Books with author Steven K Smith

Dead drops, cyphers, and invisible ink are all part of a mystery that even spymaster George Washington would love.Sam, Derek, and Caitlin love solving mysteries, and when they visit Washington, DC, spies are lurking. What starts out as a fun game of pretend on the National Mall turns all too real when they follow a mysterious man to a meeting deep within the Capitol.To keep government secrets from falling into the wrong hands, the kids must work with federal agents and travel to historic Mount Vernon for a state dinner with the president and his son. Dead drops, cyphers and spy chases are all part of what might be their most dangerous adventure ever—if it isn’t their last.Spies at Mount Vernon is the seventh book in The Virginia Mysteries series, but it also makes a great standalone read. The story is the perfect complement to social studies units covering George Washington as well as field trips and family vacations to Washington, DC and Mount Vernon. If you enjoy mystery and adventure like the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Magic Tree House, or National Treasure, you’ll love author Steven K. Smith’s exciting middle-grade series. The stories are modern-day fictional mysteries with twists of real locations and events from Virginia history. These fast-paced books are popular with both boys and girls ages 7-12, appealing to even reluctant readers!Buy Spies at Mount Vernon and unlock the adventure today!

Something's lurking beneath the famous staircase at The Jefferson, Richmond's historic downtown hotel. Back in 1895, when the hotel opened, real alligators roamed free in the courtyard fountains. That was ages ago ... or was it? When young brothers Sam and Derek arrive at The Jefferson for an elegant wedding weekend with their parents, they love exploring the old hotel. But when the wedding rings go missing and Sam is blamed, the boys and their friends must hunt down the truth no matter where it leads. If they're not careful, they might become dinner for the hotel's most unusual guests.

Sam, Derek and Caitlin have encountered many mysteries together, but when they visit Maymont, Richmond’s historic estate, danger is lurking at every turn. A chance meeting with a mysterious stranger leads to a frantic chase and a desperate message to save Maymont’s bald eagles. When Sam receives an eerie warning in the middle of the night, Derek and Caitlin devise a plan that leads them high into the Blue Ridge Mountains. To save the eagles, the kids must find a secret abandoned palace, survive the wilds of the Appalachian Trail and avoid capture by criminals, all before midnight.

The misadventures of two brothers who just can’t get along. Get all three books in the Brother Wars series for a great price with this complete collection! By Steven K. Smith, author of the popular middle grade series The Virginia Mysteries.Brother WarsTen-year-old Harry has a great life, except for one big problem—his older brother. Randy seems to delight in making Harry’s life difficult. Sometimes it feels like he’s in a war at his own house. When Randy locks him and his art project in the pitch-black dark basement with the fire-breathing furnace, Harry vows to get even. But revenge may not be as sweet as he hoped when Randy blackmails him into a perilous canoe ride down the river. Has Harry followed his brother one step too far? Cabin ElevenTen-year-old Harry can’t wait for a week of summer camp in the mountains at Camp Awonjahela. Unfortunately, his older brother Randy is coming too. If that weren’t bad enough, his Cabin Eleven is cursed. Or at least that’s the legend. Even worse, a girl named Poison Ivy won’t stop talking to him. No one from Cabin Eleven has ever won the camp-wide competition, but that’s exactly what Harry and his friends set out to do. To break the curse, they’ll have to survive the overnight hike, win Capture the Flag, and face the mysterious figure who lives across the lake. But Randy isn’t going to make it easy. When disaster strikes, this might be one brother war too many for Harry. The Big AppleThe last place ten-year-old Harry and older brother Randy want to be is stuck in New Jersey with their kooky Grandma DeLuca and her wonder dog, Mr. Muggles. But when she wakes them for a break of dawn train ride into New York City to watch her favorite singer, Neil Floggins, in concert on the Today show, things go down hill fast. And that’s all before they get lost in Queens and run into Joey P and the Red Skulls. When Muggles disappears and Grandma is abducted, the often-battling brothers have no choice but to work together to get them back. To do so they’ll have to fend off thieves, navigate the subways, and survive a chase through Central Park before time runs out.Also by Steven K. SmithThe Virginia Mysteries Series:Book 1 - Summer of the WoodsBook 2 - Mystery on Church HillBook 3 - Ghosts of Belle IsleBook 4 - Secret of the StaircaseBook 5 - Midnight at the MansionBook 6 - Shadows at JamestownBook 7 - Spies at Mount Vernon

"A must read for any parent""I laughed out loud!"The hardest part of raising our three little boys is the exhaustion. We weren't prepared for that in the beginning. Now we're prepared, but just not handling it well.Ever wonder if you should laugh or cry at the end of a long day with young kids? Do you find yourself yelling to your spouse/children/neighbor/dog, “So help me if you wake that baby!” You’re not alone. Life with small kids is hard, but it just might be the best thing out there. Steven K. Smith, dad to three boys, children’s fiction author, husband, and coach, recounts in equal parts humor and sentiment the adventures of raising young children, particularly boys. Parents of all ages will quickly relate to the joys and struggles of a dad doing his best to keep his head above water in the deep end of the pool.Also by Steven K. Smith:The Virginia Mysteries - Middle Grade Adventures with a Twist of History for Ages 7-12 Book 1 - Summer of the Woods Book 2 - Mystery on Church Hill Book 3 - Ghosts of Belle IsleBook 4 - Secret of the StaircaseBook 5 - Midnight at the MansionBook 6 - Shadows at Jamestown Coming November 2017!Brother WarsSplashing in the Deep End: Adventures Raising Boys

