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When a book of unexplainable occurrences brings Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay together, strange things start to happen: seemingly unrelated events connect, an eccentric old woman seeks their company, and an invaluable Vermeer painting disappears. Before they know it, the two find themselves at the center of an international art scandal, where no one—neighbors, parents, teachers—is spared from suspicion. As Petra and Calder are drawn clue by clue into a mysterious labyrinth, they must draw on their powers of intuition, their problem-solving skills, and their knowledge of Vermeer. Can they decipher a crime that has left even the FBI baffled?

Dragon Riders is an amazing adventure about three children caught up in a timeless war. Their lives are turned upside down by an attack on the monastery where they live. Their flight leads them into an encounter with a young dragon, which they save from certain death. Previously believing that dragons were solely part of mythology, they are rewarded with a flight on three full-grown dragons. The dragons leave them each with a bracelet, which shrink to fit and hence are unable to be removed. The war causes their paths to divide, and they encounter magic, the enemy, a variety of characters and eventual capture. Reunited through incarceration, they discover the secret of their dragon bracelets, calling on the dragons to rescue them. With the reappearance of the dragons, their involvement in the war increases as they seek to bring an end to the fighting. The characters in this story are delightful, and are brought to life with the things they say and the actions they take, rather than simply through description. The story is written in a lovely, simple style that children will find easy to follow. Similarly, the plot is quick and captivating and the dragons especially are awe-inspiring. Their descriptions are bound to keep young children on the edge of their seats.