Elementary

It's not easy to stay out of trouble when four brothers live under one rooftop. So nine-year-old Will's parents send him and his brother Marty, age ten, to the library three times a week, to the kids' absolute horror. After all, that's mean old librarian Spud Murphy's domain, who is rumored to use a "spud gun" on misbehaving kids.

When Brian and Gregory receive an invitation to stay at a distant relative's strange mansion, well, they should know better than to go. Once there, they stumble upon The Game of Sunken Places, a board game that mirrors a greater game in which they have suddenly become players. Soon the boys are dealing with attitudinal trolls, warring kingdoms, and some very starchy britches.

Ten-year-old cousins Jesse and Daisy have always wanted something magical to happen to them. So it’s a wish come true when Jesse’s newly found thunder egg hatches and a helpless, tiny, but very loud, baby dragon pops out. Soon the two kids are at the dragon’s beck and call, trying to figure out what to feed her.

After their last laser-beam-filled adventure, Lily, Jasper, and Katie have flown off for a restful stay at a distant mountain lodge. What a coincidence when they find the lodge teeming with characters from other middle-grade series novels, including the dashing Manley Boys and the boy-crazy Cutesy Dell twins. And when the Hooper Quints go missing, it looks like their vacation is over.