Conspiracy 365 December - Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365 December
Gabrielle Lord
Scholastic

ISBN 9781443104791

Scholastic Australia

ISBN 9781741693249

eISBN 9781921988646

ASIN B00BFV1HFU

This story has drawn to a close. We have now spent a year with Cal and his friends, and watched the events unfold from a prophecy a year ago. And in this one we find out if all the trials, tribulations, misunderstandings and brushes with the law were worth it!

But it is not the end of the store. For Lord has written 5 other stories set in this universe. One is Boges’s story, one for Winter and a trilogy called Black-Ops. I read the first two volumes in this series back in 2011; I had planned on reading them one a month as they were released. But that did not happen. My son started reading them in 2026 and he is in his late teens so I decided to pick them back up and have now finished the series. I read about one a month over the last several months.

When I read the first 2 it was a new series from Scholastic, Conspiracy 365, is another unique approach to books that will draw readers in and keep them addicted. Much like the 39 Clues or Skeleton Creek books, it approaches storytelling in a new and different way that with draw an addicted following of readers. The story is about the life of Callum (Cal) Ormond. Almost like a year-long version of the TV series 24. The story was originally told over 12 books, one released each month for a year. And we now know the story continued with a shorter follow up series and 2 standalone stories.

The Canadian description of this volume states:

“It's December, the final month in the deadly 365-day countdown. Cal desperately needs to get to Ireland-where he's counting on all the clues falling into place-but with airport security at an all-time high, escaping the country seems impossible. Will Cal find out what really happened to his dad? Will he reach the Ormond Singularity before the stroke of midnight? Only time will tell... One thing's for sure, people will lose their lives in the fight to the end...and Cal's hoping he won't be one of them... The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last. Callum Ormond has been warned. He has 365 days. The countdown has begun... 12 books. 12 months.”

The Australian edition’s is:

“It's December, the final month in the deadly 365-day countdown. Cal desperately needs to get to Ireland - where he's counting on all the clues falling into place - but with airport security at an all-time high, escaping the country seems impossible.

Will Cal find out what really happened to his dad? Will he reach the Ormond Singularity before the stroke of midnight? Only time will tell... One thing's for sure, people will lose their lives in the fight to the end... and Cal's hoping he won't be one of them.

The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last.” 

About the author we are informed:

“Gabrielle Lord is one of Australia's bestselling crime writers for adults. Following the Conspiracy 365 series, she already has plans for another three adult novels and two more young adult books. Research is everything, Gabrielle says. 'Out of my contacts with experts (who are always far too modest to describe themselves that way) I get not only the fine-tuning necessary for today's savvy readers, but also wonderful incidents and images that enrich and enlarge my books.”

A lot happens in this volume. Some of it stuff they had been planning and working on for months, and some of it completely surprising. The story takes some serious twists and turns in this final offering of the original series. Even compared to everything that has happened in the previous 11 volumes. 

A thrilling conclusion to an excellent series!

These books have a few cool features. In each book, the page numbers start at the highest and count down. The chapter and section headings are Dates and Time. This was an excellent twelfth instalment in the series. Give them a try you will not be disappointed. This is another good read in an excellent series. And the 5 books that continue the story. A great book and series I can easily recommend! 

Books by Gabrielle Lord:
Conspiracy 365:
Series Overview
January (2011)
February (2011)

March (2011)
April (2011)
May (2011)
June (2011)
July (2011)
August (2011)
September (2011)
October (2011)
November (2011)
December (2011)

…

Revenge (2012)

Malice (2012)

...

Conspiracy 365 Black Ops:

Missing (2013)

Hunted (2013)

Endgame (2013)

…

48 Hours Series:

The Vanishing (2017)

The Medusa Curse (2017)

…

Gemma Lincoln:

Feeding the Demons (1999)

Baby Did a Bad Thing (2002)

Spiking the Girl (2004)

Shattered (2007)

Death by Beauty (2012)

…

Jack McCain:

Death Delights (2001)

Lethal Factor (2003)

Dirty Weekend (2005)

…

Other Books:

Fortress (1980)

Tooth and Claw (1983)

Jumbo (1986)

Salt (1990)

Whipping Boy (1992)

The Stranger Inside: An Erotic Adventure (1994)

Bones (1995)

The Sharp End (1998)

Monkey Undercover (2006)

Dishonour (2014)

Sisters (2019)

…

Wildfire - Rodman Philbrick - The Wild Series Book 1

Wildfire

The Wild Series Book 1  

Rodman Philbrick

Scholastic Canada

ISBN 9781338713640

eISBN 9781338266917

ASIN B07M86DLNP

I was recently having a discussion with a young man in his early 20’s and asked about his favourite book, because that is what bibliophiles do. He immediately said Freak the Mighty by Philbrick. This is the eighth volume I have read by the author over the last few months. And it was something completely different!

The description of this volume state:

“Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick sends readers straight into the nightmare of a raging wildfire as 12-year-old Sam is trapped by explosive flames and deadly smoke that threaten to take his life. Can he survive?

Flames race toward Sam Castine's summer camp as evacuation buses are loading, but Sam runs back to get his phone. Suddenly, a flash of heat blasts him as pine trees explode. Now a wall of fire separates Sam from his bus, and there's only one thing to do: Run for his life. Run or die. Lungs burning, Sam's only goal is to keep moving. Drought has made the forest a tinderbox, and Sam struggles to remember survival tricks he learned from his late father. Then, when he least expects it, he encounters Delphy, an older girl who is also lost. Their unlikely friendship grows as they join forces to find civilization. The pace never slows, and eventually flames surround Sam and Delphy on all sides. A powerful bond is forged that can only grow out of true hardship -- as two true friends beat all odds and outwit one of the deadliest fires ever. At the end of the novel, information about wildfires and useful safety tips add to the reader's understanding of one of the US's most dangerous natural disasters.”

