Codename Zero

From Chris Rylander, author of the breakout hit Fourth Stall saga, comes an incredibly funny and clever mash-up of middle grade school story and spy adventure.

There are places in the world where heroes are born. There are places where brave men and women fight a never-ending battle against evil in order to keep our country and all other countries safe. There are places where the fate of our planet is being decided, even at this very moment, the consequences of which will echo through history.

None of these places is in North Dakota.

Carson Fender, seventh grader and notorious prankster, knows this. He's lived in North Dakota for his entire life, going to the same boring school every day, the same boring movie theater every week, the same boring state fair every year. Nothing ever changes, and nothing ever happens. That is, until today. Because today a desperate man hands him a package with a dire set of instructions. And that package is going to lead Carson to discover that there's a secret government agency operating in his small, quiet North Dakota hometown. And that this agency needs his help.

What happens when the school’s biggest prankster becomes the world’s last hope?

• Secret Agent School Story: When Carson discovers a network of spies operating out of his middle school, detention is suddenly the least of his worries.
• Humorous Adventure for Kids: Packed with hilarious pranks, narrow escapes, and fainting goats, this fast-paced story is perfect for readers who love to laugh.
• Unlikely Friendships: To survive, Carson must team up with Olek, the new kid in town who has a few dangerous secrets of his own.
• Action and Adventure: Carson is thrown into a world of secret codes, self-destructing packages, and shadowy agents where one wrong move could mean disaster.

There are places in the world where heroes are born. There are places where brave men and women fight a never-ending battle against evil in order to keep our country and all other countries safe. There are places where the fate of our planet is being decided, even at this very moment, the consequences of which will echo through history.

None of these places is in North Dakota.

Carson Fender, seventh grader and notorious prankster, knows this. He's lived in North Dakota for his entire life, going to the same boring school every day, the same boring movie theater every week, the same boring state fair every year. Nothing ever changes, and nothing ever happens. That is, until today. Because today a desperate man is going to hand Carson a package with a dire set of instructions. And that package is going to lead him to discover that there's a secret government agency operating in his small, quiet North Dakota hometown.

And that this agency needs his help.

“An exciting, zippy read that will leave readers wondering if there’s more to their own hometowns than meets the eye.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Debut novelist Rylander mines a substantial amount of humor and heart from this combination hard-boiled crime novel and middle-grade character piece. A light and enjoyable caper.” - Publishers Weekly, about The Fourth Stall

“Readers will be flushed with excitement to follow Mac’s operations for the fourth stall.” - Kirkus Reviews, about The Fourth Stall Part II

“Rylander keeps up the delightful, boy-centric beat, mixing bravado, embarassments, and wisecracks with real wisdom.” - ALA Booklist, about The Fourth Stall Part III