Above by Roland Smith

On the run since their escape from the Deep, Pat, Coop, and Kate plan to reunite in Oregon. However, their reunion is postponed when Alex Dane—Lod’s brother who helped the teens escape—shows up and tasks Kate to shadow Lod’s members that are gathering in the area. Alex, Pat, and Coop follow Kate’s trail so they can understand Lod’s next move and then notify the authorities. Kate lets herself get captured by Lod’s minions, but she tries to earn their trust so she can hide her involvement with Alex, Pat, and Coop.

This sequel to Beneath is yet another rapid-fire read full of suspense, mystery, and deception. Told from Pat and Kate’s perspectives, readers follow the break-neck pace of these teens as they chase down Lod and his demented disciples. Because there is access to Kate’s mind, readers learn more details about her upbringing in the Deep and understand how losing her parents by Lod’s hand caused Kate to turn against him. Compared to Beneath, Pat is not continually confronting his claustrophobia. However, he encounters his patterned, panic-stricken thoughts again as he is forced to enter yet another Deep. A theme Smith carries through his series is that there is no such thing as a coincidence. Smith shows that the events and decisions of a person’s past ideally places them in situations where they can conquer present dilemmas. Both Beneath and Above clearly show that Smith is an expert at crafting quality, contemporary adventures for young adults. 

The Edge (Peak #2) by Roland Smith

Peak honestly wants to forget his time on Everest. But the film crew who taped his and Sun-jo’s Everest climb seek out Peak with a proposition. The richest man in the world, Sebastian Plank, is hosting a Peace Climb for young international climbers and Plank wants Peak to represent the US. Except there is a catch. The film crew only know the climb will be in Afghanistan. Peak accepts the offer with the condition that his mother join him. Their trip begins with a private jet to Afghanistan and a helicopter ride to the Hindu Kush Mountains. Before the climb begins, film director Phillip Stockwell pushes the crew and climbers to film shots for a documentary ordered by Plank. Peak dozes off during a scene set-up but awakens to find two Afghan guards murdered, one climber badly injured, and nine members of their group kidnapped.

Smith’s newest novel and sequel to Peak will grab readers’ full attention by taking them on a dangerous thrill ride through the Afghan mountains. For most American readers, the word Afghanistan can conjure some frightening and painful images. But that stigma doesn’t deter Smith from setting his book in this war-torn country. As Peak draws closer to the ominous region, both Peak and readers gain a better understanding of Afghanistan’s history, culture, and wildlife. This clarity comes through beautifully in Peak’s no-nonsense but sharply witty narration. An amazing read from start to finish, The Edge will not disappoint faithful fans of Peak. A must-have for any library and a must-read for both boys and girls ages ten and up.  

Mutation by Roland Smith

After Grace and the dinosaur hatchlings’ rescue from Noah Blackwood, Wolfe and Ted take Marty, Grace, Luther, and Dylan to Brazil to aid in the search for Marty’s missing parents. The tweens and the two adults split into two traveling parities as they head towards Dr. Lansa’s jaguar preserve. Before and after the two groups arrive, several members of the preserve disappear into the rainforest with no trace. Finally only Marty, Grace, Dylan, and the hatchlings are left behind with Noah's henchmen close on their trail.

The final book of Cryptid Hunters will not disappoint fans of the series. Mutation is a dangerously exciting ride as Smith takes readers soaring along the Amazon, zip-lining through the rainforest, and pursing two determined baby dinosaurs. It seems Marty, Grace, Luther, and Dylan will do anything to keep the people they love safe from Noah’s clutches. What sets these books apart from other YA adventure novels is the way Smith integrates his past characters and settings into his current writings. Besides resolving Marty and Grace’s conflicts, Smith also settles unresolved dilemmas found in Sasquatch. Also, Smith uses the setting and characters from Jaguar as the stage for Mutation. Fans of these books will enjoy their characters being spotlighted again.

Chupacabra by Roland Smith

Ever since Grace left with her grandfather, Noah Blackwood, Marty never felt Grace was safe. While all the eWolfe adults are gone, Marty, Luther, and their new friend, Dylan, decide to rescue Grace and the Mokélé-mbembé hatchlings from Noah’s zoo, Seattle Ark. Meanwhile, Grace has been searching for any information exposing Blackwood. When she uncovers several secret passageways in Noah’s mansion, they lead Grace to Noah’s private quarters and his secret taxidermy display of rare or extinct animals. Noah's horrific display and the evidence that the boys are in the park help Grace resolve to escape Noah's clutches.

