Showing results by author "Barbara Brooks" in All Categories

As they begin fifth grade, Rupert and Amelia discover that their teacher, Miss Switch, is a witch. Using his scientific mind, Rupert helps her solve a spooky dilemma. In return, the witch teaches Rupert and Amelia some magic. But soon Miss Switch disappears, and another teacher takes her place. One night that winter, a dark figure delivers a strange bottle to the children. Scientific curiosity leads Rupert to take the cork out. Suddenly, the bottle releases an ugly demon, Mordo, who plans to kidnap a whole class from Pepperdine Elementary School.

All the troubles in sixth-grader Claudia Harper’s life seem to start with her fourth-grade friend Dunford Wylie Booth V.

Sure to enchant fans of the Lemony Snicket series, this wonderful sequel to Peppermints in the Parlor is an exciting tale that follows the adventures of young orphan Emily Luccock. Finally free from a dark and dangerous boarding school, Emily learns that she is to be sent away again. Award-winning author Barbara Brooks Wallace has written many suspenseful books for children, including Sparrows in the Scullery.

Rupert P. Brown’s biggest worry about sixth grade is it might be, well, a little bit dull. After all, how can a fellow be expected to top a fifth grade year in which his best friend was kidnapped, and he found out his best teacher ever was a real, honest-to-goodness witch? But when Rupert types the word "computowitch" in an e-mail message, his screen goes all green, and then his parakeet starts giving him math lessons. He knows it can only mean one thing: Miss Switch is back!

Although nine-year-old Claudia and Janice are neighbors, they call themselves twins. They have always been in the same class at school, and they are best, best friends. But when Janice moves away, Claudia must start fourth grade without her. It’s not long before Janice’s letters to Claudia fill with the names of new classmates. Poor Claudia wonders if she will ever find another friend as good as Janice. Join her as she discovers that she already has one - a friend who is closer than she thinks.

Rupert P. Brown III is a scientist. In his room he has an aquarium experiment, a turtle experiment, and a nutrition experiment (two guinea pigs). But when he starts fifth grade, things happen that he has to label “No known way to prove scientifically.” The new teacher, Miss Switch, has eyes in the back of her head. She can control spitballs and water fountains. Eventually, Rupert discovers her secret: Miss Switch is a witch.

Outside, the wind is howling. Inside the empty house, Taddy is shivering beneath a ragged blanket. He has been alone ever since his aunt and uncle died suddenly from a terrible fever. As his uncle was taking his final breath, he warned of danger in nearby Alexandria. Now Taddy is hiding, afraid of the unknown. When two rough-sounding men sneak in to steal the furniture, they force Taddy into their horse-drawn cart. The next thing he knows, he’s in a tavern in Alexandria, working long hours for crumbs.

Life has been difficult for 10-year-old Colley Trevelyan ever since he lost his mother and father in a fatal carriage accident. Most of the servants have been dismissed, and the house feels empty. To make matters worse, soon he will be living with his aunt and uncle who have never liked him. One night he suddenly wakes up wrapped tightly in a rough blanket. As he struggles to free himself, a strange man carries him to a waiting carriage.

Even though her family has very little money, 11-year-old Jenny loves her life in China. But after her stepfather dies unexpectedly, and her mother falls ill with a deadly lung disease, Jenny's world unravels. Suddenly she finds herself on a long ocean voyage to America--to live with a grandfather she has never seen. Jenny wonders what it will be like living with her rich grandfather. But when she arrives, she discovers she isn't expected--and no one believes her story.

Eleven-year-old Amelia Fairwick is eagerly waiting for her widowed father to return from his business trip. But a letter arrives with shattering news - Papa has been lost in a terrible hotel fire. Now Amelia must leave her London home to live in America with a relative she has never met. Amelia thinks things can’t get much worse when stern Cousin Charlotte travels with her on the voyage across the Atlantic. Amelia must stay alone in the cabin, talking to no one. But the day the ship arrives in New York City is worst of all....

Eleven-year-old Claudia’s parents don’t think she should still be wearing torn blue jeans and a boy’s shirt and playing army with her friend, nine-year-old Duffy. So when her old best friend, Janice, moves back to town, Claudia’s parents hope the two girls will pick right up where they left off. But rather than starting sixth grade as best friends again, Claudia and Janice soon become worst enemies! Best-selling author Barbara Brooks Wallace continues the adventures of a girl who just wants to be herself in this lively sequel to Hello Claudia!

The House of Middlescence is a weekly conversation about life, business, culture, and relevance in the second half. Hosted by keynote speaker and SecondActWomen founder Barbara Brooks, the show explores how experienced women continue to grow, adapt, and stay visible. From career pivots and entrepreneurship to generational collaboration and cultural headlines, each episode translates lived experience into real world leverage. Experience is not a liability. It is leverage. Find Barbara at Barbara@BloomCoPresents.com and at barbarabrooks.com or secondactwomen.com.

Do you know who Benjamin Franklin is? You might know him as the scientist who discovered electricity by tying a key to a kite during a storm! Did you know he was a founding father of the United States? He made many efforts to the Revolutionary War and the construction of the United States government. Learn about all the political contributions he made that helped create the United States!