Books like 'The Penalty'
Readers who enjoyed The Penalty by Mal Peet also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary fantasy mystery sports latinx-mc children magical-realism historical-fiction law-enforcement poc-mc
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Collected Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsJorge Luis Borges has been called the greatest Spanish-language writer of our century. Now for the first time in English, all of Borges' dazzling fictions are gathered into a single volume, brilliantly translated by Andrew Hurley...Categorized as:
historical-fiction latinx-mc low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc 20th-century action-adventure adult -
![Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges]()
Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 49 ratingsThe seventeen pieces in Ficciones demonstrate the whirlwind of Borges's genius and mirror the precision and potency of his intellect and inventiveness, his piercing irony, his skepticism, and his obsession with fantasy...Categorized as:
historical-fiction latinx-mc magical-realism poc-mc 20th-century action-adventure adult anthologies -
![How Aunt Tillie Stole Christmas by Amanda M. Lee]()
How Aunt Tillie Stole Christmas by Amanda M. Lee
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFourteen years ago, Christmas hit Walkerville with a bang. Or, rather, a big ball of fire. When a local group home for orphaned children goes up in smoke right before the holidays, Tillie Winchester volunteers her family to take in some kids – even though her arch nemesis Margaret Little is dead-set against it. Of course, that’s part of the appeal for Tillie so she’s considering it a win...Categorized as:
law-enforcement magical-realism low-fantasy cozy witches-wizards paranormal mystery fantasy -
![Merry Witchmas by Amanda M. Lee]()
Merry Witchmas by Amanda M. Lee
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’s a Christmas from the past but the usual players aren’t all that different. Tillie Winchester is annoyed with the world – what else is new, right? – and she’s fraying under the pressure. Her nieces believe she’s a bad influence on the youngest Winchester generation – especially an acerbic Thistle – and they want her to set a good example... -
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![The Candymakers by Wendy Mass]()
The Candymakers by Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsFour children have been chosen to compete in a national competition to find the tastiest confection in the country...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure audiobook book children-books -
![The Falcon's Feather by Trudi Trueit]()
The Falcon's Feather by Trudi Trueit
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCruz, Sailor, and Emmett, along with their new ally Bryndis, embark on their first globe-trotting mission aboard the ship Orion. Cruz jumps right back into school and starts using the latest technology in submersible underwater dives, but is soon reminded of the dangers of exploration when his equipment fails and he almost drowns...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement action-adventure book children-books contemporary fiction friendship -
![Luke on the Loose by Amanda M. Lee]()
Luke on the Loose by Amanda M. Lee
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLuke Bishop is the center of attention and life of the party at Mystic Caravan Circus. He’s a great guy, who just so happens to be in a bit of a funk. That doesn’t change when the circus hits Ohio, one of their least favorite stops. Since nothing ever happens in Ohio. The group believes that will hold true during another boring trip... -
![Ghostly Images by Lily Harper Hart]()
Ghostly Images by Lily Harper Hart
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsHarper Harlow has ghosts coming out of her ears (thankfully not literally). Suffice it to say she’s got a lot on her plate, though. Between her regular jobs at Ghost Hunters, Inc. – and the secret her best friend Zander appears to be keeping – she has her hands full. Things only become more complicated when one of Whisper Cove’s oldest residents comes knocking on the police department’s door... -
![This Book Is Not Good for You by Pseudonymous Bosch]()
This Book Is Not Good for You by Pseudonymous Bosch
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsBetween the pages of this book lies the secret to the best-tasting chocolate in all the world. I promise, your taste buds will tingle. Your palette will sing! Oh no, have I accidentally tempted you to read this book? I will warn you, however, the most delicious things are never good for you..Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure animals audiobook book -
![Thea Stilton and the Missing Myth by Thea Stilton]()
Thea Stilton and the Missing Myth by Thea Stilton
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsJoin Thea Stilton and the Thea Sisters on an adventure packed with mystery and friendship! While on vacation in Greece, the Thea Sisters make friends with a company of actors. They are rehearsing for a show that's about to open--and Colette ends up standing in for an actress who falls ill! Suddenly, right before the performance, the lead actor goes missing...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement action-adventure book children-books contemporary fiction middle-grade -
