A quirky middle–grade novel about an enterprising seventh–grader who discovers an astonishing plea for help in the grooves of his blue jeans

tells the story of the 1848 discovery of gold in California and its far-ranging repercussions for America

Highly educated and independent men and women are finding adventure

When Iris was nine

The Revenge Of The Forty-seven Samurai Napoleonic Wars A quirky middle–grade novel aboutIn the time when the Shogun ruled Japan, two hundred samurai suffered a grave insult their master met an unjust death. Forty seven of them are courageous enough to avenge him. Jiro is a lowly servant to one of the brave samurai. Chosen as his masters unlikely spy during the planning of the great revenge, Jiro must learn when to talk and when to listen, or at any moment he could lose his head to a samurais razor sharp sword. And even as Jiro plays his