An edge-of-your-seat read, Chupacabra throws readers right into the action with Marty, Grace, Luther, and Dylan as they try to infiltrate and then escape Noah’s estate with their lives. The boys are completely on their own as they sneak into Noah’s park. They must rely on each other’s intellectual gifts and the dragonspy to help them make it out alive. Besides following the tweens adventures, readers will learn more about Noah Blackwood’s diabolic plans and his evil empire as readers delve deep into the bowels of the Seattle Ark. Many mysteries about Noah are still left unanswered, which will make readers excited for the final book, Mutation. Also, fans of Smith’s work may recognize Dylan’s character from Smith’s 1998 book, Sasquatch.

Tentacles by Roland Smith

Travis Wolfe and his business partner, Ted Bronson, are in need of money to help finance their search for cryptids. The two men agree to a paid expedition to capture a giant squid for the Northwest Zoo and Aquarium of Seattle. Marty and Grace join Wolfe on the sea voyage, along with Marty’s boarding school roommate, Luther. Because Noah Blackwood poses such a threat, Wolfe secretly brings the Mokélé-mbembé eggs onboard under extreme security measures. But Blackwood’s spies and his best hunter, Butch McCall, infiltrate the ship to stop Wolfe's expedition by any means necessary.

In this book, Smith gives more insight behind the reclusive Ted Bronson and his amazing inventions for eWolfe. Marty and Grace have heard rumors that Ted Bronson is a reclusive, geeky genius who has not left his hut on Crytpos Island for three years. However, Marty finds out the truth onboard Wolfe’s ship when Marty discovers a fellow passenger is not who he claims to be. As Marty, Grace, and Luther prove their loyalty on the voyage, they are entrusted with information regarding eWolfe’s secret inventions, like a dragonfly-robot, a miniature nuclear-submarine, and impenetrable aquasuits. Tentacles is an extremely action-packed, imaginative book that will keep any reader glued to its pages late into the night. The next book in the Cryptid Hunters series is Chupacabra.

Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith

After hearing news that their parents may be lost in the Amazon, Marty and Grace O’Hara are told they will live with their uncle, Travis Wolfe. Wolfe is a cryptozoologist, someone who studies legendary creatures to prove their existence. After Marty and Grace join him, Wolfe sees evidence of a Mokélé-mbembé—a small dinosaur—living in the Congo. But spies warn Dr. Noah Blackwood, a supposed wildlife expert, about Wolfe’s trip and he hires men to steal both the Mokélé-mbembé evidence and Grace. As Wolfe’s expedition heads to Africa, Marty and Grace are accidentally dropped into the Congo. With only a small device to guide them, Marty and Grace must work together to find shelter while dodging Noah’s henchmen.

Cryptid Hunters is a rousing read that is totally original in its story, setting, and characters. The story is based on a true scientific study called cryptozoology, where scientists try to prove the existence of many cryptids like dinosaurs, the Sasquatch, or the Loch Ness Monster. Then there is the setting on Wolfe’s private island, Cryptos, off the coast of Washington where he and his partner, Ted Bronson, invent revolutionary technologies. Finally there are the two main characters of Marty and Grace. They may be related and geniuses in their own way, but Marty and Grace are far from being similar in looks or thinking. This is part of a four book series with Tentacles as Cryptid Hunters’ sequel.

Beneath by Roland Smith

After waiting a year, Pat O’Toole finally receives news from his missing brother, Coop, in the form of a strange package. Inside is a digital voice recorder detailing Coop’s exploration of an unknown society beneath New York City called the Deep. But when Pat’s letters to Coop go unanswered, Pat decides to make his way to New York City’s underground. Once there Pat meets Kate, a girl who needs Pat’s help in rescuing Coop from the clutches of the underworld dictator, Lod.

Smith creates an incredibly original and thought-provoking story with Beneath. The book is written from the perspective of Pat as he dictates his and Coop’s voice recordings into his journal. Both Pat and Coop describe their separate descents into the Deep, except Pat has the added complication of claustrophobia. Pat’s claustrophobia was created when, as children, Coop and Pat were almost buried after a tunnel collapsed. Pat’s love for Coop helps him conquer his phobia while making his way through dangerously tight and cramped situations. Along with Pat and Coop’s story, Smith creates an intriguing idea of how easily a cult-like society can be hidden inside a normal population. Smith is currently writing a sequel called Above. 

