The idea of a Young Heroes series came from my editor at HarperCollins, but choosing to work with Bob Harris–already my co-conspirator from Queen’s Own Fool who had a degree from St Andrews University in Classics–that was my idea.
History Mystery: The Wolf Girls
This book, about two feral children found in India in the 1920s and brought to an orphanage, is the second in a series of real-life unsolved mysteries for kids which I have written with my daughter Heidi Stemple. The first,
Boots and the Seven Leaguers
I needed a new short story for my collection, Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast, and I found the start of Boots in my files. No memory of when it had gotten there. But it looked hopeful: the
History Mystery: The Mary Celeste
I had the idea for a series of true unsolved mysteries from history in picture book form because of my daughter Heidi’s interest in criminal justice. (She’s been both a probation officer and a private detective.) We began with
Tartan Magic: The Pictish Child
The second book in the Tartan Magic series. An American family visiting Scotland for the summer fall into magic. In this book, the children and their grandmother visit an Eventide Home (a Old Folks home) where a magic talisman calls up a child from Scotland’s Pictish past.
Tartan Magic: The Wizard’s Map
The first book in the Tartan Magic series. An American family comes to Scotland for the summer and immediately falls into magic. Twins Jennifer and Peter try to rescue their four-year old sister who has been captured by the wicked wizard, Michael Scot.
Commander Toad and the Voyage Home
I began the COMMANDER TOAD books because I saw an article in the local newspaper about a boy and his frog who had just won a jumping-frog contest. The frog’s name was “Star Warts.” I thought it would be funnier if the frog had been a toad
Sea Man, The
A short historical fantasy chapter book that takes place off the coast of Holland in the seventeenth century. The crew in a boat in the Dutch navy pick up what they think is a drowning man. But when they get him into their boat, they see they have a merman
Young Merlin Trilogy: Hobby
The second book of the Young Merlin trilogy (PASSAGER and MERLIN are the others), this tells the story of Merlin as a twelve year old who has lived for four years in the falconer’s home until a devastating fire sends him on his way into an
Young Merlin Trilogy: Passager
The first book of the Young Merlin trilogy (HOBBY and MERLIN are the others), this tells the story of Merlin as a seven year old who has lived for a year by himself in the woods, and lost his ability to speak. He is rescued (or captured) by a falconer and given back