They lie, cheat, steal, smoke cigars, swear, talk back, bully little kids, set fires, and do just about any other bad thing you can think of. So what are the Herdman kids doing in church? And what do they mean, they want to be in the Christmas pageant this year?

After twelve year old Jayson is left alone when his mother dies he ends up in foster care and fighting to figure out what really matters in his life.

Emma has been kidnapped by the Dire Magnus, and siblings Kate and Michael go on a mission to rescue her. On top of that, Emma must locate the last of the magical Books of Beginning, the Book of Death, before the Dire Magnus does. As the fabric of time begins to fray, Emma becomes the final piece of the puzzle. Only if she can master the powers of this most dangerous book will they be able to save the world from the deadly final confrontation between...

After another escape Bea "Elsa" Bubb, principle of the other-worldly reform school he is trapped in, Milton Fauster finds his way to Blimpo, the circle 'Heck' reserved for overweight dead children. As the plump dead toil away on giant hamster wheels and eating possessed BBQ, Milton must find a way to escape from Blimpo and rescue his sister Marlo, who is miserably failing at her attempt to be a model student.

The government has promised to protect Jax Opus and his family from enemies that want to use his hypnotic power to bring more evil into the world. Jax has reluctantly agreed to be protected. But protection has its price -- and soon Jax learns that if the government is going to help him, it's going to want some help in return.

Callie's younger brother Travis keeps bringing home strays. And Callie has her hands full keeping the animals, Travis included, away from her mother's critical eye. When a storm blows change into town in the form of a visiting veterinarian, Callie discovers a life and a vocation she desperately wants. But with societal expectations as they are, she will need all her wits and courage to realize her dreams.

Judy Moody is making a list and checking it twice, but all her brother, Stink wants this year is snow. It hasn't snowed on Christmas in Virginia in more than a hundred years, however, so what are the chances that it will change?

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy's instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea's forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea....