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The Tell-Tale Start

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About the Author

About the Book

The Tell-Tale Start

Written by Gordon McAlpine, Illustrated by Sam Zuppardi

Meet Edgar and Allan Poe --- 12-year-old identical twins, the great-great-great-great-grandnephews of Edgar Allan Poe. They look and act so much alike that they're almost one mischievous, prank-playing boy in two bodies. When their beloved black cat, Roderick Usher, is kidnapped and transported to the Midwest, Edgar and Allan convince their guardians that it's time for a road trip. Along the way, mayhem and mystery ensue, as well as deeper questions: What is the boys' telepathic connection? Is Edgar Allan Poe himself reaching out to them from the Great Beyond? And why has a mad scientist been spying on the Poe family for years?

With a mix of literary humor, mystery, a little quantum physics, and fun extras like fortune cookie messages, letters in code, license plate clues --- and playful illustrations thoughout --- this series opener is a perfect choice for smart, funny tweens who love the Time Warp Trio, Roald Dahl, and Lemony Snicket.

The Tell-Tale Start: The Misadventures of Edgar and Allan Poe, Book 1
Written by Gordon McAlpine, Illustrated by Sam Zuppardi

  • Publication Date: January 10, 2013
  • Genres: Children's, Fiction, Humor, Mystery
  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Viking Juvenile
  • ISBN-10: 0670784915
  • ISBN-13: 9780670784912