{"product_id":"night-of-the-bats-minecraft-woodsword-chronicles-2-isbn-9781984850485","title":"Night of the Bats! (Minecraft Woodsword Chronicles #2)","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe first official chapter book series based on Minecraft!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe adventures continue in the Minecraft Chapter Book series as five young Minecraft players find themselves transported inside the game they love. When zombie hordes attack them in the game, and bats invade their school in the real world, Ash, Morgan, and their friends realize that it's going to take all their talents to get to the bottom of these monstrous migrations. This illustrated hardcover series will thrill and engage fans of Minecraft and action-packed fantasy stories alike.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2019 Mojang AB and Mojang Synergies AB.  MINECRAFT and MOJANG are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mojang Synergies AB.Nick Eliopulos is the co-author (with Zack Loran Clark) of the middle-grade fantasy novel \u003ci\u003eThe Adventurers Guild\u003c\/i\u003e, which was a Kirkus Best Book of 2017. He's written books for a variety of popular children's series, from Spirit Animals to DC Super Friends, and his comics work has appeared in anthologies Stuck in the Middle and First Kiss (Then Tell). A former children's book editor, Nick now works for Voracious Games as narrative designer on the forthcoming video game Potionomics. He was raised in Florida and lives in Brooklyn.Six figures stood together in the fading light of day. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eFive of them were classmates, friends, and rather short. \u003c\/b\u003eSome strange recent events had them learning to work together to be a team. But tonight, the odds they faced seemed overwhelming. \u003cbr\u003e The sixth figure was taller and wider than the rest. It wasn’t human. Its skin was gray and made of iron. Its eyes glowed red. \u003cbr\u003e The friends hoped it could protect them. \u003cbr\u003e “Get ready,” said one of them. \u003cb\u003e“They’re coming.”\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e It was true. Not far away, there was a huge group of monsters—zombies and skeletons and hostile mobs. They were only just visible in the glow of the newly risen moon. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eAnd they were heading straight for those six figures.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Ash Kapoor listened carefully for her name. She didn’t want to be marked absent by mistake even though her homeroom teacher, Ms. Minerva, had acknowledged the shiny red apple that Ash had placed on her desk upon arriving in class. \u003cbr\u003e Ms. Minerva was trying to take attendance, but there was a \u003cb\u003estrange sound\u003c\/b\u003e coming from the air-conditioning vents. Ash, seated at the back of the room, found it distracting. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e“Po Chen,”\u003c\/b\u003e the teacher called. \u003cbr\u003e Ash’s friend Po spun around in his wheelchair. He raised his arm like he was lining up a hoop shot. \u003cb\u003ePo was a master on the basketball court.\u003c\/b\u003e Everyone at school knew him for \u003cb\u003ehis skills as an athlete. “Here!”\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e After calling a few more names, Ms. Minerva said, “Harper Houston.” \u003cbr\u003e Reading as always, Harper raised her hand without lifting her eyes from her textbook. Ash thought \u003cb\u003eHarper was brilliant. She was especially good in math and science.\u003c\/b\u003e She also had a great memory. She seemed to remember everything, from algebra formulas to friends’ birthdays. \u003cbr\u003e Ash was next alphabetically. She waited for Ms. Minerva to call her name, then raised her hand and made eye contact with the teacher. Ms. Minerva smiled, nodded, and marked Ash down as present. \u003cbr\u003e Ash was new to \u003cb\u003eWoodsword Middle School.\u003c\/b\u003e She’d moved to town only a few weeks ago. But now that she was here, she hoped to get perfect attendance. Ash liked doing her best in all things. It was how she’d obtained so many \u003cb\u003eWildling Scout badges.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e From the vents came another small shuffling sound, followed by a metallic clanging. Ash looked around. \u003cb\u003eNo one else seemed to have noticed.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Maybe the air-conditioning just got loud sometimes. \u003cbr\u003e “Jodi Mercado,” the teacher said. Ash smiled. Jodi was the first friend she’d made here. She was creative, fearless, and a little bit weird. \u003cb\u003eSince Jodi had skipped a grade,\u003c\/b\u003e she was younger and smaller than her classmates. She was every bit as smart as the others, though, and Ash thought she was the best artist in the class. \u003cbr\u003e Jodi’s big brother was next in the roll call. \u003cb\u003eHe was obsessed with Minecraft,\u003c\/b\u003e like Ash herself. It was one of many things they had in common. \u003cbr\u003e “Morgan Mercado,” said Ms. Minerva. \u003cbr\u003e “Here!” Morgan said. He spoke loudly. Enthusiastically. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eThe noise in the vents came back louder.\u003c\/b\u003e It was almost as if something was reacting to the sound of his voice. There was more shuffling and a small \u003ci\u003echirp\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e This time, Jodi noticed it, too. \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eWhat was that?