About the author we are informed:

“Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick has written more than a dozen novels for young readers. In 1993, he published his first children's book, Freak the Mighty, which became an instant classic, and was made into a feature film. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg was a 2010 Newbery Honor Book. Philbrick's other acclaimed novels include Max the Mighty, The Young Man and the Sea, The Last Book in the Universe, Zane and the Hurricane, and Wildfire. Philbrick divides his time between Maine and the Florida Keys. You can learn more about him on his website.”

At the time of writing this review according to Goodreads there are 10 editions of this volume available. It was published in 2019, reprinted in 2021 and 2025. It is first in the wild series. It is an excellent read!

I did not know anything about this book other than it is the first in a trilogy. It was an great Middle Grade novel. It is not a school story, but the main protagonists are school aged. It again reminds me a lot of the works of Andrew Clements, Arthur Slade or Gordon Korman. The more of Philbrick I read I am being reminded more and more of Madeleine L’Engle who wrote adult fiction, nonfiction, children’s fiction, teen fiction, and even theology.    

This story starts with a kids summer camp being evacuated. Sam Castine goes back to retrieve his cell phone and ends up separated from the evacuation. But he is not willing to give up. After the first day and night escaping Sam encounters Delphy. They have an old battered jeep and are following a logging trail. As the days pass they encounter more and more obstacles. The whole story takes placed over a few days. It is intense and thrilling. 

Philbrick writes midgrade literature, young adult books and adult fiction. And some are even published under other pen names. I just randomly picked this as the next volume to read. It was a tossup between this and Cherry Street book 1. I have friends who call me a ‘completionist’ in that I find an author I really like and try to read everything they have in print, or have published. 

I was hooked almost as soon as I started this volume. I had not read the description or any reviews I just dove in. It is a book that will hook even reluctant readers. 

This was an excellent story. It is a quick intense read. And one I can easily recommend. 

Note: while reading this I found out that there is a fourth volume releasing in about 6 weeks. Wild Blizzard.

Books by Rodman Philbrick:

Max the Mighty Series:

Freak the Mighty (1993)

Max the Mighty (1998)

…

 

House on Cherry Street Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. The Haunting (1995)

2. The Horror (1995)

3. The Final Nightmare (1995)

…

 

Werewolf Chronicles Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. Night Creature (1996)

2. Children of the Wolf (1996)

3. The Wereing (1996)

…

 

Visitors Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. Strange Invaders (1997)

2. Things (1997)

3. Brain Stealers (1997)

…

 

Wild Series:

1. Wildfire (2019)

2. Wild River (2021)

3. Wild Wave (2024)

4. Wild Blizzard (2026)

…

 

Other Books:

Shooting Star (1982)

The Black Moon (1989) 

Brothers and Sinners (1993)

The Fire Pony (1996)

Abduction (1998) (with Lynn Harnett)

The Mighty (1998)

The Last Book in the Universe (2000)

Dark Matter (2000)

Rem World (2000)

The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds (2001)

Coffins (2002)

The Young Man and the Sea (2004)

Lobster Boy (2005)

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (2009)

Listening To Kids In America (2011)

Zane and the Hurricane (2014)

The Big Dark (2016)

Who Killed Darius Drake? (2017)

We Own the Sky (2022)

…

Written as William R Dantz:

Pulse (1989) (as by William R Dantz)

The Seventh Sleeper (1991) (as by William R Dantz)

Hunger (1993) (as by William R Dantz)

Nine Levels Down (1995) (as by William R Dantz)

Written as by W R Philbrick:

The Big Chip (1990) (as by W R Philbrick)

…

J.D. Hawkins Series:

1. Shadow Kills (1985)

2. Ice for the Eskimo (1986)

3. Paint It Black (1989)

4. Walk on the Water (1991)

…

 

T.D. Stash Series:

1. The Neon Flamingo (1987)

2. The Crystal Blue Persuasion (1988)

3. Tough Enough (1989)

…

Written as by Chris Jordan:

Randall Shane Series:

1. Taken (2006)

2. Trapped (2007)

  aka Lost

3. Torn (2009)

4. Measure of Darkness (2011)

…

Conspiracy 365 November - Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365 November
Gabrielle Lord
Scholastic
ISBN 9781443104784

Scholastic Australia

eISBN 9781921988639

ASIN B00BFV1H46

This story is drawing to a close; as of the reading of this volume there is only 1 left to go. But it is not the end of the store. For Lord has written 5 other stories set in this universe. One is Boges’s story, one for Winter and a trilogy called Black-Ops. I read the first two volumes in this series back in 2011; I had planned on reading them one a month as they were released. But that did not happen. My son started reading them in 2026 and he is in his late teens so I decided to pick them back up and finish the series. I have read about one a month over the last several months.

When I read the first 2 it was a new series from Scholastic, Conspiracy 365, is another unique approach to books that will draw readers in and keep them addicted. Much like the 39 Clues or Skeleton Creek books, it approaches storytelling in a new and different way that with draw an addicted following of readers. The story is about the life of Callum (Cal) Ormond. Almost like a year-long version of the TV series 24. The story was originally told over 12 books, one released each month for a year. And we now know the story continued with a shorter follow up series and 2 stand-alone stories.

The Canadian description of this volume states:

“The December 31 deadline is fast approaching, and Cal's enemies are closing in on all sides. Even the notorious "Toecutter" Durham has emerged from the underworld to join the hunt.

With so many answers finally imminent, it's more crucial than ever that Cal dodge danger and stay alive.

He has 61 days left...”

The Australian edition’s is:

“The 31 December deadline is fast approaching, and Cal's enemies are closing in on all sides. Even the notorious Toecutter' Durham has emerged from the underworld to join the hunt. With so many answers finally imminent-meeting Eric Blair, finding out the truth about the twin baby abduction-it's crucial Cal dodges danger and stays alive. But will he be so busy trying to save himself that he'll fail to save a friend? The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last.” 

About the author we are informed:

“Gabrielle Lord is one of Australia's bestselling crime writers for adults. Following the Conspiracy 365 series, she already has plans for another three adult novels and two more young adult books. Research is everything, Gabrielle says. 'Out of my contacts with experts (who are always far too modest to describe themselves that way) I get not only the fine-tuning necessary for today's savvy readers, but also wonderful incidents and images that enrich and enlarge my books.”

Things are still pretty bleak at the beginning. The police hunt for Cal has intensified. And with a security conference coming to the area before the ends of the year the police are pulling out all the stops to capture him and not look like fools that cannot even apprehend one teen at large and mostly on his own. Winter finds more pieces of her story. Boges is picked up and interrogated. And Cal is at an all-time low waiting for a passport so he can try and make the desperately needed trip to Ireland. But at the end he is in maybe the tightest spot yet in the series.

This one once again ends on a major cliff hanger. Thus leaving you desperate for the next volume. These books were originally published in Australia and North America by Scholastic, unfortunately it appears eBook editions were never released in Canada. This is another great instalment in a thrilling series.

These books have a few cool features. In each book, the page numbers start at the highest and count down. The chapter and section headings are Dates and Time. This was an excellent eleventh instalment in the series. Give them a try you will not be disappointed. This is another good read in an excellent series. And the 5 books that continue the story. 

Books by Gabrielle Lord:
Conspiracy 365:
Series Overview
January (2011)
February (2011)

March (2011)
April (2011)
May (2011)
June (2011)
July (2011)
August (2011)
September (2011)
October (2011)
November (2011)
December (2011)

…

Revenge (2012)

Malice (2012)

...

Conspiracy 365 Black Ops:

Missing (2013)

Hunted (2013)

Endgame (2013)

…

48 Hours Series:

The Vanishing (2017)

The Medusa Curse (2017)

…

Gemma Lincoln:

Feeding the Demons (1999)

Baby Did a Bad Thing (2002)

Spiking the Girl (2004)

Shattered (2007)

Death by Beauty (2012)

…

Jack McCain:

Death Delights (2001)

Lethal Factor (2003)

Dirty Weekend (2005)

…

Other Books:

Fortress (1980)

Tooth and Claw (1983)

Jumbo (1986)

Salt (1990)

Whipping Boy (1992)

The Stranger Inside: An Erotic Adventure (1994)

Bones (1995)

The Sharp End (1998)

Monkey Undercover (2006)

Dishonour (2014)

Sisters (2019)

…

Lobster Boy - Rodman Philbrick - aka The Young Man and the Sea

Lobster Boy

Usborne Publishing

ISBN 9780746065099

eISBN 9781409591092

ASIN B00UXA3YJG

The Young Man and the Sea  

Rodman Philbrick

Scholastic Canada

The Blue Sky Press

ISBN 9780439856300

eISBN 9780545600309

ASIN B00B9FX1ZG

First this volume has been published under two different titles in North America it is published as ‘The Young Man and the Sea’ in the UK it is published as ‘Lobster Boy’, at the time of the writing of this review there are 27 editions on Goodreads under the former name and 3 under the latter. Apparently Philbrick wanted the ‘Lobster Boy’ title, but the publisher kept referring to as ‘The Young Man and the Sea’ and it ended up sticking. And it has been through a wide range of covers over the last 12 years.

A few months ago I was having a discussion with a young man in his early 20’s and asked about his favourite book, because that is what bibliophiles do. He immediately said this Freak the Mighty, no hesitation, no pause just an immediate answer. I looked it up later in the day and discovered there was two books in that series and also a movie. While working on the review of the first Mighty book, I found at least a dozen I was interested in just from the titles. So this is the sixth volume by Rodman reading not quite one every other week, and every time I read one the list of ones I want to read grows! I have now compiled a list of all books published by Philbrick, under his various pen names. I enjoyed that first one so much I had picked up 3 other volumes by Philbrick before I even finished it! And by the time I had read three I had picked up nearly a dozen. 

I have been publishing reviews for 21 years now, first in papers and magazines and then on my blog and other platforms. I continue to read and write reviews because I must. I am a dyslexic bibliophile. I have tagged Scholastic over 450 times on my blog for reviews of books, or for my Top Ten Lists each quarter or year. I was greatly surprised I had not encountered Philbrick, it was absolutely my loss. Back to the book at hand. 

The description of the ‘The Young Man and the Sea’ edition states:

 “A story of determination and survival from the acclaimed author of FREAK THE MIGHTY. "This thrilling and elegant book ... will hold the interest of even the most stalwart landlubber." -- PW

Twelve-year-old Skiff Beaman's mom just died, and his fisherman dad is too depressed to drag himself off the couch and go to work. So these days Skiff has to take care of everything himself.

But when his dad's boat sinks, Skiff discovers it will cost thousands to buy a new engine. Skiff's lobster traps won't earn him enough, but there are bigger fish in the sea -- bluefin tuna. If he can catch one of those monster fish, Skiff just might save the boat -- and his family.”

The description of the ‘Lobster Boy’ edition states:

“Skiff Beaman has a problem. A BIG problem. He needs to fix up his family's fishing boat, but to do that he needs money. A whole heap of money.His father isn't going to help – he can't see further than the next can of beer since Skiff's mother died – and nor is his classmate, Tyler, inventor of the nickname "Lobster Boy".But Skiff can still hear his mother's voice telling him "Never give up". So he comes up with a plan. It's crazy, it's dangerous, and it's going to take all Skiff's grit and strength to win a great battle against the sea. An inspirational and compelling action-packed tale by the internationally bestselling author, Rodman Philbrick.”

