Books with author Kevin McDonald

On a cloudy morning in 1944 the Japanese battle fleet crashed into a small group of American warships called Taffy Three. The USS Johnston turned into the teeth of the oncoming fleet, unleashing a torrent of torpedoes and gunfire.In the smoke, haze, and rain the Johnston was everywhere, fighting off battleships, cruisers, and a whole line of enemy destroyers. Men passed shells up staircases, turned the rudder by hand when the power failed, and fired the guns till the ammunition rooms flooded. When the captain finally ordered the men to abandon ship, the sailors gathered off the stern, but as they rose and fell with the passing waves, they had much more to endure. Sharks pushed their way into the mass of men, and saltwater gnawed at their burns. Meanwhile, rescue craft searched for them…in the wrong place! Who would survive?Tin Can Sailors Save the Day! tells the story of the USS Johnston through the eyes of three men who served aboard the ship: Captain Ernest Evans, Gunnery Officer Bob Hagen, and Seaman First Class Dusty Rhodes. Each man has a story of how he became a sailor and how the Johnston became his ship. Not all of them survived, but they all did their country proud.Appropriate for ages: 11 and up

On a cloudy morning in 1944 the Japanese battle fleet crashed into a small group of American warships called Taffy Three. The USS Johnston turned into the teeth of the oncoming fleet, unleashing a torrent of torpedoes and gunfire. In the smoke, haze, and rain the Johnston was everywhere, fighting off battleships, cruisers, and a whole line of enemy destroyers. Men passed shells up staircases, turned the rudder by hand when the power failed, and fired the guns till the ammunition rooms flooded. When the captain finally ordered the men to abandon ship, the sailors gathered off the stern, but as they rose and fell with the passing waves, they had much more to endure. Sharks pushed their way into the mass of men, and saltwater gnawed at their burns. Meanwhile, rescue craft searched for them…in the wrong place! Who would survive?Tin Can Sailors Save the Day tells the story of the USS Johnston through the eyes of three men who served aboard the ship: Captain Ernest Evans, Gunnery Officer Bob Hagen, and Seaman First Class Dusty Rhodes. Each man has a story of how he became a sailor and how the Johnston became his ship. Not all of them survived, but they all did their country proud.

Practically Invisible is a compelling coming of age adventure story that shapes a young boy’s life and changes a town forever. After Christian’s mother gets promoted, Christian and his family are forced to leave the big city, and relocate to a small town in Virginia. On his journey to discover his new surroundings, Christian uncovers a secret world of underground adolescents, known as “The Locals”. The Locals pride themselves on thinking they are above the law, the same law that failed to protect them from their abusive families which forced them to runaway and live life off the grid. The story takes an unexpected twist when Christian falls for a beautiful girl named Danielle and discovers she is the “leader” of The Locals. In his blind pursuit for Danielle, Christian falls deeper and deeper into the underground life. His efforts to juggle two lives begins to take a toll on Christian and unknowingly starts to unravel the secret life The Locals have worked so hard to protect.This story will take you along for the adventure of a lifetime.

Smart-mouthed teens Elsie, Kimber, Morgan, and Rae have enough to handle with magical rings, talking dogs, and faeries, but when they discover that the knight they've been battling for Excalibur is a familiar face with a mission of his own, they must get to the bottom of the real intentions behind the quest they were given.Misfits of Avalon reaches its conclusion in this final volume!

Billy Wirth is a normal high school student who lives to play football, but shies from the spotlight. Like his classmates, he is struggling for answers in the wake of the tragic deaths of two of his best friends. As Billy begins to question his priorities, values, and future, he encounters an interesting old friend, Noah Lively. At Noah's urging, Billy and his new girlfriend, Shelby Cooper, join him to investigate the strange circumstances surrounding the deaths of their friends, picking up where the police left off. As the three begin to uncover more and more details, they realize the shocking truth: their friends were murdered...

Billy Wirth lives to play football, but shies from the spotlight. Like his classmates, he is struggling for answers in the wake of the tragic deaths of two of his best friends. As Billy begins to question his priorities, values, and future, he encounters an interesting old friend, Noah Lively. At Noah's urging, Billy and his new girlfriend, Shelby Cooper, join him to investigate the strange circumstances surrounding the deaths of their friends, picking up where the police left off. As the three begin to uncover more and more details, they realize the shocking truth: their friends were murdered, in cold blood. But the most frightening discovery of all is that one of them is destined to be next. As the three race to find answers that could save lives, they find themselves trying to avoid their own fate. The intense search may be just what Billy needs to help him learn what is really important in life, but will it be too late?

"Practically Invisible" is a compelling coming of age story that shapes a young boy's life and changes a town forever. After Christian's mother gets promoted, Christian and his family are forced to leave the big city and relocate to a small town in Virginia. During his journey to discover his new surroundings, Christian uncovers a secret world of underground adolescents, known as "The Locals." The Locals pride themselves on thinking they are above the law, the same law that failed to protect them from their abusive families. Now runaways, the Locals live life off the grid. The story takes an unexpected twist when Christian falls for a beautiful girl named Danielle and discovers she is the leader of The Locals. In his blind pursuit of Danielle, Christian falls deeper and deeper into the underground life. His efforts to juggle two lives begin to take a toll on him and unknowingly start to unravel the secret life The Locals have worked so hard to protect.

Practically Invisible will capture your heart right from the beginning. It will take you on a chilling adventure of fantasy, stark reality, love and passion that never lets up. You will find yourself falling in love with the characters and despising their predicament. The story is fast paced, engaging, and gripping throughout. Few writers dare to entertain in the face of such important issues, but Kevin McDonald does it with a finesse that shows he truly cares about what happens to our children. I predict he will find well deserved success with this incredible story. - Dr. Lois Lee, Founder & President of Children of the Night

School was out and I was on my way to San Diego for a family vacation. I was sure the learning was over and the fun was just starting. That was when I met Susie, a homeless girl who seemed to be everything that I was not. Little did I know we had so much in common. Susie taught me about life, love, and how to think for myself. Most of all, she taught me that sometimes, you have to get in trouble to really live.

School was out and I was on my way to San Diego for a family vacation. I was sure the learning was over and the fun was just starting. That was when I met Susie, a homeless girl who seemed to be everything that I was not. Little did I know we had so much in common. Susie taught me about life, love, and how to think for myself. Most of all, she taught me that sometimes, you have to get in trouble to really live.