Introducing Roland Smith

Happy Valentine's Day to my fellow readers! Speaking of Valentine's Day, here is an author whose work I just love...Roland Smith! I met Roland Smith in 2003 when he came to Iola, Kansas, for the Allen County Young Authors celebration. My family and I have kept in touch with him and his amazing wife, Marie, through the years, especially as I have attended the Warrensburg Children's Literature Festival. He and Marie have been great friends to my parents. Love you guys!

Here is a little background on Roland's life:

"I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. When I was five years old my parents gave me an old manual typewriter that weighed more than I did! It was my favorite possession. I spent hours in my room clacking away on that old typewriter. Of course, when I was five I didn’t know how to spell and I barely knew how to read, but I loved the sound and the look of the letters on the crisp white paper.

"Things haven’t changed much since then. I still spend several hours a day in my room clacking away and I still love the sound of the keyboard and the look of the letters and words that eventually turn into stories. The only difference is that I can read now and I spell a lot better...

"My wife, Marie, and I live on a small farm south of Portland. I spend my days in my basement office writing stories that usually include animals. If I’m not writing I’m traveling — doing research and taking photos for upcoming books. Or, I’m out visiting schools — something I love to do! My writing led me to animals and my work with animals led me back to writing. It’s funny how things work out. I spent over twenty years working with animals. Now I’m going to spend the next twenty years writing about animals…as well as a few other things."
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Recently, I asked Roland a few questions about his life as both a reader and a writer:

1. What was the first book that inspired you to become a reader?
I began reading at a pretty young age. I can’t really remember learning how to read, although I’m certain someone taught me. The first book I remember reading, although I’m certain there were many before this, was A Cricket in Times Square by George Selden. I read it several times. I wanted to move to New York and live at the train station. It was decades before I finally got there, but I stayed in a hotel.

2. Which authors inspired you to become a writer?
All of them. I’ve read one or two books every week for over fifty years. Every one of these novels, great, good, or not so good, has influenced my writing. I'm not talking about stealing other author's ideas here. I'm talking about how they choose to tell their story. The words. The sentence structure. The plot. The characters. The rhythm of the story. What did they do right? Where did they go wrong? What would I do differently if I were writing their novel? These questions, and others, are very inspiring for me.

3. Your books are set in some pretty exotic locations around the world. What has been the most enjoyable place you have traveled to while doing research for your books and why?
The most beautiful place I've been to was Kenya. A very close second would be Alaska, where I have been many times as a biologist, writer, and tourist. My most thrilling travel experience was spending several weeks deep in Myanmar (formerly Burma), living and working in elephant camps. I was there to help elephants and do research for my novel Elephant Run. It was like going back in time a hundred years, and was remarkable in every way. Of all the places I've ever been, this was the place that changed my worldview the most.

4. From your past work in zoos, what animals have inspired your writing the most?
That would be elephants. I had the good fortune to work with them in zoos and in the wild for over 20 years. As a result elephants have been featured in many of my novels. Most notably Thunder Cave and Elephant Run.

5. What books are in the works right now?
At this very moment I’m working on the sequel to Beneath, which will be called, Above. The next book, coming out in October, is The Edge. This is a sequel to my novel Peak.

Check out more on Roland Smith from his website: http://www.rolandsmith.com/

Elephant Run by Roland Smith

To escape London bombings, Nick Freestone is sent to live on his father’s teak plantation deep in the Burmese jungle. Once there Nick develops a close friendship with Mya, a girl longing to become a mahout, or elephant rider. However, WWII catches up to Nick when the planation is invaded by the Japanese and both Nick’s father and Mya’s brother are sent to a labor camp. With the help of Hilltop—Mya’s Buddhist monk great-grandfather—and Hannibal, a dangerous bull elephant, Nick and Mya escape the planation disguised as novice monks. Nick and Mya's mission is to rescue their family members, but they must travel through dangerous jungles crawling with enemy soldiers.

Smith expertly transports readers into the Burmese wild. In Burma elephants help shape not only the land, but also its people and culture. Nick learns to respect the giant mammals, especially when those elephants both threaten and save Nick’s life. From a historical standpoint, readers can see how far-reaching WWII spread as they begin in battered London and travel across the globe to a newly conquered Burma. But even in the face of war there were still good people on the enemy's side, like the character of Sonji, the sympathetic, haiku-loving Japanese soldier. A wonderful WWII historical-fiction read for ages 10 and up.

