Back on Track — C.J. Milbrandt

Ewan, Zane, and Ganix -- three half-brothers take sibling rivalry to new lengths as they race each other across their homeland.

Magic isn't the only legacy Mr. Ian Johns wants for his bickering sons. The Postmaster hoped the boys would bond during a family trip, but they twist his vacation plans into a race. Ewan, Zane, and Ganix soon find themselves far from home, facing choices that are far from easy. Three routes stretch from coast to coast. The rules: each brother -- and his two companions -- must check in at post offices along their route. At these waypoints, they stamp in with their personal seal and report their progress by postcard.

To keep his teammates safe, Ganix Johns is hiding in one of Liberty's new colonies. Hurlock and Galena need to keep away from the chasers who hunt for runaway slaves. Thankfully, Ganix has plenty of plans to protect his new friends -- detours, disguises, and donkeys.

Welcome to Liberty: Big cities and hill-country outposts thrive on busy byways, but people are scarce in the Wilds, where mythical creatures are alive and well. Folks commonly use lanterns to light their homes, and peace is kept by rangers on horseback. In the Byways books, readers will encounter dragons, griffins, river monsters, and rogue magicians.

Magic is a rare trait that runs in families. Some magical gifts are quite useful; others are downright quirky. Like the talent inherited by members of the Johns family. They're Changers who can take the form of an animal. Not that magic will make winning the race any easier for Ewan, Zane, and Ganix.

Educational Twist: Each of the Byways books is tied to one of the fifty states and borrows from its history and geography -- icons, mottos, landmarks, people, places, and famous firsts. They're hidden throughout the story, turning the series into one long game of hide-and-seek. At the end of each Byways book, there's a master list that covers everything from the state tree to the state insect. Nicknames, sports teams, state heroes, and national parks also find their way into the story. States are covered in order of ratification. Down the Stairs takes its cues from “The Mother of Presidents,” Virginia.

Excerpt:
     Resting the walking stick against her shoulder, the woman folded both her hands around Ganix's fair, freckled one. “I am one of the People. We belong to the Land.”
     “Is that the name of a colony?”
     Instead of answering, she said, “You have uncommon eyes.”         
     “Like my dad's. Lots of us in the Johns family have amber eyes.”
     “I have seen eyes like yours before.”
     Blushing under the intensity of her gaze, Ganix tugged his hand free and stepped back. “We're travelers, just passing through. I'm sorry if we're trespassing.”
     “I am one of the People,” she repeated. “We belong to the Land. Not the other way around.”

Chart your course to CJMilbrandt.com, where readers can stamp into the Waypoint Log and take part in a very special Hometown Challenge.