Books in Playaway Children series

Meet Peter Friedman, high school freshman. Talented photographer. Former baseball star. When a freakish injury ends his pitching career, Peter has some major things to figure out. Is there life after sports? Why has his grandfather suddenly given him thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment? And is it his imagination, or is the super-hot star of the girls' swim team flirting with him, right in front of the amazing new girl in his photography class?

Jacky Faber, rich from her exploits diving for Spanish gold, has purchased the Lorelei Lee to carry passengers across the Atlantic. Believing she has been absolved of past sins against the Crown, Jacky docks in London to take on her crew, but is instead arrested and sentenced to life in the newly formed penal colony in Australia. To add insult to injury, the Lorelei Lee is confiscated to carry Jacky and more than 200 female convicts to populate New South Wales. Not one to give in to self pity, Jacky rallies her sisters to “better” their position-resulting in wild escapades, brushes with danger, and much hilarity. Will Jacky find herself a founding mother of New South Wales, Australia? Not if she has anything to do about it!

Marley, a lovable Labrador retriever, is always getting himself into trouble. Some may say he is the world's worst dog. But those who know and love Marley understand that nothing can stop his loyalty, exuberance, and passion -- not even the Grogans' screen door! How this big, rambunctious dog becomes the heart of the Grogan family is the story of Marley.

Emmy was a good girl-too good, perhaps. The rat, whose cage sat on the counter next to Emmy's desk, was not so good. On the other hand, he was the only one in Emmy's class who would talk to her. The rest of the kids barely knew she existed. Even her teacher didn't seem to know she was there! Only her nanny, the lovely-but-sinister Miss Barmy, really pays her much attention. And Emmy would rather she didn't . . . Why does the rat talk to Emmy and no one else? Why do Emmy's schoolmates hardly notice she exists? And what is Miss Barmy really after? Teasing out the answers to these questions will plunge Emmy into a wild adventure where everything she holds dear-including her parents' lives!-is at risk. Endlessly inventive, uproariously funny, and utterly endearing, Lynne Jonell's sensational debut novel will delight the entire family.

When a tornado watch is issued one Tuesday evening in June, twelve-year-old Dan Hatch and his best friend, Arthur, don't think much of it. After all, tornado warnings are a way of life during the summer in Grand Island, Nebraska. But soon enough, the wind begins to howl, and the lights and telephone stop working. Little do they know that even if they do survive the storm, their ordeal will have only just begun. . .