The Gecko and Sticky: Sinister Substitute

Dave's most despised teacher, a gleeful frog dissector named Ms. Veronica Krockle, is absent. Her students are psyched! But Sticky is suspicious. Especially when the substitute teacher turns out to be strangely interested in geckos. Or rather, boys with petgeckos. That's no substitute! That's Damien Black, dastardly treasure hunter and master of disguise! If Damien Black is in school, does that mean he'sbehind Ms. Krockle's absence? Could she have been kidnapped? And does that mean Dave has to rescue her? Ay chihuahua! The capped crusader is (reluctantly) on the case. From the Hardcover edition.

WENDELIN VAN DRAANEN spent many years as a teacher before devoting herself to writing full-time. She loves reading, running, writing, and rock 'n roll!  

Her books for younger readers include The Gecko & Sticky quartet and The Shredderman quartet. For middle graders check out the Sammy Keyes mysteries and Swear to Howdy.  For tweens and teens, look for Flipped, The Running Dream, Confessions of a Serial Kisser, and Runaway.