The Oz Chronicles Series by R.W. Ridley

Never say their name! If you do, they will find you! If they find you, they will eat you! Thirteen-year-old Oz Griffin knows it's his fault that the Takers are eating everyone in sight. He also knows that a comic book written by a neighborhood boy is the key to defeating them. But every time he and his band of survivors try to read the comic book, the Takers draw closer... moreNever say their name! If you do, they will find you! If they find you, they will eat you! Thirteen-year-old Oz Griffin knows it's his fault that the Takers are eating everyone in sight. He also knows that a comic book written by a neighborhood boy is the key to defeating them. But every time he and his band of survivors try to read the comic book, the Takers draw closer. Can they get to the end of the story before the Takers devour them? Kirkus Discoveries Review The first volume in The Oz Chronicles recalls both Stephen King's The Stand and L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz. When 13-year-old Osmond "Oz" Griffith wakes from an illness on the floor of his closet, he discovers the world overrun by man-eating monsters, the Takers, and it's largely his fault. In an effort to make things right, he gathers a band of survivors (a baby, an aged mechanic and a talking gorilla, among others), and sets off down his version of the yellow brick road, leading to the Atlanta Zoo. Along the way, he learns that his destiny was written by Steve, a boy from his past. Afflicted with Down Syndrome, Steve created new worlds, replete with battles between good and evil, in the comic books that served as his sole refuge from the teasing of Oz and his friends. Steve's untimely suicide leaves only the comic books as clues to vanquishing the Takers. Oz, suffering from guilt that he possibly caused Steve's death, must learn to accept responsibility, not only for his actions in the past, but for the future of civilization as he knows it. The lively narrative will capture the imagination of young teens, especially boys, who will enjoy the more horrifying aspects of the story. The plot is clearly defined, and the action never flags. Hopefully, Book Two is on the way. 2006 IPPY Award Winner less

After defeating the Takers, Oz Griffin is ready to relax and enjoy being a normal thirteen-year-old kid. So why is he suddenly a middle-aged man who can remember his past only under hypnosis?And why is his past so terrifying?Oz is caught between fantasy and reality, and he has no idea which is which. He is forced to take on the role of warrior once again. This time he is pitted against the purple-skinned, dead-eyed freaks called the Delons... moreAfter defeating the Takers, Oz Griffin is ready to relax and enjoy being a normal thirteen-year-old kid. So why is he suddenly a middle-aged man who can remember his past only under hypnosis?And why is his past so terrifying?Oz is caught between fantasy and reality, and he has no idea which is which. He is forced to take on the role of warrior once again. This time he is pitted against the purple-skinned, dead-eyed freaks called the Delons. They are more vicious and cunning than the Takers ever were, and they have one mission: Get Oz Griffin.Oz and his band of warriors are back in the second installment of The Oz Chronicles, a gruesome tale of courage and survival. Will they restore the world to the way it was, or will they clear the path for a new breed of monsters to take over the world? less

In this terrifying installment of the Oz Chronicles, Oz awakes in a mental institution. He spends his days trying to come to terms with the murders he's committed and his nights hiding from the dead who watch him. Just as he is about to give up hope, Oz is befriended by a faceless man who holds the key to his sanity.

In the fourth installment of the Oz Chronicles, Oz Griffin continues his efforts to restore the world he destroyed. But, when Oz and his band of warriors are led to an abandoned Southern mansion, they encounter a serial killer and become infected with an almost uncontrollable urge to feed ... on each other. With only nine days to find the cure, Oz must travel to the Land of the Dead and follow in the serial killer's footsteps. Will Oz survive the journey?

Oz and his intrepid warriors have survived their harrowing ordeal in the Biltmore House only to find themselves fighting for their lives in the surrounding mountains of North Carolina. Giant worms have evolved in the twisted world of the Storytellers, and they are hungry. A grizzled stranger provides the band of survivors refuge in his labyrinth of treetop walkways... moreOz and his intrepid warriors have survived their harrowing ordeal in the Biltmore House only to find themselves fighting for their lives in the surrounding mountains of North Carolina. Giant worms have evolved in the twisted world of the Storytellers, and they are hungry. A grizzled stranger provides the band of survivors refuge in his labyrinth of treetop walkways. But are they still fighting to return home or have they simply become pawns in a larger battle? Oz and company will see their numbers dwindle and a betrayal from within will see their hopes for ever making it back home virtually slip away. less

Book 6 of the Oz Chronicles. With his dwindling band of survivors, Oz sets out to find the only girl he?s ever loved. In the process, he not only finds a very different Lou lurking in the secret corridors of an underground tunnel system, he also comes face-to-face with the man who is responsible for ending the world.