A consummate prankster with a quick wit, Tom Sawyer dreams of a bigger fate than simply being a "rich boy." Yet through the novel's humorous escapades-from the famous episode of the whitewashed fence to the trial of Injun Joe-Mark Twain explores the deeper themes of the adult world, one of dishonesty and superstition, murder and revenge, starvation and slavery.

The adventures of an unusual dog, part St. Bernard, part Scotch shepherd, that is forcibly taken to the Klondike gold fields where he eventually becomes the leader of a wolf pack.

Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg's father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.

Superspy middle schoolers Ben and Erica must embark on mission to rescue Erica's grandfather, who was abducted from a remote Alaskan training facility.

Bell has spent his whole life--all eleven years of it--on Mars. But he's still just a regular kid--he loves cats, any kind of cake, and is curious about the secrets the adults in the US colony are keeping. Like, why don't they have contact with anyone on the other Mars colonies? Why are they so isolated? When a virus breaks out and the grown-ups all fall ill, Bell and the other children are the only ones who can help. It's up to Bell--a regular kid...

Jake Cullen, fourteen, lives in the shadows of his father and older brother until he becomes the starting quarterback for the high school football team and finally has his chance to shine.

Twelve-year-old twins Bickford and Rebecca Kidd and their two older siblings travel to Africa to track down priceless artifacts that will keep the family's treasure hunting business afloat long enough to rescue their kidnapped mother--and possibly find their missing father.

"While on a mission to win the Planet's Funniest Kid Comic regional competition, New York middle schooler Jamie Grimm copes with rival comics and bullies, a buddy in trouble, and a sudden family emergency, all with a sense of humor and a loyal group of friends"--Provided by publisher.

On May 18, 1980, eleven-year-old Jessie Marlowe and her best friends, Eddie and Sam, are in a forest near Mount St. Helens when the volcano erupts. All three are badly burned, but it is up to Jessie to protect the boys as best she can and hope that somebody comes to rescue them.

In Pompeii in AD 79, eleven-year-old slave boy Marcus runs away with his father, who has been sold to become a gladiator, and they escape to Vesuvius, only to return to the city the following morning to warn the inhabitants of the coming eruption.