Brian Smith

After 55 years of waiting, Houston Astros fans were hungry for World Series glory. After three consecutive 100-loss seasons, some tantalizing tastes of playoff success, and a devastating hurricane that united a community, their patience was rewarded in dramatic, exuberant fashion. In Liftoff!, Houston Chronicle writer Brian T. Smith expertly retraces the team's magical 2017 championship season as well as the moves and moments that made it all possible—the...

"After Jay is bullied by Pumpkin, three besties Pea, Bee and Jay band together to prove that being big doesn't mean you get to push others around and, discovering Pumpkin has some extra-large issues of her own, must get to the root of the problem"--Provided by publisher

With their friendship on the line after a huge fight, Pea and Bee search for new friends, while Jay takes matters into his own wings to bring them all back together.

"Dog Man meets SpongeBob in ... a fast-paced and funny middle grade graphic novel series about the crimefighting duo Clawsome, a lobster, and his partner Stariana, a starfish, as they fight such denizens of the deep as the Catfishburglar, Chowderhead, and the Brain Sturgeon ... Crime doesn't pay in Caper Cove with Officer Clawsome and his partner, Stariana, on the case. Just ask the notorious Catburglarfish--she'll confirm. But when the beloved bakery...

A long time ago, Mages and Humans lived side by side in balance. But Humans' technological advances created the Surrogate, a hive-minded robot army that consumed everything in its path. The Mages fought for their survival in The Great Magic Machine War, dividing the world in two and driving all magic users to remote, technologically barren strongholds. Now, 20 years after the war stalled in a tense cease-fire, a trio of young apprentice mages--Charris,...

Charris, Trinh, and Ursa are taking a well-deserved rest in Clifton while the other mages prepare their forces for the next assault. Charris and Trinh struggle to show their strength, while Ursa questions her connection to the mysterious Priestess. But will the girls be allowed to join the fight? And will their powers be enough to stop the new, stronger Surrogate?

Our heroes' hunt for the Surrogate brings them to the usually quiet town of Plumstead, but a rival trio of mages have beaten them to it, and are tearing the place apart! Aren't these jerks supposed to be part of the same team? Their mission is to protect humans from the Surrogate, not terrorize them! It's up to Charris, Trinh, and Ursa to shut their rogue guildmates down!

This issues finds our mages searching for Ike's lost map--a much-needed edge in the upcoming Surrogate confrontation--while trying to learn to work together as a team. Rosalba has taught Trinh valuable new skills, but Ursa and Charris still can't seem to trust each other. However, when the group runs afoul of a powerful loner deep in the wastelands, they'll have bigger problems on their hands.

Twenty years ago, mages fought for their survival against the Surrogate, a hive-minded robot army that consumed everything in its path. Now, a trio of young apprentice mages must cross the ruined forests to deliver a magical cure to a nearby town. But the girls couldn't be more different. Charris, a hotheaded fighter with elemental powers, Trinh, a shy mage who can literally turn invisible, and Ursa, a healer with more power than she lets on. The...

Our trio has a new assignment to fight the Surrogate--finding Ursa's long-lost father, who might finally give them answers about the Priestess! This time, they've got help from elder mage Rosalba, and an incredible vehicle. But tension simmers--how can Charris trust a mage who could magically brainwash her at any moment? The key to repairing trust may also be the key to the Surrogate!