Rich Wallace

When Stu gets lost in the woods just as night closes in, he know he should just sit still and wait for morning because there is a flooded quarry nearby--but when he hears a boy calling for help he follows the sound, ignoring the dog that is trying to steer him in the opposite direction.

"Stu and his friend Dan are hiking in the forest when a rainstorm leads them to seek shelter in a haunted hunting cabin, which suddenly bursts into flames in the middle of the night--the boys escape with their lives, but when Stu returns in the day he finds the cabin apparently untouched by fire, but in the possession of a ghost that clearly does not want company." --

Some might think Jay was cheated. By his mother, who walked out when he was 9. By his dad, who took a job a couple thousand miles away and let him stay above a bar in a one-room apartment. By the basketball coach, who saw his talent but chose youth over determination. And even Jay’s not sure whether this last year of high school in the small town of Sturbridge, Pennsylvania, will add up to anything. But just when senior year seems a waste–kissing...

Marcus Thorpe just had the first, and worst, 400-meter race of his seventh-grade life. He knows it was rough, but his friends' jokes are starting to sting. Luckily, redemption is in sight. If Marcus can just find the right pace, he can earn a spot in the 4x400 relay and prove his worth at the special meet at the high school. Will he pull his weight, or will the final stretch crush him again?

Griffin Lane loves playing soccer in the local league. His three best friends are there. It's competitive but more relaxed than school sports. And he's right where he wants to be, playing defense out in front of the goal. But when the goalie is injured, everyone seems to think Griffin is the best replacement. Can he hack it between the sticks, or will his nerves win the day?

Up2U Adventures-where the ending is Up2U! When young Archer and his partner, Bull, find a silver vein in the Arizona desert, they think they will be rich. But Cactus Flats is a town with many dangers and men waiting to double-cross them. Will Bull and Archer survive the Wild West? The ending is Up2U, so which ending will you choose? Calico Chapter Books is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 2-5.

Four sports. Four friends. In “Game Face”, each boy gets to narrate his own story, focusing on his sport of choice. Whether it's a basketball rematch against a rival school or an unexpected turn as the soccer team's replacement goalie, Torry, Javon, Marcus, and Griffin each face their weaknesses and find their strengths. They'll confront the overwhelming pressure of sports and the ups and downs of friendships. But with focus, perseverance, and...

In October 1919, a group of Black sharecroppers met at a church in an Arkansas village to organize a union. Bullets rained down on the meeting from outside. Many were killed by a white mob in what became known as the Elaine Massacre. Others were rounded up and arrested. Twelve of the sharecroppers were hastily tried and sentenced to death. Scipio Africanus Jones, a self-taught lawyer who'd been born enslaved, answered the call and represented the...

Feeling abandoned by his parents, who have gone their separate ways and left him behind in a small Pennsylvania town, seventeen-year-old Jay finds hope for the future in a church-sponsored basketball team and a female friend.

Nine-year-old Ben learns some lessons in self-control and sportsmanship when his behavior on the soccer field gets him sent to the bench.