Adam, Paul (2010). Max Cassidy: Escape From Shadow Island (Gr. 5-9)

Max Cassidy goes to school like other 14-year-olds, but that's the only normal part of his life.  Like Houdini, Max has devoted most of his life to being an escape artist, learning the skills from his equally talented father.  When his father disappeared from a Central American country while traveling two years ago, the corrupt courts there declared him dead and viciously convicted Max's mother of murdering her husband.  With the help of his guardian, Conseula, Max is determined to travel to the scene of the crime and bring his family back together.  His journey to Shadow Island, however, is more dangerous than any escape he's ever attempted on stage.

This thriller has suspense, adventure, mystery, and a backstage peek at how escape artists work.

While you're waiting for The Red Pyramid ...

If, like so many people, you're waiting and waiting for a copy of Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid, here's another book to read in the meantime!

Voelkel, Jon (2007). Middleworld (Gr. 5-9)

(The Jaguar Stones, book 1)  Max Murphy was looking forward to a family vacation in Italy, but his parents--famous archaeologists--leave for a sudden excavation among Mayan ruins instead, leaving Max home with their strange housekeeper.  What a waste of a summer ... until Max is rushed along to Central America, too.  Smugglers, theives, murderous bandits, and the ancient Mayan gods all play a role in this thrilling mystery.

Other worlds are just an attic away ...

Wilson, N.D. (2007). 100 Cupboards (Gr. 5-7).

12-year-old Henry York has led a strange, if uneventful, life.  He has never played baseball, drunk soda, or had parents who paid much attention to him.  When his parents are kidnapped on a bicycling trip in South America, Henry travels to Kansas to stay with his aunt, uncle, and cousins.  A thump on the wall of his attic bedroom throws Henry into a whirlwind, sometimes creepy, adventure of mysterious cupboard doors that lead to other worlds.  Henry and one of his cousins begin to explore, finding notes from their grandfather and meeting a few people from these other worlds. Some of the people want to help, some want to be left alone, and others want something much more sinister than Henry can even imagine.

100 Cupboards combines the best of fantasy and mystery--readers might even find it a little bit scary.  Fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline should check this one out!  The books move quickly, so be sure to request the two sequels at the same time.

What would you do if someone you knew disappeared right before your eyes?

Dowd, Siobhan (2008). The London Eye Mystery. 322 pages. Grades 5-8.

During his visit to London, Salim's cousins, Ted and Kat take him to ride on the London Eye. While waiting in line, they are approached by a stranger who offers them one ticket for the ride. Ted and Kat suggest that Salim take the ticket, which turns out to be a mistake. They watch as Salim walks into the pod that will carry him around the wheel, but when it opens again Salim has vanished! Ted and Kat must work together to solve the mystery of Salim's disappearance.

An ancient door, mysterious codes, and a map

Baccalario, Pierdomenico (2006). The Door to Time. (Ulysses Moore, bk. 1) 222 pages. Grades 4-6.

Julia and Jason have moved into Argo Manor in Kilmore Cove, a grand mansion with an unsolved mystery. The previous owner, Ulysses Moore, left behind interesting clues and codes to unlock an ancient door. With the help of Rick, a local boy, Julia and Jason begin their adventure, which leads them down dark stairways and grottos beneath the old house. They must solve codes and riddles in order to find the map that Ulysses intended for them to find. Little do they know that someone else is after the same thing and will stop at nothing to find it before they do. Will the three children locate the ancient map or will their journey lead them to an even more fantastical place?