Book 1: Flight of the Phoenix
When his parents disappeared while off adventuring, Nathaniel is sent to live with Phil A. Fludd, and aunt he did not know. With her he discovers that his parents, aunt and most of his ancestors are beastologists, "someone who studies beasts. Not any old beast, mind you. Only unusual beasts...like dodos. Or basilisks, or griffins, or manticores and the like." But Nate isn't sure he's cut out to be an explorer or adventurer, especially when his first beastology trip with his aunt results in her being held prisoner by Bedouins and Nate on his own to make sure a phoenix egg hatches, figure out how to rescue his aunt and keep the families Book of Beasts safe from a mysterious man who wants to steal it.
Sequel: The Basilisk's Lair
SLJ grades 3-5
Book 1: The Tower of Treasure: Dessa, a 14-year old acrobat in a traveling circus, gets lured into helping Fisk, the scheming troupe juggler, and Topper, the gentle strongman, rob the royal treasury when she decides it will help her learn more about the mysterious man who kidnapped her twin brother several years before. Caught in the act, they are able to escape from the tower prison but are followed by the grasping Queen's honorable, duty-bound captain of the guards, Drake. Graphic novel, good for older elementary and middle school - mysteries, fantasy, adventure readers.
Book 2: The Sign of the Black Rock: After escaping from the royal prison, Dessa, Fisk and Topper flee to the coast, where they seek shelter at an inn from a ferocious storm. The Queen's Dragons and Captain Drake aren't far behind, though, and soon the thieves are hiding from the guards, held captive by the scheming innkeeper, and set free by his abused and silent wife, who also shares more information with Dessa about the sorcerer who kidnapped Dessa's brother and scarred the innkeeper's wife in an attempt to cut out her tongue before she could tell anyone about the spell book and odd word she discovered in his room.