Praise for The Rescue"Steven Trent Smith grapples boldly with several big subjects: the Japanese occupation of the Philippines; the capture of Japan's 'Z Plan' (the decisive-battle strategy for destroying the U.S. Pacific Fleet); the rescue by submarine of forty Americans stranded in the Philippines; the climactic Battle of the Philippine Sea. Meticulously researched and well written, The Rescue ties these elements together into an epic that is emotionally engaging from start to rousing finish."-Martin Russ, author of Breakout and The Last Parallel"Smith's thoroughly researched, detailed account of the brave American and Filipino guerrillas on Negros Island in the Philippines will do much to introduce readers to this little known aspect of World War II in the Pacific. . . . This is a fascinating story well told."-Elizabeth Norman, author of the award-winning We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese"The Rescue is a delightful journey with the gallant few who resisted the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and who shaped the larger events wh ich led to victory in the Pacific. Smith's brilliant research and unique storytelling make this account a must for all who enjoy history and a grand adventure."-Peter Huchthausen, author of October Fury"With a photojournalist's eye for action and detail, Steven Trent Smith's The Rescue is a remarkable achievement. The incredible mission to save forty Americans stranded in the Philippines reads more like a work of fiction. . . . A must-read for all those interested in one of the great secret submarine operations of World War II and all action adventure fans alike!"-Richard P. Henrick, author of Crimson Tide and Nightwatch

The race to return from the virtual world has never been more real.Bryce was so close to getting home. Now he's back on the run, hiding from Rangers inside Final Kingdom waiting until the bridge reopens. But time is running out. Mysterious glitches tear at the virtual world's fabric and could leave him permanently stranded.Zach, Andrew, Jess, and Maggie think they've located Bryce, but the military has taken over control of the JOSHUA Project from Professor Hendrickson and Tyler, and getting Bryce home may no longer be their top priority. Zach has been weakened by painful health attacks ever since his return from the virtual world. While Q2 has scattered and abandoned the Eden machine, Ji Yao is determined to build something even more powerful from his base in China.When Bryce discovers a secret underground laboratory inside Kingdom, it just might be the connection he needs to get back home to everyone he loves. Can he work with Zach and the others to reopen the bridge in time, or will Yao's wild ambition to cross dimensions prevent Bryce's return and jeopardize the world's cosmic balance?The Bridge is the riveting conclusion in the Final Kingdom trilogy for middle grade readers ages 10+. Buy The Bridge and cross over into this exciting adventure today!

Ten-year-old Harry has a great life, except for one big problem—his older brother. Randy seems to delight in making Harry’s life difficult. Sometimes it feels like he’s in a war at his own house. When Randy locks him and his art project in the pitch-black dark basement with the fire-breathing furnace, Harry vows to get even. But revenge may not be as sweet as he hoped when Randy blackmails him into a perilous canoe ride down the river. Has Harry followed his brother one step too far? Join the hilarious adventures of two brothers who battle to exist under the same roof. From Steven K. Smith, author of the popular middle grade series, The Virginia Mysteries.

Ten-year-old Harry can’t wait for a week of summer camp in the mountains at Camp Awonjahela. Unfortunately, his older brother Randy is coming too. If that weren’t bad enough, his Cabin Eleven is cursed. Or at least that’s the legend. Even worse, a girl named Poison Ivy won’t stop talking to him.No one from Cabin Eleven has ever won the camp-wide competition, but that’s exactly what Harry and his friends set out to do. To break the curse, they’ll have to survive the overnight hike, win Capture the Flag, and face the mysterious figure who lives across the lake. But Randy isn’t going to make it easy. When disaster strikes, this might be one brother war too many for Harry.Join the adventure in this exciting second book in the Brother Wars series by Steven K. Smith, author of The Virginia Mysteries.

The last place ten-year-old Harry and older brother Randy want to be is stuck in New Jersey with their kooky Grandma DeLuca and her wonder dog, Mr. Muggles. But when she wakes them for a break of dawn train ride into New York City to watch her favorite singer, Neil Floggins, in concert on the Today Show, things go down hill fast.And that's all before they get lost in Queens and run into Joey P and the Red Skulls. When Muggles disappears and Grandma is abducted, the often-battling brothers have no choice but to work together to get them back. To do so they'll have to fend off thieves, navigate the subways, and survive a chase through Central Park before time runs out.Join Harry and Randy's Big Apple adventure in this wild third book in the Brother Warsseries by Steven K. Smith, author of The Virginia Mysteries.