![This Isn't What It Looks Like by Pseudonymous Bosch, Robert Petkoff]()
This Isn't What It Looks Like by Pseudonymous Bosch, Robert Petkoff
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsThe Secret Series continues in this dangerous and daring fourth adventure. Cass finds herself alone and disoriented, a stranger in a dream-like, medieval world. Where is she? Who is she? With the help of a long-lost relative, she begins to uncover clues and secrets--piecing together her family's history as she fights her way back to the present world... -
![Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius by Jorge Luis Borges]()
Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius by Jorge Luis Borges
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsHere is a handsome edition of one of Borges' "ficciones," in a translation first published in "Labyrinths" in 1962. It's an important story in the Borges' canon, incorporating most of the author's philosophical and esthetic preoccupations in a typically brief compass...Categorized as:
historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism 20th-century action-adventure adult book classics -
![A Sprinkle of Spirits by Anna Meriano, Kyla Garcia]()
A Sprinkle of Spirits by Anna Meriano, Kyla Garcia
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLeonora Logroño has finally been introduced to her family’s bakery bruja magic—but that doesn’t mean everything is all sugar and spice. Her special power hasn’t shown up yet, her family still won’t let her perform her own spells, and they now act rude every time Caroline comes by to help Leo with her magic training... -
![Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias]()
Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn Gabino Iglesias’ second novel, ghosts and old gods guide the hands of those caught up in a violent struggle to save the soul of the American southwest.A man tasked with shuttling children over the border believes the Virgin Mary is guiding him towards final justice. A woman offers colonizer blood to the Mother of Chaos... -
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![Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez]()
Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSal and Gabi have to try to make everything right with our world when there is a rogue Gabi from another universe running loose.Sal Vidon creates wormholes. But Sal's father, a calamity physicist, is trying to shut down all the wormholes Sal creates, because Papi thinks they are eroding the very fabric of our world...Categorized as:
children latinx-mc low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc action-adventure audiobook book -
![When the Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little]()
When the Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEverybody thinks Tara Doucet has the perfect life. But in reality, Tara’s life is anything but perfect: Her dear Grammy Claire has just passed away, her mother is depressed and distant, and she and her sister Riley can’t seem to agree on anything...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism animals book children-books contemporary -
![A Trip to the Stars by Nicholas Christopher]()
A Trip to the Stars by Nicholas Christopher
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA young boy and his adopted aunt become separated when the youngster is kidnapped by his wealthy, eccentric great-uncle, but mysterious ties continue to link the two unknowingly over the fifteen-year separation... -
![Heima es hogar en islandés by Laia Soler]()
Heima es hogar en islandés by Laia Soler
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratings¿Puede estar tu hogar a miles de kilómetros de casa?Ver la vida en blanco y negro no es divertido.Laura padece una extraña enfermedad que le impide apreciar los colores, pero si últimamente su vida es gris no es solo porque sufre acromatopsia. Acaba de romper con su novio y sus padres no dejan de pelearse tras el divorcio...Categorized as:
magical-realism law-enforcement romance young-adult contemporary fantasy fiction humor -
![Into the Light by Mark Oshiro]()
Into the Light by Mark Oshiro
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsKEEP YOUR SECRETS CLOSE TO HOMEIt’s been one year since Manny was cast out of his family and driven into the wilderness of the American Southwest. Since then, Manny lives by self-taught rules that keep him moving―and keep him alive. Now, he’s taking a chance on a traveling situation with the Varela family, whose attractive but surly son, Carlos, seems to promise a new future... -
![Shadowshaper Legacy by Daniel José Older]()
Shadowshaper Legacy by Daniel José Older
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe epic conclusion to the acclaimed Shadowshaper Cypher series!A house dividedSierra and the shadowshapers have been split apart. Juan, Anthony, and Izzy are in jail, anxiously waiting to find out what will become of them...Categorized as:
latinx-mc low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc action-adventure audiobook book coming-of-age -
![Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger]()
Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDarcie Little Badger's Elatsoe launched her career and in the years since has become a beloved favorite. This prequel to Elatsoe, centered on Ellie's grandmother, deepens and expands Darcie's one-of-a-kind world and introduces us to another cast of characters that will wend their way around readers' hearts... -
![Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins? by Liz Kessler]()
Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins? by Liz Kessler
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJessica Jenkins has always been a perfectly ordinary girl—until one day part of her arm vanishes in the middle of geography class! Jessica’s friends Izzy and Tom are determined to help her develop her newfound invisibility, though Jessica is more concerned with discovering where the ability came from...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure book children-books contemporary fiction -
![The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly by Rebecca Ansari]()
The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly by Rebecca Ansari
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCharlie O’Reilly is an only child. Which is why it makes everyone uncomfortable when he talks about his brother. Liam, his eight-year-old kid brother, who, up until a year ago, slept in the bunk above Charlie, took pride in being as annoying as possible, and was the only person who could make Charlie laugh until it hurt.Then came the morning when the bunk, and Liam, disappeared forever... -
![The Light Jar by Lisa Thompson]()
The Light Jar by Lisa Thompson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA story of fear and hope, loneliness and friendship -- full of the heart, engaging characters, and propulsive, page-turning mystery that made The Goldfish Boy so beloved.Nate and his mother are running away. Fleeing from an emotionally abusive situation, they hide out in an abandoned cottage in the middle of a forest. Though it's old and run-down, at least it's a place of their own...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism abuse action-adventure book children-books -
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![The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington]()
The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA magical adventure for fans of Katherine Applegate and Jennifer Holm about a girl with a mysterious connection to the elephant who saved her life.An elephant never forgets, but Lexington Willow can't remember her past. Swept away by a tornado as a toddler, she was dropped in a nearby Nebraska zoo, where an elephant named Nyah protected her from the storm...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure animals audiobook book -
![Dolphin Song by Lauren St. John]()
Dolphin Song by Lauren St. John
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJust as Martine is settling into life on the wildlife game reserve, she is whisked away on a school trip. She must leave her white giraffe, Jemmy, for 2 weeks! Her class is going on an ocean voyage to witness the Sardine Run, a spectacular natural phenomenon, off the coast of South Africa...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure animals audiobook book children-books -
![In a Thousand Different Ways by Cecelia Ahern]()
In a Thousand Different Ways by Cecelia Ahern
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFinding your way is never a simple journey…Alice sees the best in people.She also sees the worst.She sees a thousand different emotions and knows exactly what everyone around her is feeling.Every. Single. Day.But it’s the dark thoughts.The sadness. The rage.These are the things she can’t get out of her head. The things that overwhelm her... -
![Long Lost by Jacqueline West]()
Long Lost by Jacqueline West
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEleven-year-old Fiona has just read a book that doesn’t exist. When Fiona’s family moves to be closer to her older sister’s figure skating club—and far from Fiona’s close-knit group of friends—nobody seems to notice Fiona’s unhappiness. Alone and out of place, Fiona ventures to the town’s library, a rambling mansion donated to the town by the long-dead heiress... -
![Ghosts of Greenglass House by Kate Milford, Jaime Zollars]()
Ghosts of Greenglass House by Kate Milford, Jaime Zollars
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWelcome back to the irresistible world of Greenglass House where thirteen-year-old Milo is, once again, spending the winter holidays stuck in a house full of strange guests who are not what they seem. There are fresh clues to uncover as friends old and new join in his search for a mysterious map and a famous smuggler’s lost haul... -
!["Why Is This Night Different from All Other Nights?" by Lemony Snicket]()
"Why Is This Night Different from All Other Nights?" by Lemony Snicket
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsTrain travel! Murder! Librarians! A Series Finale!On all other nights, the train departs from Stain'd Station and travels to the city without stopping. But not tonight. You might ask, why is this night different from all other nights? But that's the wrong question...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure audiobook book children-books -
