orphans

Fifteen-year-old Daniel has followed in his parents' footsteps as the Alien Hunter, exterminating beings on The List of Alien Outlaws on Terra Firma, but when he faces his first of the top ten outlaws, the very existence of Earth and another planet are at stake.

A young orphan learns that monsters can grow out of the shadows in our world, and there is an ancient order of knights who keep them at bay.

In 1904, nine-year-old Samantha, an orphan living with her wealthy grandmother, and her servant friend Nellie have a midnight adventure when they try to find out what has happened to the seamstress who suddenly left her job.

The Alden children return to Surprise Island for a visit, and Benny's curiosity is aroused by a small yellow house that Grandfather doesn't want to talk about.

Marnie and her little sister, Nelly, are on their own now. Only they know what happened to their parents, Izzy and Gene, and they aren't telling. While life in Glasgow's Maryhill housing estate isn't grand, the girls do have each other. As the New Year comes and goes, Lennie, the old man next door, realizes that his young neighbors are alone and need his help. Lennie takes them in?feeds them, clothes them, protects them?and something like a family forms. But soon, the sisters' friends, their teachers, and the authorities start asking tougher questions. As one lie leads to another, dark secrets about the girls' family surface, creating complications that threaten to tear them apart.

The Aldens visit a dinosaur dig in Montana and soon become involved in a mystery involving missing dinosaur bones.

In 1775 twelve-year old orphan Gabriel Cooper gathers his few belongings, and the old drum he finds at the edge of the East River, and sets off from New York along the Post Road, intending to join the fight for freedom--but along the way he will encounter many trials and dangers, until he and his drum finally reach Boston.

"The Iremonger family is at large in London, the ruins of the town of Foulsham left burning behind them. They need a new home and they intend to find one. Londoners are beginning to notice bizarre happenings-loved ones disappearing, strange objects appearing and a creeping darkness that seems to swallow up the daylight. The Police have summoned help, but is their cure more deadly than the feared Iremongers? What role will Clod play: returning son or rebel? Heartbroken child or hero? And where are all the rats coming from?"--Jacket flap.

Leaving with her brother when he decides he can no longer stay with their guardian, Ari endures a life of homelessness that challenges her schoolwork, friendships, and the promise made to her mother that she and her brother would stay together.