About the author in another volume we are informed:

“After years of writing mysteries and suspense thrillers for adults, Rodman Philbrick decided to try his hand at a novel for young readers. That novel, Freak the Mighty, was published in 1993 to great acclaim and stellar reviews. In addition to being named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and winning several state awards, it was also made into the Miramax feature film The Mighty in 1998. Rod returns to Maxwell Kane’s story in a sequel, Max the Mighty, a fast-paced cross-country odyssey.

Rod takes young readers to the American West in his exhilarating tale of two brothers on the run in The Fire Pony, winner of the Capital Choice Award, and on to a land where nothing is as it seems in the science-fiction adventure REM World. His thought-provoking novel The Last Book in the Universe, also an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, takes place in a futuristic world where no one reads anymore. Rod thought back to his New England roots and knowledge of boat building to write The Young Man and the Sea. School Library Journal praised its “wide-open adventure” and “heart-pounding suspense” and named it a Best Book of the Year in 2004.

Rodman Philbrick has also written several spine-tingling series for young readers with his wife, Lynn Harnett, including The House on Cherry Street and The Werewolf Chronicles. Rod and Lynn divide their time between homes on the coast of Maine and in the Florida Keys.”

There are supplemental sections at the end of each edition. For the US edition they are:

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Q&A with Rodman Philbrick

Rod’s Writing Tips

A Sneak Peek at Freak the Mighty

In the UK Edition they are:

A Conversation with Rodman Philbrick

About the Author (In his own words)

Sneak Preview of Fire Pony by Rodman Philbrick

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

More Usborne fiction

A quick check and the text appears to be identical or nearly so. 

This story could be considered a school story because of the school age protagonist, but the events take place over summer vacation. But in many ways it is a father son story. It is a story of both of them dealing with loss. And the son, Skiff Beaman, is just trying to keep things up after the passing of his mother. He wants to restore the family boat in the hopes his father will start working again. He wants to fix things, first the boat, then his father. But life at times is a lot harder than many expect. And Skiff is just trying to live by the three rules him mother instilled in him, and her voice reminding him what she would say in different situations. 

The volume is clearly written in homage to The Old Man and the Sea, And Moby Dick. It is written in a way that when young readers encounter them later in life they will recognize the echoes. And for us older readers we will se a similar story with very different eyes.

This is another excellent story from Philbrick’s masterful pen. It reminds me a lot of the works of Andrew Clements or Gordon Korman, Tony Abbott, and Dan Gutman. All of whom I loved and have read numerous stories. Because of the various genres he writes in I am beginning to think of him as an American Arthur Slade. I am really surprised I had not encountered the author previously. These first six books are so great; I might just end up reading everything from the author. After reading more Philbrick I am also being reminded more of Madeleine L’Engle who wrote adult fiction, nonfiction, children’s fiction, teen fiction, and even theology.  

This is another one of those excellent stories for middle grade or tween readers. It is even strong enough for us older folks for I am in my mid 50’s and could not put it down and read it over an afternoon, over several mugs of tea. It is a very moving story, one I can easily recommend. And I know I will be reading more by Philbrick and the various names he publishes under!

Books by Rodman Philbrick:

Max the Mighty Series:

Freak the Mighty (1993)

Max the Mighty (1998)

…

 

House on Cherry Street Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. The Haunting (1995)

2. The Horror (1995)

3. The Final Nightmare (1995)

…

 

Werewolf Chronicles Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. Night Creature (1996)

2. Children of the Wolf (1996)

3. The Wereing (1996)

…

 

Visitors Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. Strange Invaders (1997)

2. Things (1997)

3. Brain Stealers (1997)

…

 

Wild Series:

1. Wildfire (2019)

2. Wild River (2021)

3. Wild Wave (2024)

4. Wild Blizzard (2026)

…

 

Other Books:

Shooting Star (1982)

The Black Moon (1989) 

Brothers and Sinners (1993)

The Fire Pony (1996)

Abduction (1998) (with Lynn Harnett)

The Mighty (1998)

The Last Book in the Universe (2000)

Dark Matter (2000)

Rem World (2000)

The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds (2001)

Coffins (2002)

The Young Man and the Sea (2004)

Lobster Boy (2005)

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (2009)

Listening To Kids In America (2011)

Zane and the Hurricane (2014)

The Big Dark (2016)

Who Killed Darius Drake? (2017)

We Own the Sky (2022)

…

Written as William R Dantz:

Pulse (1989) (as by William R Dantz)

The Seventh Sleeper (1991) (as by William R Dantz)

Hunger (1993) (as by William R Dantz)

Nine Levels Down (1995) (as by William R Dantz)

Written as by W R Philbrick:

The Big Chip (1990) (as by W R Philbrick)

…

J.D. Hawkins Series:

1. Shadow Kills (1985)

2. Ice for the Eskimo (1986)

3. Paint It Black (1989)

4. Walk on the Water (1991)

…

 

T.D. Stash Series:

1. The Neon Flamingo (1987)

2. The Crystal Blue Persuasion (1988)

3. Tough Enough (1989)

…

Written as by Chris Jordan:

Randall Shane Series:

1. Taken (2006)

2. Trapped (2007)

  aka Lost

3. Torn (2009)

4. Measure of Darkness (2011)

…

Conspiracy 365 October - Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365 October
Gabrielle Lord
Scholastic
ISBN 9781443104777

Scholastic Australia

eISBN 9781921988622

ASIN B00BFV1H2S

This story is fast drawing to a close. As of the reading of this volume there are only 2 left to go. I read the first two volumes in this series back in 2011; I had planned on reading them one a month as they were released. But that did not happen. My son started reading them in 2026 and he is in his late teens so I decided to pick them back up and finish the series. I have read about one a month over the last several months.