![The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage, Lauren Fortgang]()
The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage, Lauren Fortgang
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe eagerly anticipated followup to the Newbery honor winner and New York Times bestseller, Three Times LuckySmall towns have rules. One is, you got to stay who you are -- no matter how many murders you solve.When Miss Lana makes an Accidental Bid at the Tupelo auction and winds up the mortified owner of an old inn, she doesn't realize there's a ghost in the fine print... -
![The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass]()
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA little free library guarded by a cat and a boy who takes on the mystery it keeps. When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change...Categorized as:
magical-realism children law-enforcement low-fantasy middle-grade mystery fantasy fiction -
![The Frame-Up by Wendy McLeod MacKnight]()
The Frame-Up by Wendy McLeod MacKnight
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGreenwillow has bought Wendy McLeod MacKnight's second novel. Twelve-year-old Sargent Singer is sent away from home to reconnect with his estranged father, who is the director of an art gallery. During his visit, Sargent sees a portrait of a girl named Mona Dunn stick out her tongue and the secret of the gallery is revealed... -
![Just South of Home by Karen Strong]()
Just South of Home by Karen Strong
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCousins Sarah and Janie unearth a tragic event in their small Southern town’s history in this witty middle grade novel that’s perfect for fans of Stella by Starlight, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, and As Brave as You.Twelve-year-old Sarah is finally in charge... -
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![The Light in the Lake by Sarah R. Baughman]()
The Light in the Lake by Sarah R. Baughman
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA remarkable debut novel that takes readers on a journey of discovery, magic, science, and hope. Twelve-year-old Addie should stay away from Maple Lake. After all, her twin brother, Amos, drowned there only a few months ago...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism audiobook book children-books contemporary -
![Into the Tall, Tall Grass by Loriel Ryon, Marisa Blake]()
Into the Tall, Tall Grass by Loriel Ryon, Marisa Blake
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsYolanda Rodr�guez-O'Connell has a secret. All the members of her family have a magical gift--all, that is, except for Yolanda. Still, it's something she can never talk about...because, if she does, the townsfolk will call her family brujas--witches. When her grandmother, Wela, falls into an unexplained sleep, Yolanda is scared...Categorized as:
latinx-mc low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc audiobook book children-books contemporary -
![Aftermath by Jim Butcher]()
Aftermath by Jim Butcher
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIncluded on Side JobsTakes place immediately after "Changes"Spoilers...Categorized as:
law-enforcement magical-realism low-fantasy fantasy urban-fantasy paranormal supernatural fiction -
![Small Gods of Calamity by Sam Kyung Yoo]()
Small Gods of Calamity by Sam Kyung Yoo
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA tightly woven blend of myth, magic, and the ties of a found family.Ghosts that speak in smoke. Spirits with teeth like glass. A parasitic, soul-eating spirit worm has gone into a feeding frenzy, but all the Jong-ro Police Department’s violent crimes unit sees is a string of suicides. Except for Kim Han-gil, Seoul’s only spirit detective. He’s seen this before...Categorized as:
poc-mc law-enforcement magical-realism low-fantasy fantasy urban-fantasy lgbtq paranormal -
![The Raconteur's Commonplace Book by Kate Milford, Jaime Zollars]()
The Raconteur's Commonplace Book by Kate Milford, Jaime Zollars
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNothing is what it seems and there's always more than one side to the story as a group of strangers trapped in an inn slowly reveal their secrets...The rain hasn't stopped for a week, and the twelve guests of the Blue Vein Tavern are trapped by flooded roads and the rising Skidwrack River. Among them are a ship’s captain, tattooed twins, a musician, and a young girl traveling on her own... -
![The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price by Jennifer Maschari]()
The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price by Jennifer Maschari
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA heartfelt, beautifully written novel of love, loss, and math—perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Sharon M. Draper.Ever since twelve-year-old Charlie Price's mom died, he feels like his world has been split into two parts. Before included stargazing and Mathletes and Saturday scavenger hunts with his family...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure animals book children-books -
