Books with author Marianne Mitchell

In the summer of 1914, Joel Peterson’s father offers him a challenge. Go with his mother on a visit back to Sweden and make sure nothing goes wrong. To Joel, it seems like an easy way to prove that he is old enough to make big decisions. Joel enjoys meeting his grandparents in Sweden and making new friends, especially a pretty girl named Kari. But lazy summer days end abruptly when World War I breaks out and Europe is thrown into chaos. Suddenly, Joel is faced with the monumental task of finding passage on a ship back across the Atlantic where mines and German U-boats lurk in the waters.

Cleaning cabins and washing dishes isn't what twelve-year-old Haley Sparks had in mind for her summer vacation. She never imagined she'd be working at her Uncle Jake's new bed-and-breakfast called Rockaby Ranch. And she never dreamed she would spend the summer tracking down an arsonist. On the night of her arrival at the ranch, Haley is greeted by the sight of a cabin going up in flames. Uncle Jake chalks the fire up to bad luck. But Haley suspects foul play. But who among the guests would do such a thing? And why? Could it be Aquanetta Real, an aspiring country singer from Houston? Vivica Dove, the granddaughter of Uncle Jake's old friends the Craigs? Or maybe Rags, the ranch hand, who has a history of trouble? When another fire scatters the horses and almost sets the barn on fire, Haley is determined to find the culprit before Uncle Jake loses his ranch. Marianne Mitchell's riveting mystery, set among the red rocks and canyons of Sedona, Arizona, will engage the minds of young mystery lovers as her plucky young detective inches closer to unmasking the firebug.

For over fifty years an old convent has sat vacant and neglected. Now a developer wants to turn the grounds into a shopping center. But spirits from the past want a mystery solved before the wrecking ball swings. What happened long ago when a young girl died there? What happened to the nun who went looking for her? Why does a young boy try to scare off intruders to the convent? Twelve-year-old Jenna must find out what a certain ghost wants before something terrible happens to her father, the architect on the project.The story is inspired by a real “haunted convent” in Phoenix, Arizona.

Almost a year ago, a car accident changed Crystal's life. The accident killed Crystal's father and left her in a wheelchair. Now, Crystal and her mother are staying at the home of Grandmother Emilia, who has just passed away. They face the painful task of sorting through Gram's possessions—and their own memories. Then Crystal's mother, an artist, is offered an unexpected chance to exhibit her work at a gallery in New Mexico—an opportunity she can't afford to turn down. While her mother is gone, Crystal is left in the care of Zola, a friend of her grandmother's. One day Zola suddenly disappears. A series of alarming incidents convinces Crystal that she must find Zola as quickly as possible. Two mysteries escalate simultaneously in Marianne Mitchell's vividly written novel. The question "Where's Zola?" forces Crystal to confront another, equally baffling question: Now that her life has changed so dramatically, who is Crystal?

MAYA MOON is a retold folktale from Mexico. Pesky turtles keep climbing into Maya Moon's bed so she can't rest. How she solves this problem explains why the moon changes shape. Dramatic yet whimsical scratch board art by John Martinez Z. adds to the folktale quality of the story. This story works well with grades K-2 and lessons on phases of the moon.

For over fifty years an old convent has sat vacant and neglected. Now a developer wants to turn the grounds into a shopping center. But spirits from the past want a mystery solved before the wrecking ball swings. What happened long ago when a young girl died there? What happened to the nun who went looking for her? Why does a young boy try to scare off intruders to the convent? Twelve-year-old Jenna must find out what a certain ghost wants before something terrible happens to her father, the architect on the project. The story is inspired by a real “haunted convent” in Phoenix, Arizona.

Cleaning cabins and washing dishes isn't what twelve-year-old Haley Sparks had in mind for her summer vacation. She never imagined she'd be working at her Uncle Jake's new bed-and-breakfast called Rockaby Ranch. And she never dreamed she would spend the summer tracking down an arsonist. On the night of her arrival at the ranch, Haley is greeted by the sight of a cabin going up in flames. Uncle Jake chalks the fire up to bad luck. But Haley suspects foul play. But who among the guests would do such a thing? And why? Could it be Aquanetta Real, an aspiring country singer from Houston? Vivica Dove, the granddaughter of Uncle Jake's old friends the Craigs? Or maybe Rags, the ranch hand, who has a history of trouble? When another fire scatters the horses and almost sets the barn on fire, Haley is determined to find the culprit before Uncle Jake loses his ranch. Marianne Mitchell's riveting mystery, set among the red rocks and canyons of Sedona, Arizona, will engage the minds of young mystery lovers as her plucky young detective inches closer to unmasking the firebug.

Twelve-year-old Zeke is not thrilled when his dad announces they’re moving into an old cabin in the Colorado mountains. He’s sure life will be boring stuck out in the woods. But he’s so wrong. When Zeke handles pieces of lightning-struck wood, he releases the ghost of a boy who was killed in a tree house fifty years before. Now the ghost is demanding attention, causing harm to Zeke’s family and looking for justice. It’s up to Zeke to solve the mystery behind the boy’s death and give the ghost peace. First Place Winner, Arizona Authors Literary Contest 2015