When I read the first 2 it was a new series from Scholastic, Conspiracy 365, is another unique approach to books that will draw readers in and keep them addicted. Much like the 39 Clues or Skeleton Creek books, it approaches storytelling in a new and different way that with draw an addicted following of readers. The story is about the life of Callum (Cal) Ormond. Almost like a year-long version of the TV series 24. The story was originally told over 12 books, one released each month for a year. And we now know the story continued with a shorter follow up series.

The description of this volume states:

“A gun shot rings out as Cal hides from his stalkers - two old bounty hunters and their savage dog, Sniffer. The hostile desert seems determined to become Cal's final resting place. Had Kelvin spared his life for nothing? 

Back in the city, an impossible job looms. To break into Oriana's safe at Zurich Bank, Cal needs Boges to make a perfect copy of her fingerprint...and they need her PIN. But will stealing from Oriana force her into a lethal alliance with Sligo? If so, Cal's enemies could instantly double in power, destroying all hope of survival. The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last. 

Callum Ormond has been warned. He has 365 days. The countdown has begun... 12 books. 12 months.”

About the author we are informed:

“Gabrielle Lord is one of Australia's bestselling crime writers for adults. Following the Conspiracy 365 series, she already has plans for another three adult novels and two more young adult books. Research is everything, Gabrielle says. 'Out of my contacts with experts (who are always far too modest to describe themselves that way) I get not only the fine-tuning necessary for today's savvy readers, but also wonderful incidents and images that enrich and enlarge my books.”

This volume picks up right where the previous left off. And things are pretty bleak at the beginning. And unfortunately they end on an even worse note. Some things do go right for Cal and his team during this story. But things do take a turn for the crazy and that drives Cal to some desperate actions. 

This one yet again ends on a major cliff hanger. Thus leaving you desperate for the next volume. 

These books were originally published in Australia and North America by Scholastic, unfortunately it appears eBook editions were never released in Canada. This is another good instalment in a thrilling series.

These books have a few cool features. In each book, the page numbers start at the highest and count down. The chapter and section headings are Dates and Time. This was an excellent tenth instalment in the series. Give them a try you will not be disappointed. This is another good read in an excellent series. 

Books by Gabrielle Lord:
Conspiracy 365:
Series Overview
January (2011)
February (2011)

March (2011)
April (2011)
May (2011)
June (2011)
July (2011)
August (2011)
September (2011)
October (2011)
November (2011)
December (2011)

…

Conspiracy 365 Black Ops:

Missing (2013)

Hunted (2013)

Endgame (2013)

…

48 Hours Series:

The Vanishing (2017)

The Medusa Curse (2017)

…

Gemma Lincoln:

Feeding the Demons (1999)

Baby Did a Bad Thing (2002)

Spiking the Girl (2004)

Shattered (2007)

Death by Beauty (2012)

…

Jack McCain:

Death Delights (2001)

Lethal Factor (2003)

Dirty Weekend (2005)

…

Other Books:

Fortress (1980)

Tooth and Claw (1983)

Jumbo (1986)

Salt (1990)

Whipping Boy (1992)

The Stranger Inside: An Erotic Adventure (1994)

Bones (1995)

The Sharp End (1998)

Monkey Undercover (2006)

…

The Young Man and the Sea - Rodman Philbrick - aka Lobster Boy

The Young Man and the Sea  

Rodman Philbrick

Scholastic Canada

The Blue Sky Press

ISBN 9780439856300

eISBN 9780545600309

ASIN B00B9FX1ZG

Lobster Boy

Usborne Publishing

ISBN 9780746065099

eISBN 9781409591092

ASIN B00UXA3YJG

First this volume has been published under two different titles in North America it is published as ‘The Young Man and the Sea’ in the UK it is published as ‘Lobster Boy’, at the time of the writing of this review there are 27 editions on Goodreads under the former name and 3 under the latter. Apparently Philbrick wanted the ‘Lobster Boy’ title, but the publisher kept referring to as ‘The Young Man and the Sea’ and it ended up sticking. And it has been through a wide range of covers over the last 12 years.

A few months ago I was having a discussion with a young man in his early 20’s and asked about his favourite book, because that is what bibliophiles do. He immediately said this Freak the Mighty, no hesitation, no pause just an immediate answer. I looked it up later in the day and discovered there was two books in that series and also a movie. While working on the review of the first Mighty book, I found at least a dozen I was interested in just from the titles. So this is the sixth volume by Rodman reading not quite one every other week, and every time I read one the list of ones I want to read grows! I have now compiled a list of all books published by Philbrick, under his various pen names. I enjoyed that first one so much I had picked up 3 other volumes by Philbrick before I even finished it! And by the time I had read three I had picked up nearly a dozen. 

I have been publishing reviews for 21 years now, first in papers and magazines and then on my blog and other platforms. I continue to read and write reviews because I must. I am a dyslexic bibliophile. I have tagged Scholastic over 450 times on my blog for reviews of books, or for my Top Ten Lists each quarter or year. I was greatly surprised I had not encountered Philbrick, it was absolutely my loss. Back to the book at hand. 

The description of the ‘The Young Man and the Sea’ edition states:

 “A story of determination and survival from the acclaimed author of FREAK THE MIGHTY. "This thrilling and elegant book ... will hold the interest of even the most stalwart landlubber." -- PW

Twelve-year-old Skiff Beaman's mom just died, and his fisherman dad is too depressed to drag himself off the couch and go to work. So these days Skiff has to take care of everything himself.

