Mack’s aunt – his only faithful believer all along – ends up on a criminally doomed flight from Thailand, a daring, international, kids-on-the-run, romping story ensues. Mack teams up with school buddies to evade police, as they use any means necessary to save lives. Then, in the ultimate test of Mack’s rare gift, he gets to prove his doubters wrong once and for all when he and his father team up with a larger cadre of oddly gifted kids (who mysteriously appear with their LEGOS), to rescue themselves when the flight they are all on encounters fatal trouble.

Run Son, Run is a wonderful story about the wild horses of our American West. Son is a yearling colt who is forced to separate from his band and escape capture by the two-leggeds and their evil birds. Though he’s terrified, he’s also brokenhearted about being separated from his family. He’s also determined to warn others of his kind about the danger that will soon pursue them too. Along the way, he meets other small animals who’ve lost their families, and they become his band, stirring his instinct to lead and protect, but also building his confidence as a future band stallion. Run Son, Run is a sweet, magical story that will inform both children and adults about the perils our American wild horses face, and man’s present day effect on them in the wild public lands of our American West. Told from young Son’s point of view, this story demonstrates that the same freedom we've struggled to keep as Americans is the same freedom our wild ones now struggle to keep. Author Susan Fox

“Nine million different shapes for the sunlight to take. Nine million different ways light slows itself down to experience time.” Lexie, a 15 year old loner who believes she can see the future. After an intense visionary experience, Lexie realizes it’s her mission in life to make sure her high school crush gets knocked up. Fortunately, she knows just the man for the job. If her vision is correct, their child will grow up to save the world.Along the way, Lexie seeks help from the old folks at a high-tech retirement home, a clique of self-proclaimed eco-radicals, and a story her ex-girlfriend once told her about a grotesque tongue who seduces souls at the world’s end.Shapes the Sunlight Takes is a coming-of-age story, a lyrical work of fantastic fiction about the deals we make with our past and future selves, where the search for perspective among a climate of self-delusion leads to a showdown between freedom and fate inside the surreal landscape of Lexie’s imagination.“Wagner’s novel does what all good novels should do: it made me think about the way that I think…. an odd, intimate story about the messy and complicated relationship between reality and fantasy.” – Theo Ellsworth; Capacity, The Understanding Monster “With an attention to feelings and language that I’m inclined to describe as enviable…. Wagner remembers what it’s like to be a teenage lesbian and does the dirty work of reminding the rest of us.” – Molly Laich; Missoula Independent

Run Son, Run is a wonderful story about the wild horses of our American West. Son is a yearling colt who is forced to separate from his band and escape capture by the two-leggeds and their evil birds. Though he’s terrified, he’s also brokenhearted about being separated from his family. He’s also determined to warn others of his kind about the danger that will soon pursue them too. Along the way, he meets other small animals who’ve lost their families, and they become his band, stirring his instinct to lead and protect, but also building his confidence as a future band stallion. Run Son, Run is a sweet, magical story that will inform both children and adults about the perils our American wild horses face, and man’s present day effect on them in the wild public lands of our American West. Told from young Son’s point of view, this story demonstrates that the same freedom we've struggled to keep as Americans is the same freedom our wild ones now struggle to keep. Author Susan Fox

To Boldly Go Where No Horse Has Gone Before is the continuing story of Son and his unique band in the land where time doesn't exists. In this land there are no stars, no moon, or night, only a stationary sun that hangs at its zenith underneath a bubble canopy. In this land the dinosaurs rule the earth just one little mistake can turn you into Di’No Poo. Son and His Band will make new friends and horrifying foes as they explore this forgotten land. But Son’s goal is to always protect the smaller animals even if it means a fight to the death. J.C. Wagner

In theory, there are only two qualifications needed to run for President of the United States: you should be 35 years of age and a natural born U.S. citizen. But what else does one need to be a contender? Whether you're an elephant or a donkey, or whatever animal may be associated with an independent candidate, this book is the key to finding out if you're cut out for the job.So You Want to Be President? Takes you from choosing your party affiliation, through the primaries and ultimately to the general election. Along the way quizzes, tests and obstacles test your presidential mettle. In the back of the book is a handy scorecard for readers to track their progress toward 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.