![Gone Wolf by Amber McBride]()
Gone Wolf by Amber McBride
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn middle-grade debut, Gone Wolf , award-winning author Amber McBride lays bare the fears of being young and Black in America.In the future, a Black girl known only as Inmate Eleven is kept confined -- to be used as a biological match for the president's son, should he fall ill. She is called a Blue -- the color of sadness...Categorized as:
magical-realism children historical-fiction poc-mc low-fantasy middle-grade fantasy dystopia -
![Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan]()
Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMaximiliano Córdoba loves stories, especially the legend Buelo tells him about a mythical gatekeeper who can guide brave travelers on a journey into tomorrow.If Max could see tomorrow, he would know if he'd make Santa Maria's celebrated fútbol team and whether he'd ever meet his mother, who disappeared when he was a baby. He longs to know more about her, but Papá won't talk...Categorized as:
children historical-fiction latinx-mc low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc sports action-adventure -
![Gilda Joyce: The Ghost Sonata by Jennifer Allison]()
Gilda Joyce: The Ghost Sonata by Jennifer Allison
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen her best friend, Wendy Choy, qualifies to compete in an international piano competition in Oxford, England, irrepressible Gilda Joyce finds a way to get an invitation herself—as a page-turner. Wendy settles into an exhausting practice schedule, made worse by strange nightmares, while Gilda finds herself falling in love with a British boy...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc action-adventure audiobook book -
![Portero de La Selva, El by Mal Peet]()
Portero de La Selva, El by Mal Peet
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIn an interview with a young journalist, World Cup hero, El Gato, describes his youth in the Brazilian rain forest and the events, experiences, and people that helped make him a great goalkeeper and renowned soccer star...Categorized as:
children historical-fiction latinx-mc law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc sports -
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![The Secret Keepers Lib/E by Trenton Lee Stewart]()
The Secret Keepers Lib/E by Trenton Lee Stewart
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAcclaimed New York Times bestselling author Trenton Lee Stewart returns with a captivating, heart-stopping adventure about thrilling secrets and dangerous mysteries-and the courage to reveal the most frightening of truths...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure audiobook book children-books -
![Man Tiger by Eka Kurniawan]()
Man Tiger by Eka Kurniawan
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA wry, affecting tale set in a small town on the Indonesian coast, Man Tiger tells the story of two interlinked and tormented families and of Margio, a young man ordinary in all particulars except that he conceals within himself a supernatural female white tiger. The inequities and betrayals of family life coalesce around and torment this magical being...Categorized as:
historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism poc-mc action-adventure adult book contemporary -
![Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones]()
Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe trouble started when Howard Sykes came home from school and found the "goon" sitting in the kitchen. He said he'd been sent by Archer. But who was Archer? It had to do with the 2,000 words that Howard's author father had failed to deliver... -
![Evergreen Conservatory by Heather Schneider]()
Evergreen Conservatory by Heather Schneider
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWelcome back to Evergreen Academy, the secret college for Magical Botanists.Ever since enrolling at Evergreen Academy last year, I have struggled to belong in the elite world of plant magic and affinity powers. And thanks to a curse tied to a decision I made on the spring equinox, I’m further from fitting in than ever... -
![Gilda Joyce: The Ladies of the Lake by Jennifer Allison]()
Gilda Joyce: The Ladies of the Lake by Jennifer Allison
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsZany Gilda Joyce brings all of her psychic and investigative skills with her as she sets out to investigate a mysterious death at a Catholic girls' school...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure audiobook book children-books -
![The Secrets of Winterhouse by Ben Guterson]()
The Secrets of Winterhouse by Ben Guterson
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBookish puzzles, phantom mysteries, and evil curses await as Elizabeth returns to Winterhouse in The Secrets of Winterhouse, the second book in Ben Guterson's magical series.Back at the Winterhouse hotel for another holiday season, Elizabeth and Freddy dig deeper into the mystery surrounding Riley S...Categorized as:
children law-enforcement low-fantasy magical-realism 21st-century action-adventure audiobook book
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