The End of a Series (and the start of a new one!)

I was at a wonderful writing retreat called Kindling Words when I wrote the last chapter of CAPTURE THE FLAG and thought, “I really, really want to write more books with these three kids!”  As an author, when you’ve had the chance to spend time with three kids from totally different backgrounds whose families are all part of a secret society to protect the world’s artifacts, you’re just not ready to let them go after one book. Happily, Scholastic agreed, and CAPTURE THE FLAG became Book 1 of three Silver Jaguar Society Mysteries. Book 2, HIDE AND SEEK, came out last year.

I’m so thankful to readers of these books — especially the kids who have passed them from hand to hand and the teachers and libraries whose passion and advocacy landed CAPTURE THE FLAG on ten state award lists.

Anna, Henry, and José have one last adventure ahead – MANHUNT comes out in June and sends the kids off on their most dangerous missions yet.

Henry, Anna, and José head from Boston to Paris to solve the mystery of an international art heist! Shortly after they arrive, they learn that a member of the Silver Jaguar Society is working as a double agent, passing information to the criminal gang the Serpentine Princes — but who could it be? When the senior members of the Society go missing, it’s up to Henry, Anna, José, and their smug new comrade, Hem, to mount a rescue while staying hot on the trail of a missing masterpiece. Running around — and below — a foreign city filled with doppelgangers, decoys, and deceit, the three sleuths discover they’re the only hope for the Society’s survival!

I have a few advance reader copies of this book and would like to give one away in a drawing.  To enter, just leave a comment with your email before 9pm EST on Friday, May 30th. If you’re under 13, please have an adult enter on your behalf. Open to residents with US mailing addresses only.

MANHUNT is the last Silver Jaguar Society Mystery for now, but I’m already at work on a brand new adventure series for Scholastic. I want to introduce you to Ranger…

Ranger is a search and rescue dog with some incredible talents. He can find missing people. He has a gift for rescuing friends in trouble. And (with the help of a mysterious First Aid kit he digs up in the garden) he can time travel!

In Ranger’s first adventure, he goes back to the days of the Oregon Trail to travel with a pioneer family struggling with a wandering toddler, rattlesnakes, disease, a treacherous river crossing, and a buffalo stampede on their journey west.

The Ranger in Time books are recommended for readers in Grades 2-5.  Book 1: RANGER IN TIME: RESCUE ON THE OREGON TRAIL comes out in late December 2014, and Book 2, RANGER IN TIME: DANGER IN ANCIENT ROME  (Fire! Lions! Gladiators!) comes out in July 2015. Book 3 doesn’t have a title yet but features a fugitive slave as its hero, and Book 4…well…it’s probably too early to talk about Book 4, but it’s going to have a chilly setting.

So while I’m a little sad to be saying goodbye to my Silver Jaguar Society sleuths, I’m so excited to introduce readers to Ranger and all of the historical kid heroes he meets on his adventures.

Don’t forget – just leave a comment if you’d like to be entered in the MANHUNT ARC drawing!

30 Replies on “The End of a Series (and the start of a new one!)

  1. Awesome! Can’t wait to read the last Silver Jaguar Society book and the first RANGER book! 🙂

  2. Wow, Kate! Incredible endings and beginnings for you, and us as readers! I think my kids are going to adore the Ranger series. Looking forward to reading MANHUNT this summer!

  3. After loving the first two books in the Silver Jaguar series my 10 year old and I are waiting (not patiently) for this one! I think the 7 year old might be ready for them now too.

  4. Congrats, Kate! I’d love an ARC of Manhunt and can’t wait to read more of your writing.

  5. Such excitement! I’ve never had an ARC (always jealous of those that get them). And getting one from Kate Messner would be icing on the cake!

  6. My fifth graders are eating up the Silver Jaguar Series! Bring on Manhunt!

  7. My students are as anxious to see the new book as I am! Can’t wait to share it with them!

  8. Oh, yay! What an attractive cover…I’ll look forward to sharing with students who are on the lookout for your coming stuff! Of course, they’ll be completely envious if I get to read “Manhunt” early!

  9. Students and I love this series and I would love an ARC of the next book.

  10. My students are eager to read Manhunt (and so am I!) Everyday they ask at least one kid asks me when it’s coming out.

  11. My students and I have loved both Silver Jaguar society books. We would love to get a copy of Manhunt!!

  12. I read Capture the Flag and Hide and Seek to my class last year and they LOVED those books. They’ve been waiting anxiously for Manhunt. We’re all (including me!) looking forward to reading it!

  13. Wonderful to hear about this third mystery, Kate, and look forward to the new series too. I love time travel books! Thank you for the giveaway!

  14. Capture the Flag is on the 2014-15 Virginia Reader list. I introduced the titles to my fifth graders this past week and there is a long waiting list for it! I know it will be popular in the fall, too. I would love to get an ARC of Manhunt to share! It looks wonderful!

  15. Wow! Congrats on your new series!! My kids love your books!! One of my kiddos got hooked on reading this year when he read Capture the Flag. Thank you so much for sharing your gifts!

  16. Looking forward to Manhunt. The first two books were certainly fast-paced and exciting. Ranger sounds pretty cool, too!

  17. My 6 year old son and I have been reading this series together and he absolutely loves it! He would be so thrilled to get an advanced copy of Man Hunt!

  18. My 6 year old and I have really enjoyed this series! He would love a copy of Man Hunt!

  19. Wow! Kate, you have been so busy. I stopped by last night at your blog and commented, but it didn’t post – my computer recently got updated (it never works when that happens). I can’t wait for Manhunt. I am even more excited for Ranger – a time traveling dog – my students (and daughter) and I are going to love it!