Alana Oakley: Mystery and Mayhem

Book excerpt: Alana Oakley is 12 going on 24. She has to be when her impulsive, accident-prone mother, Emma, attracts so much chaos. Alana's dad's passing three years ago has forced Alana to become the grown-up of the family, spinning the mother-daughter relationship on its head. Mystery and Mayhem starts with Alana's first year in high school at the progressive, experimental Gibson High. Year 7 is packed with the usual excitement and perils. But when Alana's superstitious friend, Sofia, loses her magic eight-ball charm, life begins to take a mysterious detour. Alana's sleuthing career takes off, but not without first having to overcome the over-exuberant Nurse Cathy, the military-inspired Coach Kusmuk and her impetuous mother who has now taken up Internet-dating! The biggest mystery of all is whether Alana's birthday wish will come true: Will this year be different or will it go horribly, spectacularly wrong, as usual? Better call the fire department... just in case.