At Wagging Tales Press, our Middle Grade stories are crafted for bold readers standing at the edge of childhood and the start of everything possible. From haunted houses with secrets that slither between the floorboards to pulse-pounding adventures across ancient ruins, enchanted realms, and strange new worlds, our books blend heart, humor, and high-stakes imagination. These are tales built to challenge, empower, and delight—rich with puzzles to crack, friendships to forge, and that spine-tingling sense that the next page might just change everything. Whether it’s a chilling ghost story, a twisty mystery, or a globe-trotting escapade, Wagging Tales Press delivers stories that latch onto young readers… and refuse to let go.
Can You Escape: The Mummy's Tomb
by Melinda Taliancich Falgoust
Death will come on swift pinions to those who disturb the rest of the Pharaoh...
At least, that’s the ancient curse the guide uses to try and scare you into staying with your school group as you tour the ancient Egyptian pyramid.
Curses and dusty mummies don’t scare you, though, and you and your best friend, Scooter, decide to do a little exploring on your own. As long as you’re back by the time the bus leaves, what could possibly go wrong?
But when you find a sarcophagus in a dark chamber lit only by flickering torches and the heavy door seals behind you, the clock starts ticking!
Can you solve the riddles of ancient Egypt before you and Scooter become mummies yourselves?
Are you clever enough? Can you escape the mummy’s tomb?
Can You Escape: Mission Secret Agent
by Melinda Taliancich Falgoust
Your mission, should you choose to accept it...
…is to try not to groan when your mother announces the family, including your annoying cousin, Abner, is visiting Washington, D.C. for summer vacation.
Ugh! A dull trip filled with statues of old dead guys and boring museums. But when Abner suggests the two of you participate in the overnight lock-in at the International Spy Museum, it turns out to be anything but boring!
A missing museum guide, a secret coded message, and some super spy gadgets—you’ll have to use everything you’ve learned in the museum to thwart a dastardly spy plot and outwit the enemy agents.
Are you clever enough to survive the world of espionage? Can you escape Mission: Secret Agent?
The Gubbins Club: The Legend of Charlie's Gold
by Melinda Taliancich Falgoust
What if the world’s greatest pirate story wasn’t just a story? The clues to a king’s ransom in gold are hidden within the pages of history. Five unlikely friends must team up to find it. But, they’re not the only ones looking for the treasure. Who will find it first? If you’re brave enough to join the chase, there are only three rules: follow the clues; find the treasure; and try not to get dead.
The Gubbins Club: The Legend of Charlie's Gold is a new twist on Robert Louis Stevenson, perhaps one of the most prolific authors of his time. The first book in a series, The Gubbins Club also makes an excellent stand-alone adventure with cross-curricular connections. Download the Educator's Guide for a treasure trove of classroom ideas and fun beyond the pages of the book. We also encourage you to check out the additional printable activities for more educational opportunities.
The Gubbins Club: The Curse of Atahualpa
by Melinda Taliancich Falgoust
Deep in the heart of the Andes, mist curls around the mountaintops, hiding what lies beyond. But the fog is not the only thing keeping secrets.
When an injured paleontologist staggers out of the Ecuadorian jungle clutching a strange black stone and raving about living dinosaurs, the scientific world dismisses it as a hoax.
An ocean away, ten year old Smout McManus and his four unlikely friends, known as the Gubbins Club, uncover a puzzling code that suggests the impossible might actually be true and that a priceless Incan treasure, lost to time, may still be waiting to be found.
As the clues begin to fall into place, the children realize they are not the only ones searching. Someone dangerous is already on the move, and the real monster may not be hiding in the jungle at all but walking the streets of London.
Can the Gubbins Club solve the mystery before the secrets of the Andes are silenced forever?
Wyrd House: A Wyrd Tale
by Melinda Taliancich Falgoust
Turning thirteen is weird enough—but for Fenton Arbuckle, it’s about to get even weirder.
It’s almost Halloween when Fenton receives a mysterious box containing a strange old key shaped like a cat’s head. So, of course, he and his best friend Cherry do the one thing they definitely shouldn’t—use it.
Now the door to Wyrd House is open… and something wants out.
With a trio of schoolyard bullies reluctantly along for the ride, Fenton and Cherry must uncover what’s been lurking behind Wyrd House’s doors before Halloween night ends—or before whatever’s inside finally breaks free.
To stop it, Fenton will have to face the truth about his family, his fears, and the kind of courage that doesn’t come with training wheels.
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From picture books to adult fiction, Wagging Tales Press Publishing publishes stories with heart, imagination, and just enough bite to keep you begging for more.
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