Wendelin Van Draanen is an American author known for her works of children's and young adult fiction. Her notable books include "Flipped," "The Running Dream," and several titles in the "Sammy Keyes" series, such as "Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy" and "Sammy Keyes and the Skeleton Man." Her stories often explore themes of friendship, resilience, and self-discovery.
AI-generated overview, grounded in this author's works. It may be incomplete — corrections welcome.
A charming story of first crushes and changing views, 'Flipped' shows how two neighbors, initially at odds, discover what attraction really means as they grow up.
When detention lands junior high detective Sammy Keyes in a church full of gossip, stolen relics, and a homeless girl in high tops, she discovers that even saints can be suspects and miracles are just mysteries waiting to be solved.
When a Halloween prank involving a 'skeleton man' and 'Frankenstein' turns into a real mystery with everyone hiding secrets, junior high detective Sammy Keyes must uncover the truth while keeping her own tricks up her sleeve.
When twelve-year-old Sammy Keyes treks to Hollywood to confront her elusive mother, she uncovers a shocking new identity, a glamorous masquerade gone terribly wrong, and the biggest mystery of her young life.
High-tops and a sharp wit lead Sammy Keyes into a high-stakes art gallery heist, where the real masterpiece is a subtle, dangerous deception far beyond a simple stickup.
When a Christmas parade prank turns into a dognapping, junior detective Sammy Keyes must track down a missing prize Pomeranian for a demanding owner, all while navigating wise men, blackmailers, and the usual chaos of her personal life.
A determined teen, armed with romance novels and a self-help guide, hunts for the perfect kiss, only to find that real-life smooches are messy, public, and complicate friendships.
During a disastrous summer camping trip, reluctant camper Sammy finds an injured condor and a dangerous poacher, pulling her into a wilderness mystery with unexpected romantic turns.
Sammy Keyes's Halloween night takes a dark turn when a strange discovery in her trick-or-treat bag leads her to uncover the secrets of suspicious undertakers, pulling her into a mystery involving grave digging and a missing body.
Armed with an army of Elvis impersonators in Las Vegas, junior detective Sammy Keyes uncovers the long-hidden truth about her father, confronting family secrets that prove more costly than any case she's ever solved.
