SAVING THORNWOOD

This middle-grade mystery delivers a classic adventure where four determined kids must solve their town's oldest secret to save their beloved forest from destruction. When developers threaten to pave over Thornwood, siblings Leo and Maya team up with their friends to follow cryptic clues left by the town's founder, racing against bulldozers and unraveling coded messages hidden in historical landmarks. The fast-paced plot keeps pages turning as the young heroes decipher puzzles in abandoned libraries, uncover hidden passages in local museums, and face very real consequences if they fail.

What makes this environmental thriller stand out is how it balances genuine suspense with thoughtful themes about community action and conservation. Young readers will connect with the authentic friendship dynamics and the satisfying intellectual challenge of piecing together historical puzzles alongside the characters. The story empowers its protagonists—and by extension its audience—to recognize that kids can drive real change when they work together and trust their intelligence. This eco-adventure ultimately leaves readers with both an exciting story and the inspiring message that ordinary children can accomplish extraordinary things when they fight for what they love.