The Mostly Invisible Boy Casey Grimes

Silver, Wishing Shelf Book Awards!Bronze, Readers' Favorite International Awards Contest!This "wildly imaginative" (Book Pipeline) "splendid conception" (Kirkus) from upstart author AJ Vanderhorst celebrates the transformative power of courage, tenacity and a little skill with a battle-axe. Set in an alternate USA where monsters prowl, this debut novel is told from the perspective of mostly-invisible-but-still-hopeful Casey Grimes.Eleven-year-old Casey is stubbornly friendly, but he's eternally the new kid at Vintage Woods Middle School. Students look right through him-and they're not faking. Casey doesn't know why he's mostly-invisible, but when he scales a colossal oak, he discovers a fortress in its branches. The forgotten sentry tree marks the border between his safe, suburban life and a fierce frontier.Casey and his little sister Gloria infiltrate Sylvan Woods, a secret forest society devoted to ancient, wild things. Sky-high footpaths. Survival sewing. Monster control. Shockingly, people here actually see Casey-but being seen isn't enough. He wants to belong.Keeping his identity hidden--while struggling to prove he fits--is hard enough, but Butcher Beasts have returned to Sylvan Woods after a hundred years. Trickery is under siege. As the monsters close in, and the fearsome Sylvan Watch hunts Casey down, he and his newfound friends must unearth abandoned magic, buried at the forest's roots...or be devoured along with everyone else, Sylvans and civilians alike.A fast-paced middle grade fantasy/adventure book with all the monsters kids could ever hope for.

★ Silver, Wishing Shelf Book Awards! ★ Bronze, Readers' Favorite International Awards Contest! This "wildly imaginative" (Book Pipeline) "splendid conception" (Kirkus) from upstart author AJ Vanderhorst celebrates the transformative power of courage, tenacity and a little skill with a battle-axe. Set in an alternate USA where monsters prowl, this debut novel is told from the perspective of mostly-invisible-but-still-hopeful Casey Grimes. Eleven-year-old Casey is stubbornly friendly, but he's eternally the new kid at Vintage Woods Middle School. Students look right through him-and they're not faking. Casey doesn't know why he's mostly-invisible, but when he scales a colossal oak, he discovers a fortress in its branches. The forgotten sentry tree marks the border between his safe, suburban life and a fierce frontier. Casey and his little sister Gloria infiltrate Sylvan Woods, a secret forest society devoted to ancient, wild things. Sky-high footpaths. Survival sewing. Monster control. Shockingly, people here actually see Casey-but being seen isn't enough. He wants to belong. Keeping his identity hidden--while struggling to prove he fits--is hard enough, but Butcher Beasts have returned to Sylvan Woods after a hundred years. Trickery is under siege. As the monsters close in, and the fearsome Sylvan Watch hunts Casey down, he and his newfound friends must unearth abandoned magic, buried at the forest's roots...or be devoured along with everyone else, Sylvans and civilians alike. A fast-paced middle grade fantasy/adventure book with all the monsters kids could ever hope for.

Three full-length novels, a novella and two short stories in one volume! This 6-in-1 collection is packed with adventure, courage, and of course, monsters.The Mostly Invisible Boy (Casey Grimes #1)Casey Grimes thinks his invisibility is permanent until he finds a secret forest society in charge of monster control. Now he's got a chance to belong-if he can stay alive long enough.Trickery School (Casey Grimes #2)Monster-control academy starts for Casey & Gloria, but there's one little problem: A secret enemy who's playing for keeps.Crooked Castle (Casey Grimes #2.5)When Brook, an orphan with a knack for survival, is dumped on a deadly island-by a beast that shouldn't exist-all she knows is she's far from her group home in Weed, California. And haunted by a past that stays just out of reach.The Ghost of CreepCat (Novella)When Lila Banks takes a hike, she doesn't expect to be stalked by the ghost of her recently-deceased cat.Into Thin Air (Short Story)This funny, surprising tale featuring a Casey Grimes character was cowritten by my fifteen-year-old son, Aidan-and me, AJ.The Pencil Killer (Short Story)This humorous short story with a twist features another Casey Grimes character. It was written with my thirteen-year-old son, Asher. (Fiction is a family affair around here.)Compare: If you bought these books individually, you'd pay a minimum of $60. That's not even counting the exclusive short stories.

