Gnome-a-Geddon

Gr 4–6—Fans of fantasy series will feel the pain of main character Buck and his best friend Lizzie as they impatiently wait on a very long line for the midnight release of the third book in the "Triumphant Gnome Syndicate" series. When the series's author surprises fans by first showing up at the event and then mysteriously disappearing into a cloud of smoke, Buck realizes that something odd is afoot. His little sister Willy is also a huge fan and, like most little siblings, annoys her big brother by wanting to be involved in everything he is doing—including trying to solve the disappearance of author Harold Macinaw. The plot thickens when Lizzie starts to act strangely and Willy also disappears. As Buck and Lizzie struggle to figure out what's going on, they meet an intriguing little man, who explains that Macinaw has been kidnapped and they must help rescue him. So begins this fast and action-packed story that brings the heroes to Gnomeland on a quest to find the Troll Vanquishing Mace and save Willy and Macinaw. Middle grade readers will be eager to learn more about the Troll Vanquishing Mace and solve the mystery. Fans of Angie Sage's "Magyk," J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," and C.S. Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia" should enjoy this and what are sure to be subsequent titles involving the plethora of characters introduced here.