But when his dad's boat sinks, Skiff discovers it will cost thousands to buy a new engine. Skiff's lobster traps won't earn him enough, but there are bigger fish in the sea -- bluefin tuna. If he can catch one of those monster fish, Skiff just might save the boat -- and his family.”

The description of the ‘Lobster Boy’ edition states:

“Skiff Beaman has a problem. A BIG problem. He needs to fix up his family's fishing boat, but to do that he needs money. A whole heap of money.His father isn't going to help – he can't see further than the next can of beer since Skiff's mother died – and nor is his classmate, Tyler, inventor of the nickname "Lobster Boy".But Skiff can still hear his mother's voice telling him "Never give up". So he comes up with a plan. It's crazy, it's dangerous, and it's going to take all Skiff's grit and strength to win a great battle against the sea. An inspirational and compelling action-packed tale by the internationally bestselling author, Rodman Philbrick.”

About the author in another volume we are informed:

“After years of writing mysteries and suspense thrillers for adults, Rodman Philbrick decided to try his hand at a novel for young readers. That novel, Freak the Mighty, was published in 1993 to great acclaim and stellar reviews. In addition to being named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and winning several state awards, it was also made into the Miramax feature film The Mighty in 1998. Rod returns to Maxwell Kane’s story in a sequel, Max the Mighty, a fast-paced cross-country odyssey.

Rod takes young readers to the American West in his exhilarating tale of two brothers on the run in The Fire Pony, winner of the Capital Choice Award, and on to a land where nothing is as it seems in the science-fiction adventure REM World. His thought-provoking novel The Last Book in the Universe, also an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, takes place in a futuristic world where no one reads anymore. Rod thought back to his New England roots and knowledge of boat building to write The Young Man and the Sea. School Library Journal praised its “wide-open adventure” and “heart-pounding suspense” and named it a Best Book of the Year in 2004.

Rodman Philbrick has also written several spine-tingling series for young readers with his wife, Lynn Harnett, including The House on Cherry Street and The Werewolf Chronicles. Rod and Lynn divide their time between homes on the coast of Maine and in the Florida Keys.”

There are supplemental sections at the end of each edition. For the US edition they are:

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Q&A with Rodman Philbrick

Rod’s Writing Tips

A Sneak Peek at Freak the Mighty

In the UK Edition they are:

A Conversation with Rodman Philbrick

About the Author (In his own words)

Sneak Preview of Fire Pony by Rodman Philbrick

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

More Usborne fiction

A quick check and the text appears to be identical or nearly so. 

This story could be considered a school story because of the school age protagonist, but the events take place over summer vacation. But in many ways it is a father son story. It is a story of both of them dealing with loss. And the son, Skiff Beaman, is just trying to keep things up after the passing of his mother. He wants to restore the family boat in the hopes his father will start working again. He wants to fix things, first the boat, then his father. But life at times is a lot harder than many expect. And Skiff is just trying to live by the three rules him mother instilled in him, and her voice reminding him what she would say in different situations. 

The volume is clearly written in homage to The Old Man and the Sea, And Moby Dick. It is written in a way that when young readers encounter them later in life they will recognize the echoes. And for us older readers we will see a similar story with very different eyes.

This is another excellent story from Philbrick’s masterful pen. It reminds me a lot of the works of Andrew Clements or Gordon Korman, Tony Abbott, and Dan Gutman. All of whom I loved and have read numerous stories. Because of the various genres he writes in I am beginning to think of him as an American Arthur Slade. I am really surprised I had not encountered the author previously. These first six books are so great; I might just end up reading everything from the author. After reading more Philbrick I am also being reminded more of Madeleine L’Engle who wrote adult fiction, nonfiction, children’s fiction, teen fiction, and even theology.  

This is another one of those excellent stories for middle grade or tween readers. It is even strong enough for us older folks for I am in my mid 50’s and could not put it down and read it over an afternoon, over several mugs of tea. It is a very moving story, one I can easily recommend. And I know I will be reading more by Philbrick and the various names he publishes under!

Books by Rodman Philbrick:

Max the Mighty Series:

Freak the Mighty (1993)

Max the Mighty (1998)

…

 

House on Cherry Street Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. The Haunting (1995)

2. The Horror (1995)

3. The Final Nightmare (1995)

…

 

Werewolf Chronicles Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. Night Creature (1996)

2. Children of the Wolf (1996)

3. The Wereing (1996)

…

 

Visitors Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. Strange Invaders (1997)

2. Things (1997)

3. Brain Stealers (1997)

…

 

Wild Series:

1. Wildfire (2019)

2. Wild River (2021)

3. Wild Wave (2024)

4. Wild Blizzard (2026)

…

 

Other Books:

Shooting Star (1982)

The Black Moon (1989) 

Brothers and Sinners (1993)

The Fire Pony (1996)

Abduction (1998) (with Lynn Harnett)

The Mighty (1998)

The Last Book in the Universe (2000)

Dark Matter (2000)

Rem World (2000)

The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds (2001)

Coffins (2002)

The Young Man and the Sea (2004)

Lobster Boy (2005)

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (2009)

Listening To Kids In America (2011)

Zane and the Hurricane (2014)

The Big Dark (2016)

Who Killed Darius Drake? (2017)

We Own the Sky (2022)

…

Written as William R Dantz:

Pulse (1989) (as by William R Dantz)

The Seventh Sleeper (1991) (as by William R Dantz)

Hunger (1993) (as by William R Dantz)

Nine Levels Down (1995) (as by William R Dantz)

Written as by W R Philbrick:

The Big Chip (1990) (as by W R Philbrick)

…

J.D. Hawkins Series:

1. Shadow Kills (1985)

2. Ice for the Eskimo (1986)

3. Paint It Black (1989)

4. Walk on the Water (1991)

…

 

T.D. Stash Series:

1. The Neon Flamingo (1987)

2. The Crystal Blue Persuasion (1988)

3. Tough Enough (1989)

…

Written as by Chris Jordan:

Randall Shane Series:

1. Taken (2006)

2. Trapped (2007)

  aka Lost

3. Torn (2009)

4. Measure of Darkness (2011)

…

Who Killed Darius Drake? - Rodman Philbrick

Who Killed Darius Drake? 