\u003c\/i\u003e she mouthed silently. \u003cbr\u003e Ash gave an \u003cb\u003eexaggerated shrug\u003c\/b\u003e, as if to say \u003ci\u003eNo idea.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e It was at that moment that the door to the classroom flew open, slamming against the wall with a tremendous \u003ci\u003ebang.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Their science teacher, Doc Culpepper, stood in the doorway. “Ms. Minerva,” she said, out of breath. \u003cb\u003e“I’ve come to warn you—”\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Before Doc could finish her sentence, the air-conditioning vent above Ash’s head burst open. Dozens of dark shapes flew into the classroom, squeaking and chirping, flapping and fluttering. \u003cbr\u003e “Are those—?” said Jodi. \u003cbr\u003e “Bats!” Ash shouted. \u003cbr\u003e The classroom erupted into chaos. The kids screamed. Some ducked low, while others tried to wave the bats away. \u003cbr\u003e Ash hid beneath her desk. She saw that Jodi had done the same.\u003cbr\u003e  “This is pandemonium!” said Ash. \u003cbr\u003e “I know!” Jodi replied. “But I kind of love it!” \u003cbr\u003e Ash laughed despite herself. Of course Jodi would see the humor in this. \u003cbr\u003e Ms. Minerva was swatting away bats as \u003cb\u003ethey swooped toward her frizzy hair.\u003c\/b\u003e “Everyone, outside!” she instructed. “Please hurry. But don’t run!” \u003cbr\u003e Ash very much wanted to run, but crawling worked well enough. She had to drag her backpack behind her. \u003cbr\u003e Most of the class was already out in the hallway when \u003cb\u003eAsh had a sudden realization.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e They’d left \u003cb\u003eBaron Sweetcheeks\u003c\/b\u003e behind!\u003cbr\u003e She only hesitated for a moment before turning around and heading deeper into the classroom. \u003cbr\u003e “Ash!” Jodi called. “What are you doing?” \u003cbr\u003e Baron Sweetcheeks was the class hamster. It was Ash’s job, as well as Morgan’s, to take care of him. \u003cb\u003eShe didn’t think the bats would hurt him,\u003c\/b\u003e but she also didn’t think it was a good idea to leave him behind. \u003cbr\u003e Besides, he hadn’t had his morning hamster cookie yet. \u003cbr\u003e Once Ash had crossed the room, she quickly stood up, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and grabbed the hamster’s cage. Taking the whole thing would be faster than scooping the hamster out.\u003cbr\u003e  But the cage was heavier than it looked. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e“Let me help you,”\u003c\/b\u003e said Morgan. \u003cbr\u003e Ash turned to see Morgan had followed her back into the classroom. Then she was almost \u003cb\u003esmacked in the face by a bat wing.\u003c\/b\u003e Okay. Now she was really glad Morgan was there. \u003cbr\u003e With Morgan’s help, the cage felt like it hardly weighed anything at all. They ducked their heads low and crossed the classroom in a matter of seconds. \u003cbr\u003e Ms. Minerva \u003cb\u003eslammed the door shut\u003c\/b\u003e behind them. \u003cbr\u003e Ash smiled at Morgan. “Thanks for coming back for me.” \u003cbr\u003e He returned the smile. “Thanks for remembering the baron. I was so panicked that I forgot all about him!” \u003cbr\u003e The hamster, for his part, seemed totally unbothered by the whole ordeal. Especially once Ash slipped a cookie into his cage. \u003cbr\u003e “Minerva, I apologize,” Doc said. \u003cb\u003eFull of nervous energy,\u003c\/b\u003e she paced the hall while she spoke. “I wanted to warn you about the bats. It didn’t occur to me that \u003cb\u003emy noisy entrance\u003c\/b\u003e would set them off.” \u003cbr\u003e While Doc never stopped moving, Ms. Minerva always seemed patiently at rest. She put her hands on her hips. “And how did you know the vents were full of bats?” she asked. “Was this another one of your little projects, Doc?” \u003cbr\u003e “I had nothing to do with it!” Doc insisted, waving her hands for emphasis. “I recognized \u003cb\u003ethe sounds\u003c\/b\u003e coming from the vents this morning. I’ve been following the noise from class to class all morning.” \u003cbr\u003e Ms. Minerva looked like she didn’t wholly believe the science teacher. “At least it’s nice outside,” she said. “Class, head to the bleachers. I’ll be there as soon as I’ve updated the principal.” \u003cbr\u003e “What about Baron Sweetcheeks?” asked Morgan. \u003cbr\u003e “Your hamster can stay with me,” said Doc. “It’s the least I can do.” She snapped her fingers as if remembering something. “In fact, I wanted to speak to a few of your students anyway, Minerva. May I borrow Ash here, and Harper, Po, and the Mercado siblings?” \u003cbr\u003e Ash and Morgan shared a look. Doc had just named their entire Minecraft team. That couldn’t be a coincidence, could it? \u003cbr\u003e Ash wondered if their secret was out. Did Doc know the truth about the game? Or about the message the kids had found while playing it?\u003cbr\u003e  There was a high-pitched squeaking sound, and Ash looked over to see a small bat perched over Ms. Minerva’s head. The teacher didn’t seem to notice. \u003cbr\u003e Ash sighed wearily. Whatever Doc had in mind for them, it couldn’t be any more of a disaster than homeroom had been. She hoped.","brand":"Random House Books for Young Readers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300364701925,"sku":"NP9781984850485","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781984850485.jpg?v=1767733721","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/night-of-the-bats-minecraft-woodsword-chronicles-2-isbn-9781984850485","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}