In the Middle — C.J. Milbrandt

Ewan, Zane, and Ganix -- three half-brothers take sibling rivalry to new lengths as they race each other across their homeland.

Magic isn't the only legacy Mr. Ian Johns wants for his bickering sons. The Postmaster hoped the boys would bond during a family trip, but they twist his vacation plans into a race. Ewan, Zane, and Ganix soon find themselves far from home, facing choices that are far from easy. Three routes stretch from coast to coast. The rules: each brother -- and his two companions -- must check in at post offices along their route. At these waypoints, they stamp in with their personal seal and report their progress by postcard.

In the Middle. A feud on the fringes drags Zane's teammates to opposite ends of town. Both sides are convinced that the other is to blame for recent disappearances, but Zane knows better. He'll have to face a piece of his past in order to haul the real culprit out of danger.

Welcome to Liberty: Big cities and hill-country outposts thrive on busy byways, but people are scarce in the Wilds, where mythical creatures are alive and well. Folks commonly use lanterns to light their homes, and peace is kept by rangers on horseback. In the Byways books, readers will encounter dragons, griffins, river monsters, and rogue magicians.

Magic is a rare trait that runs in families. Some magical gifts are quite useful; others are downright quirky. Like the talent inherited by members of the Johns family. They're Changers who can take the form of an animal. Not that magic will make winning the race any easier for Ewan, Zane, and Ganix.

Educational Twist: Each of the Byways books is tied to one of the fifty states and borrows from its history and geography -- icons, mottos, landmarks, people, places, and famous firsts. They're hidden throughout the story, turning the series into one long game of hide-and-seek. At the end of each Byways book, there's a master list that covers everything from the state tree to the state insect. Nicknames, sports teams, state heroes, and national parks also find their way into the story. States are covered in order of ratification. In the Middle takes its cues from “The Tar Heel State,” North Carolina.

Excerpt:

“Shh. Listen for them.”

Norlina slowly lifted her hand, and a vivid red creature swam down to nose at her fingertips.

“It's a fish!” whispered Bree, hardly believing her eyes.

“They like flowers,” said Norlina.

More of the red drums drifted into view, their fins rippling in unseen currents. Some were no bigger than her little finger, but she'd have needed both hands to catch some of the bigger ones.

“How can they be swimming in midair?” asked Bree.

“Magic.”

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