Peak by Roland Smith

When fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello is caught scaling the side of a skyscraper, he is sentenced to serve probation with his absent, rock-rat father, Josh. Josh pushed for Peak to go with him so that Peak could become the youngest person to climb Everest. After traveling around the world, Peak ends up at Everest’s Base Camp. Once there, Peak begins his rigorous training in hopes of completing the climb before his birthday. But as Peak gets closer to Everest's summit, Peak starts questioning his father's motives.

Smith writes his story through the eyes and emotions of Peak Marcello. Not only does Peak tell about his own travels, training, and troubles, Peak also talks about his background and relationship issues with his attention-seeking father. After his skyscraper-climbing stunt, Peak can see that he is heading down a similar negative path as his father. By questioning the climb, Peak can see it will determine his future. Besides learning more about Peak himself, Peak also describes a climber’s life on Everest, detailing the special training and camps all climbers must complete before heading to the top. A fascinating, eye-opening book that any reader, age 10 and up would enjoy.

Storm Runners: Eruption by Roland Smith

After surviving a hurricane in Florida, Chase, Nicole, Chase’s father, and his construction team head to Mexico to tract down the lost caravan of the Rossi Brothers’ Circus. An earthquake destroyed several roads there, making it impossible to search the area for the caravan or for survivors. Because of the earthquake, a local volcano is threatening to erupt at any time, possibly before any survivors can get out. As Chase’s group travels towards the last location of the circus caravan, Chase is again separated from his father and mugged by looters. With no way to communicate with his father, Chase must rely on his survival skills to not only help himself, but to also aid a stranded village in the volcano’s path.

With Eruption Smith does it a third time in keeping up a seamless, pulsing pace that will leave readers in breathless suspense for Chase, his father, and his friends. With each disaster Chase faces, he tests his limits and learns from his mistakes in sometimes painful, life-threatening ways. Aside from the surviving these natural disasters, Chase and his father finally resolve their issues because they realize how much they love and need each other. A fantastic series for ages 8 and up.

Storm Runners: The Surge by Roland Smith

After twelve hours of walking through a hurricane, Chase, Nicole, and Rashawn arrive at the Rossi Brothers’ Circus property. But they are far from being safe: two wildcat cages were damaged during the hurricane letting both a leopard and a lion escape. The only somewhat safe place for the storm’s survivors is a large warehouse that is currently housing an antsy, pregnant elephant. To keep everyone safe, Nicole and Chase must work together to secure the warehouse from the lion, the leopard, and the surge.

Smith flawlessly continues with the thrilling story he began in Storm Runners. This time, the storm is not the only obstacle. Readers will race along with Chase and Nicole as they find the courage to battle both deadly weather and man-eating animals. Chase combines his storm survival skills with Nicole’s circus know-how to capture both a leopard and a lion, all with limited adult supervision. But while Chase and Nicole are securing the storm’s survivors, readers will learn more about Chase’s father as he tries any way he can to get to Chase’s side. The final book in the Storm Runners' trilogy is Eruption.

Storm Runners by Roland Smith

Chase Masters and his father live an unsettled lifestyle as storm runners. When they hear of a predicted hurricane in Florida, Chase and his father drive their RV home and portable construction business to the winter quarters of the Rossi Brothers’ Circus. While Chase’s father prepares locals for the storm, Chase attends school with Nicole Rossi. But when the storm’s condition becomes threatening, school is cancelled and students are sent home. As Chase, Nicole, and another girl--Rashawn--are being driven home, the bus driver dies and the bus is overturned on washed out roads. Chase must rely on his storm skills to help them all survive the life-threatening weather.

Smith writes a riveting, adventurous start to the Storm Runners trilogy. Even though the story’s focus may be on the non-stop suspense and nail-biting danger of the hurricane, Smith creates an inner storm raging inside of Chase’s character. Ever since Chase lost his mother and sister and his father was struck by lightning, Chase has felt abandoned. When his father took on the personal crusade to become a storm runner, Chase had no choice but to join him and leave behind his memories of home. Yet when Chase is faced with surviving a hurricane on his own, he realizes his love for his father and hopes he can rekindle their relationship. The next book is called The Surge.