Silver, Wishing Shelf Book AwardsBronze, Readers' Favorite International Awards ContestThis "wildly imaginative" (Book Pipeline) "splendid conception" (Kirkus) from upstart author AJ Vanderhorst celebrates the transformative power of courage, tenacity and a little skill with a battle-axe. Set in an alternate USA where monsters prowl, this debut novel is told from the perspective of mostly-invisible-but-still-hopeful Casey Grimes.Eleven-year-old Casey is stubbornly friendly, but he's eternally the new kid at Vintage Woods Middle School. Students look right through him-and they're not faking. Casey doesn't know why he's mostly-invisible, but when he scales a colossal oak, he discovers a fortress in its branches. The forgotten sentry tree marks the border between his safe, suburban life and a fierce frontier.Casey and his little sister Gloria infiltrate Sylvan Woods, a secret forest society devoted to ancient, wild things. Sky-high footpaths. Survival sewing. Monster control. Shockingly, people here actually see Casey-but being seen isn't enough. He wants to belong.Keeping his identity hidden--while struggling to prove he fits--is hard enough, but Butcher Beasts have returned to Sylvan Woods after a hundred years. Trickery is under siege. As the monsters close in, and the fearsome Sylvan Watch hunts Casey down, he and his newfound friends must unearth abandoned magic, buried at the forest's roots...or be devoured along with everyone else, Sylvans and civilians alike.A fast-paced middle grade fantasy/adventure book with all the monsters kids could ever hope for.

This 4-in-1 collection is packed with adventure, courage, and of course, monsters.The Mostly Invisible Boy (Casey Grimes #1)Casey Grimes thinks his invisibility is permanent until he finds a secret forest society in charge of monster control. Now he's got a chance to belong-if he can stay alive long enough.Trickery School (Casey Grimes #2)Monster-control academy starts for Casey & Gloria, but there's one little problem: A secret enemy who's playing for keeps.Crooked Castle (Casey Grimes #2.5)When Brook, an orphan with a knack for survival, is dumped on a deadly island-by a beast that shouldn't exist-all she knows is she's far from her group home in Weed, California. And haunted by a past that stays just out of reach.The Ghost of CreepCat (Novella)When Lila Banks takes a hike, she doesn't expect to be stalked by the ghost of her recently-deceased cat.

Eleven-year-old Casey Grimes is stubbornly friendly, but the students at middle school look right through him-and they're not faking. Casey doesn't know why he's mostly-invisible, but when he scales a colossal oak, he discovers a fortress. The forgotten sentry tree marks the border between his safe, suburban life and a fierce frontier.

An estranged uncle, a mysterious mansion, and Arthurian legend-together they lead to a world of magic and bloodthirsty wizards who want teenage Brinnie dead.

"The story’s message, that people should choose joy even (and especially) in difficult and painful times, seems tailor-made for this moment. A timely, uplifting read about finding joy in the midst of tragedy, filled with quirky characters and comforting warmth."—Kirkus (starred review) From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel full of heart and hope. Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living. But she wasn’t always that way. Duncan Carpenter is the new school principal who lives by rules and regulations, guided by the knowledge that bad things can happen. But he wasn’t always that way. And Sam knows it. Because she knew him before—at another school, in a different life. Back then, she loved him—but she was invisible. To him. To everyone. Even to herself. She escaped to a new school, a new job, a new chance at living. But when Duncan, of all people, gets hired as the new principal there, it feels like the best thing that could possibly happen to the school—and the worst thing that could possibly happen to Sam. Until the opposite turns out to be true. The lovable Duncan she’d known is now a suit-and-tie wearing, rule-enforcing tough guy so hell-bent on protecting the school that he’s willing to destroy it. As the school community spirals into chaos, and danger from all corners looms large, Sam and Duncan must find their way to who they really are, what it means to be brave, and how to take a chance on love—which is the riskiest move of all. With Katherine Center’s sparkling dialogue, unforgettable characters, heart, hope, and humanity, What You Wish For is the author at her most compelling best.