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Author Talk: Brad Meltzer, author of The House of Secrets

Jun 9, 2016

Brad Meltzer has worn many hats: He’s a #1 New York Times bestselling author, host of two television series, and one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for nonfiction, advice, children's books and graphic novels. Now he has accomplished another first: He successfully co-wrote his latest political thriller, THE HOUSE OF SECRETS. In this interview, Meltzer discusses the relationship between George Washington and history’s most infamous traitor, Benedict Arnold (complicated), his own professional relationship with co-author Tod Goldberg (also complicated, but ultimately fruitful), and how THE HOUSE OF SECRETS is his attempt to solve one of history’s most intriguing mysteries.

Karl Lagerfeld

I don’t like standard beauty --- there is no beauty without strangeness.

Attribution

Karl Lagerfeld

Editorial Content for The Cresswell Plot

Book

The Cresswell Plot

Contributors

Isabel Coyne

Reviewer (text)

Isabel C., Teen Board Member

THE CRESSWELL PLOT is a standalone contemporary novel by debut author Eliza Wass. This book has an amazing premise, but is so weird that it might turn some away. Read More

Teaser

Castella Cresswell and her five siblings know what it's like to be different. For years, their world has been confined to their ramshackle family home deep in the woods of upstate New York. They abide by the strict rule of God, whose messages come directly from their father. Slowly, Castley and her siblings start to test the boundaries of the laws that bind them. Castley's world rapidly expands beyond the woods she knows so well and the beliefs she once thought were the only truths. There is a future waiting for her if she can escape her father's grasp, but Castley refuses to leave her siblings behind. 

Promo

Castella Cresswell and her five siblings know what it's like to be different. For years, their world has been confined to their ramshackle family home deep in the woods of upstate New York. They abide by the strict rule of God, whose messages come directly from their father. Slowly, Castley and her siblings start to test the boundaries of the laws that bind them. Castley's world rapidly expands beyond the woods she knows so well and the beliefs she once thought were the only truths. There is a future waiting for her if she can escape her father's grasp, but Castley refuses to leave her siblings behind. 

About the Book

The woods were insane in the dark, terrifying and magical at the same time. But best of all were the stars, which trumpeted their light into the misty dark. 
 
Castella Cresswell and her five siblings --- Hannan, Casper, Mortimer, Delvive and Jerusalem --- know what it's like to be different. For years, their world has been confined to their ramshackle family home deep in the woods of upstate New York. They abide by the strict rule of God, whose messages come directly from their father.
 
Slowly, Castley and her siblings start to test the boundaries of the laws that bind them. But, at school, they're still the freaks they've always been to the outside world. Marked by their plain clothing. Unexplained bruising. Utter isolation from their classmates. That is, until Castley is forced to partner with the totally irritating, totally normal George Gray, who offers her a glimpse of a life filled with freedom and choice. 
 
Castley's world rapidly expands beyond the woods she knows so well and the beliefs she once thought were the only truths. There is a future waiting for her if she can escape her father's grasp, but Castley refuses to leave her siblings behind. Just as she begins to form a plan, her father makes a chilling announcement: the Cresswells will soon return to their home in heaven. With time running out on all of their lives, Castley must expose the depth of her father's lies. The forest has buried the truth in darkness for far too long. Castley might be their last hope for salvation.

Teen Board Question - June 2016

With the days rapidly getting longer and warmer, we at Teenreads have one very important thing on our minds: summer reading! We don't just mean the books you're assigned to read for school, but the ones you wait all year to enjoy just for the fun of it. With our sunglasses on and our sunblock applied, we asked our Teen Board Members about their summer reading plans, from treasured re-reads to books they've waited all year to read.  Check out their answers below!

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The Earthfall Trilogy by Mark Walden
Ages 8-12

Sam awakens to see strange vessels gathered in the skies around London. As he stares up, people stream past, walking silently toward the enormous ships, which emit a persistent noise. Only Sam seems immune to the signal. Six months later, he is absolutely alone. Or so he thinks. Sam struggles to survive in the aftermath of an alien invasion.

In Due Time by Nicholas O. Time
Ages 8-12

When Librarian Valerie Tremt tells three students that one of the library books, THE BOOK OF MEMORIES, is actually a time travel portal, the kids don’t believe her at first. But when they ask to see a dinosaur as proof and suddenly there is a terrifying T-Rex in the library, they realize she isn’t kidding around. Join on them on their hilarious time-travelling adventures.

The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman
Ages 9-12

Jackson Opus has always been persuasive, but he doesn't know that he's descended from the two most powerful hypnotist bloodlines on the planet. He's excited to be accepted into a special program at the Sentia Institute --- but when he realizes he's in over his head, Jackson will have to find a way to use his powers to save his friends, his parents and his government.

The Prizewinners of Piedmont Place by Bill Doyle
Ages 8-12

Cal Talaska can’t wait for his family to win the Great Grab Contest! The prize? Twenty minutes to grab anything in the world-famous Wish Shoppe! He knows his family will leave the competition in the dust, but first he has to convince them to compete!

DC Super Hero Girls by Lisa Yee
Ages 8-12

Get your cape on with the DC Super Hero Girls™ --- the unprecedented new Super Hero universe especially for girls! Readers of all ages can fly high with the all-new adventures of Wonder Woman™, Supergirl™, Batgirl™ and some of the world’s most iconic female super heroes as high schoolers!

My Near-Death Adventures by Alison DeCamp
Ages 8-12

Join 11-year old stanley as he goes on a near-death adventure fraught with pesky relatives, killer lumberjacks, and poisonous pies in order to find his long-lost father.