Rodman Philbrick

Scholastic Canada

The Blue Sky Press

ISBN 9780545789783

eISBN 9780545789806

ASIN B06X9G41KP

A month ago I was having a discussion with a young man in his early 20’s and asked about his favourite book, because that is what bibliophiles do. He immediately said this Freak the Mighty, no hesitation, no pause just an immediate answer. I looked it up later in the day and discovered there was two books in that series and also a movie. While working on the review of the first Mighty book, I found at least a dozen I was interested in just from the titles. So this is the fifth volume by Rodman I have read in as many weeks, and every time I read one the list of ones I want to read grows! I have now compiled a list of all books published by Philbrick, under his various pen names. I enjoyed that first one so much I had picked up 3 other volumes by Philbrick before I even finished it! And by the time I had read three I had picked up nearly a dozen. 

I have been publishing reviews for 21 years now, first in papers and magazines and then on my blog and other platforms. I continue to read and write reviews because I must. I am a dyslexic bibliophile. I have tagged Scholastic over 450 times on my blog for reviews of books, or for my Top Ten Lists each quarter or year. I was greatly surprised I had not encountered Philbrick, it was absolutely my loss. Back to the book at hand. The description of this volume state:

“From Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick comes a delicious, fast-paced whodunit about two socially outcast boys who set out to find jewels hidden for a century--and unwittingly flush out a murderer.

In award-winner Philbrick's new page-turning mystery, Arthur "Bash Man" is the school thug, paid with candy to bully and threaten other students. When genius orphan Darius Drake employs Arthur to help him discover the origin of a suspicious threat, written in blood, they uncover a mystery that involves Darius's estranged grandfather, who was imprisoned for forging evidence in a search for a long-lost diamond necklace worth millions. The boys make the dangerous decision to search for the jewels themselves -- and in the process, they discover that the car crash that killed Darius's parents was not an accident at all. Who will be next? Where are the diamonds? And who is stalking the boys? In his first mystery for children, Philbrick delivers yet another suspenseful, unpredictable tale filled with twists and turns that will leave readers breathless.”

The back cover of the print edition of the book states:

“For Arthur Bash, the mystery all begins with a letter, written in blood, threatening his geeky classmate Darius Drake. For the price of two candy bars, Arthur agrees to his usual job of thug-for-hire, but in this case, Darius is secretly pulling him into a much more dangerous task than scaring kids at school. Orphaned when his parents were killed in a car crash, Darius uncovers clues that lure both boys into a web of lies, corruption, and conflicting tales about Darius’s family and their long-ago connection to a still-missing treasure worth millions. Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick presents a page-turning story that will absorb readers as it reveals the complexities of greed, deception, family ties, and friendship. Who killed Darius Drake? And why?”

About the author in another volume we are informed:

“Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick has written more than a dozen novels for young readers. In 1993, he published his first children's book, Freak the Mighty, which became an instant classic, and was made into a feature film. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg was a 2010 Newbery Honor Book. Philbrick's other acclaimed novels include Max the Mighty, The Young Man and the Sea, The Last Book in the Universe, Zane and the Hurricane, and Wildfire. Philbrick divides his time between Maine and the Florida Keys. You can learn more about him on his website: rodmanphilbrick.com.”

This story is a little book school story, a little bit buddy story, a little bit broken family and a whole lot of mystery. This is a fast paced mystery. The events appear to take place over a few days, at least the main story. We are led by the indomitable Darius Drake who receives a letter in blood asking who killed him? SO he grabs the school goon who works for chocolate bars, a thug for hire, Arthur Bash. But soon Arthur finds himself drawn into a story a hundred years in the making. The missing Dunbar diamonds, parents killed in a car crash 10 years earlier, A grandfather not long out of jail. When we throw in a step sister and rick business tycoon and a scared and disfigured Excon, you end up with one awesome story. But in their rush to find the diamonds the kids just might forget about safety. Read this excellent story to find out what happens.

This is another excellent story from Philbrick’s masterful pen. It reminds me a lot of the works of Andrew Clements or Gordon Korman, Tony Abbott, and Dan Gutman. All of whom I loved and have read numerous stories. Because of the various genres he writes in I am beginning to think of him as an American Arthur Slade. I am really surprised I had not encountered the author previously. These first five books are so great; I might just end up reading everything from the author. After reading more Philbrick I am also being reminded more of Madeleine L’Engle who wrote adult fiction, nonfiction, children’s fiction, teen fiction, and even theology.  

This is one of those excellent stories for middle grade or tween readers. It is even strong enough for us older folks for I am in my mid 50’s and could not put it down and read it over an afternoon, over several mugs of tea. It is an excellent story, one I can easily recommend. And I know I will be reading more by Philbrick and the various names he publishes under!

