Most folks say, "Mother Nature controls the rain". However this is not the case in the village of Finkleton.In the perfect little village of Finkleton, the weather is always perfect. Every farm grows the best, biggest, healthiest crops in the entire world, and everyone is happy.Soon after the Finkles inherit their Uncle Harry's shop and move to Finkleton, they discover magical secrets hidden in his shop. One clue at a time, Jack, Lizzy and Robert learn the town's amazing secret. No, Mother Nature is not in charge in Finkleton!Ever since Uncle Harry's death, the weather has not been cooperating. Farms are starting to fail. Will the Finkle children be able to solve all the magical mysteries before the village is destroyed?Come along to Finkleton. A very special, magical adventure is about to begin!Age Range 9-12 Childrens / Pre-Teen Fiction **********Children's Literary Classics Seal of Approval June 8, 2011 *****Literary Classics Finalist September 29, 2011 *****Literary Classics Gold Award for Best of Pre-Teen Fiction October 14, 2011 *****Reader Views 2011 Global Winner Europe - March 7, 2012 *********READ THE SEQUEL - RETURN TO FINKLETON (SPRING 2012) Reviewed by Rita V for Readers FavoriteFive Stars! Captivating!The Magic of Finkleton is a captivating novel. K.C. Hilton brings a powerful punch of magic into a fast-paced older children's book that does not disappoint. I found it to be inquisitive, exciting, and truly fun to read. It is rare to find a book so intricately written in which the reader is actually encouraged to participate. I loved the use of descriptive words; the plot was full of twists and turns, and the depth of the characters was amazingly accomplished. K.C. creates the perfect recipe of magic, adventure and imagination that are all easy to comprehend for older children on up to adult readers. I very much look forward to reading her next novel, Return to Finkleton. I can easily see K.C Hilton's series as either a television series or a film series comparable to Harry Potter, and I do not say that lightly. She is truly a genius in her mad writing skills, and this book portrays to all audiences who love a little magic in their life. This is by far, the best novel I have read all year, and if I could have given it ten stars, I would have. Look out world, here comes K.C. Hilton!

My tale has been told again and again, and I've heard each one. Except for my hair, I barely recognize the pitiful renditions. Muddled versions, crafted to entertain laughing children...but they didn't know the truth. Nobody did. My name is Rapunzel. I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.

Help find a stolen painting while solving clues that lead to a hidden message. The included answer key is easy to use, making this resource the perfect comprehensive tool for any novel study. Describe a series of coincidences that occur in the novel. Infer what Petra's father may be hiding based on his actions, and what you would do in the character's shoes. Number the events that occur in Ms. Hussey's class in the order that they happen in the chapter. Predict what Calder will do once he starts questioning Mrs. Sharpe's innocence. Take the book's theme of ancestry into the real world by writing a short fictional story about ancestors interacting with historical figures. Name and describe the key locations in the book and detail how the setting impacted the plot. Aligned to your State Standards, additional crossword, word search, comprehension quiz and answer key are also included. About the Novel: Chasing Vermeer is an action-packed story filled with mystery, danger and coincidences. Calder Pillay and Petra Andalee live on the same street, but they may as well be strangers. When a series of odd events take place, the two take notice and begin questioning the signs around them. A strange assignment from their teacher encourages them to look deeper into the works of Johannes Vermeer. When one of Vermeer's paintings is stolen, the pair team up in the hopes of solving the mystery behind the art theft. A series of coincidences lead the pair down a rabbit hole of clues that eventually lead them to solving two seemingly unrelated mysteries. Chasing Vermeer encourages the reader to follow along with the mystery to help solve a message hidden within its pages.

When the Finkle children discovered magical secrets in Uncle Harry's shop, they vowed to keep them safe. Two years later Jack, Lizzy and Robert realized that the perfect weather wasn't the only secret waiting to be discovered in the mysterious shop. Things aren't always what they seem to be! There were people who would stop at nothing to acquire land in Finkleton. Of course, there were also those determined to protect the little village from greedy outsiders. Will selfish desires destroy the village of Finkleton? It was only a matter of time before those who cared about Finkleton and those who cared only for themselves would come into conflict. The result of this outcome would likewise depend on a matter of time. Once again Jack, Lizzy and Robert must learn to work together to protect the magical secrets of Finkleton. Come along to Finkleton. A new, magical adventure is about to begin!Age Range 9-12 Childrens / Middle Grade FictionChildren's Literary Classics Seal of Approval - April 13, 2012Readers Favorite - Five StarsReviewed by Rita V for Readers FavoriteMarch 11, 2012 - 5 Stars! Return To Finkleton is a wonderful mystery book for children aged 9-12. KC Hilton does it again in this magical adventure book for pre-teens! There are 28 action packed and fast flowing chapters that include everything from the magical valley, mysterious visitors, new magical items to discover, and ghosts. I loved every minute of reading this book as if I were a child again. I can easily see this series made into a movie series on the big screen and would be disppointed if it doesn't.