Capeci, Anne

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Capeci, Anne

PERSONAL: Married; children: two. Education: Graduated from Wellesley College.

ADDRESSES: Home—Brooklyn, NY. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Peachtree Publishers, 1700 Chattahoochee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30318.

CAREER: Writer.

WRITINGS:

FOR CHILDREN

Meet Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Random House (New York, NY), 1995.

(With Carla Jablonski and Brad Strickland) The Wishbone Halloween Adventure, Lyrick Publishing (Allen, TX), 2000.

Now You See It …: The Incredible Illusions of Ethan Flask and Professor von Offel, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

Watch Out!: The Daring Disasters of Ethan Flask and Professor von Offel, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

"DEXTER'S LABORATORY" SERIES; FOR CHILDREN

Dee Dee's Amazing Bones, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

Little Lab of Horrors, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

What's the "Matter" with Dee Dee?, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

"WISHBONE MYSTERIES" SERIES; FOR CHILDREN

The Halloween Joker, Big Red Chair Books (Allen, TX), 1998.

The Maltese Dog, Big Red Chair Books (Allen, TX), 1998, illustrated by Genevieve Meek, Gareth Stevens (Milwaukee, WI), 1999.

Key to the Golden Dog, Big Red Chair Books (Allen, TX), 1998, illustrated by Don Adair, Gareth Stevens (Milwaukee, WI), 1999.

The Case of the Cyber-hacker, Lyrick Publishing (Allen, TX), 2000, illustrated by Lyle Miller, Gareth Stevens (Milwaukee, WI), 2000.

"MAGIC SCHOOL BUS" SERIES; FOR CHILDREN

The Giant Germ, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

Insect Invaders, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

Forest Fire, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

Electric Storm, illustrated by Hope Gangloff, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

Flash Flood, illustrated by Steve Haefele, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

Food Chain Frenzy, illustrated by John Speirs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

"CASCADE MOUNTAIN RAILROAD MYSTERIES" SERIES; MIDDLE-GRADE NOVELS

Danger, Dynamite!, illustrated by Paul Casale, Peachtree Publishers (Atlanta, GA), 2003.

Daredevils, illustrated by Paul Casale, Peachtree Publishers (Atlanta, GA), 2004.

Ghost Train, illustrated by Paul Casale, Peachtree Publishers (Atlanta, GA), 2004.

Missing!, illustrated by Paul Casale, Peachtree Publishers (Atlanta, GA), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Anne Capeci is an author of fiction for children and young adults. She has contributed a number of works to the "Wishbone Mysteries" series, including The Maltese Dog and The Case of the Cyberhacker, as well as to the "Magic School Bus" series. Capeci has also written books in the "Cascade Mountain Railroad Mysteries" series, middle-grade novels based on her grandfather's experiences as a railroad worker who helped build the Great Northern Railway's Cascades Tunnel during the 1920s.

Danger, Dynamite!, the first book in the "Cascade Mountain Railroad Mysteries" series, is set in the town of Scenic, Washington, in 1926. The novel concerns fourth-grader Billy Cole, who moved to Scenic with his family after his father was hired as the manager of the tunnel project. Life is pleasant in the rugged, remote camp town, until a series of strange and disturbing incidents upsets the inhabitants. After Billy and his best friend, Finn, discover a crate of dynamite stored in their school shed, the dynamite mysteriously disappears, apparently stolen by someone with sinister motives. A number of explosions then rock the town, prompting Billy and Finn to investigate, against the objections of their parents. Several suspects emerge, but the key to the mystery appears to be a decades-old train robbery that is linked to stories of missing gold that may be hidden nearby. Reviewing Danger, Dynamite! in School Library Journal, Heather Dieffenbach stated, "The predictable plot and fast pace will appeal to reluctant readers."

In Daredevils, the follow-up to Danger, Dynamite!, Billy, Finn, and their new friend, Dannie, eagerly await the arrival of Elliston's Flying Circus, a traveling air show starring Finn's uncle Ross. Though Finn greatly admires Ross, a war veteran and daredevil stuntman, his uncle has a murky past, and the children soon realize all is not well. Not only are there bullet holes in Ross's airplane, but he is overheard talking with some shady characters believed to be smugglers. The mystery deepens when a federal agent comes to Scenic to investigate unlawful activities involving liquor. "The short text and exciting plot will attract young adventure fans," observed School Library Journal contributor Elaine E. Knight, who also noted that the book contains "plenty of action with bootleggers, barnstormers, and breakneck mountain chases." Booklist reviewer Hazel Rochman called Daredevils "a lively story," adding, "the young detectives are as daring as the crooks."

Billy and friends try to prevent a train robbery in Ghost Train. When Billy finds a burlap sack containing a pistol and a secret message, he enlists the help of Finn and Dannie. The message refers to a special, unscheduled train that travels through Scenic, and the children learn that the train's cargo is precious silk, worth millions of dollars. The trio hope to learn the identity of the robber before the "ghost" train makes another trip. "The historical context of the story enriches the plot," according to School Library Journal critic Jennifer Cogan.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, July, 2004, Hazel Rochman, review of Daredevils, p. 1844.

School Library Journal, January, 2004, Heather Dieffenbach, review of Danger, Dynamite!, p. 95; September, 2004, Elaine E. Knight, review of Daredevils, p. 156; January, 2005, Jennifer Cogan, review of Ghost Train, p. 88.