Books by Rodman Philbrick:

Max the Mighty Series:

Freak the Mighty (1993)

Max the Mighty (1998)

…

 

House on Cherry Street Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. The Haunting (1995)

2. The Horror (1995)

3. The Final Nightmare (1995)

…

 

Werewolf Chronicles Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. Night Creature (1996)

2. Children of the Wolf (1996)

3. The Wereing (1996)

…

 

Visitors Series: (with Lynn Harnett)

1. Strange Invaders (1997)

2. Things (1997)

3. Brain Stealers (1997)

…

 

Wild Series:

1. Wildfire (2019)

2. Wild River (2021)

3. Wild Wave (2024)

4. Wild Blizzard (2026)

…

 

Other Books:

Shooting Star (1982)

The Black Moon (1989) 

Brothers and Sinners (1993)

The Fire Pony (1996)

Abduction (1998) (with Lynn Harnett)

The Mighty (1998)

The Last Book in the Universe (2000)

Dark Matter (2000)

Rem World (2000)

The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds (2001)

Coffins (2002)

The Young Man and the Sea (2004)

Lobster Boy (2005)

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (2009)

Listening To Kids In America (2011)

Zane and the Hurricane (2014)

The Big Dark (2016)

Who Killed Darius Drake? (2017)

We Own the Sky (2022)

…

Written as William R Dantz:

Pulse (1989) (as by William R Dantz)

The Seventh Sleeper (1991) (as by William R Dantz)

Hunger (1993) (as by William R Dantz)

Nine Levels Down (1995) (as by William R Dantz)

Written as by W R Philbrick:

The Big Chip (1990) (as by W R Philbrick)

…

J.D. Hawkins Series:

1. Shadow Kills (1985)

2. Ice for the Eskimo (1986)

3. Paint It Black (1989)

4. Walk on the Water (1991)

…

 

T.D. Stash Series:

1. The Neon Flamingo (1987)

2. The Crystal Blue Persuasion (1988)

3. Tough Enough (1989)

…

Written as by Chris Jordan:

Randall Shane Series:

1. Taken (2006)

2. Trapped (2007)

  aka Lost

3. Torn (2009)

4. Measure of Darkness (2011)

…

Conspiracy 365 September - Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365 September
Gabrielle Lord
Scholastic
ISBN 9781443104760

Scholastic Australia

eISBN 9781921988615

ASIN B00BFV1GQA

Once again I will state that this story just continues to get better and better, each offering is more intense than the previous. I read the first two volumes in this series back in 2011; I had planned on reading them one a month as they were released. But that did not happen. My son started reading them in 2026 and he is in his late teens so I decided to pick them back up and finish the series. I have read about one a month over the last several months.

When I read the first 2 it was a new series from Scholastic, Conspiracy 365, is another unique approach to books that will draw readers in and keep them addicted. Much like the 39 Clues or Skeleton Creek books, it approaches storytelling in a new and different way that with draw an addicted following of readers. The story is about the life of Callum (Cal) Ormond. Almost like a year-long version of the TV series 24. The story was originally told over 12 books, one released each month for a year. And we now know the story continued with a shorter follow up series.

The description of this volume states:

“Convinced Oriana was behind his little sister's kidnapping, Cal teams up with Boges to pull off a plan to extract vital information out of her. Together they plant a listening bug in Oriana's house by firing it through her window with an air rifle!

But will spying on his would-be killer reveal the location of the precious Jewel and Riddle, or will it put Cal in the line of fire? With his enemies growing in number as fast as the days are counting down, Cal will risk almost anything to stay alive and reclaim his normal life.

The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last.”

The Australian description states:

“Convinced Oriana was behind his little sister's kidnapping, Cal teams up with Boges to pull off a plan to extract vital information out of her. Together they plant a listening bug in Oriana's house by firing it through her window with an air rifle! But will spying on his would-be killer reveal the location of the precious Jewel and Riddle, or will it put Cal in the line of fire?”

About the author we are informed:

“Gabrielle Lord is one of Australia's bestselling crime writers for adults. Following the Conspiracy 365 series, she already has plans for another three adult novels and two more young adult books. Research is everything, Gabrielle says. 'Out of my contacts with experts (who are always far too modest to describe themselves that way) I get not only the fine-tuning necessary for today's savvy readers, but also wonderful incidents and images that enrich and enlarge my books.”

This volume picks up right where the previous left off. And things are pretty bleak at the beginning. But soon a few things finally go right for Cal and his team. For that is the big change Cal, Boges and Winter really have come together as a team. The earlier conflicts and suspicions seem to have been set aside. And they are working on solving the Ormond Riddle. But having given up altered copies of some of their clues and the jewel itself. They are back to trying to acquire pieces they already had. And the risk are high. So much goes on in this volume. Cal is trapped in a hideout, caught in a cave in, left in the desert, and taken to a ghost town. How much can one young man take. 

Oh and this one again ends on a major cliff hanger. Leaving you desperate for the next volume. 

These books were originally published in Australia and North America by Scholastic, unfortunately it appears eBook editions were never released in Canada. This is another great instalment in a thrilling series.

These books have a few cool features. In each book, the page numbers start at the highest and count down. The chapter and section headings are Dates and Time. This was an excellent ninth instalment in the series. Give them a try you will not be disappointed. This is another great instalment in an excellent series. 

Books by Gabrielle Lord:
Conspiracy 365:
Series Overview
January (2011)
February (2011)

March (2011)
April (2011)
May (2011)
June (2011)
July (2011)
August (2011)
September (2011)
October (2011)
November (2011)
December (2011)

…

Conspiracy 365 Black Ops:

Missing (2013)

Hunted (2013)

Endgame (2013)

…

48 Hours Series:

The Vanishing (2017)

The Medusa Curse (2017)

…

Gemma Lincoln:

Feeding the Demons (1999)

Baby Did a Bad Thing (2002)

Spiking the Girl (2004)

Shattered (2007)

Death by Beauty (2012)

…

Jack McCain:

Death Delights (2001)

Lethal Factor (2003)

Dirty Weekend (2005)

…

Other Books:

Fortress (1980)

Tooth and Claw (1983)

Jumbo (1986)

Salt (1990)

Whipping Boy (1992)

The Stranger Inside: An Erotic Adventure (1994)

Bones (1995)

The Sharp End (1998)

Monkey Undercover (2006)

…