“Lauren Magaziner fashions a rich and compelling alternative reality.” — Chicago Tribune

Lauren Magaziner is the author of the Case Closed series, The Mythics series, The Only Thing Worse Than Witches, Pilfer Academy, Wizardmatch and an upcoming upper middle grade fantasy series call The Incorruptibles. Originally from New Hope, Pennsylvania, Lauren started writing novels when she was thirteen–and never stopped. A proud graduate of Hamilton College’s creative writing program, she wrote her debut children’s book while studying abroad in Scotland. Currently, Lauren lives in Philadelphia, where she writes full-time.

Lauren’s work has been on the Indie Next List, a Junior Library Guild selection, optioned for television, and received a Kirkus star. Her work has been translated into nine languages, and the Case Closed series is an international bestseller. Lauren has presented to hundreds of schools, motivating young readers and writers through her dynamic, interactive assemblies.

Lauren's Featured Titles

The Mythics #4: Ember and the Phoenix

HarperCollins |
Middle Grade

Case Closed author Lauren Magaziner and award-winning artist Mirelle Ortega deliver the thrilling conclusion in this highly illustrated middle grade fantasy series full of action, adventure, friendship, and mythical creatures.

The fate of Terrafamiliar is on the brink. With the team split apart and Golden Jumpsuit closer to her goal, the Mythics are in trouble. Ember has to lead with courage now more than ever. But when she’s this upset, Ember finds that her passionate nature can sometimes feel uncontrolled.

In this exciting, action-packed final volume, the Mythics finally uncover the shocking truth about Golden Jumpsuit and learn what they are truly up against. Can the Mythics find each other again and defeat Golden Jumpsuit before she ends magic in Terrafamiliar forever?

The Mythics #3: Kit and the Nine-Tailed Fox

Katherine Tegen Books |
Middle Grade

From Case Closed author Lauren Magaziner and award-winning artist Mirelle Ortega comes the third book in the highly illustrated middle grade fantasy series full of action, adventure, friendship, and mythical creatures.

It’s been eight weeks since Pairing Day when the Mythics—Kit, Marina, Hailey, Ember, and Pippa—learned that they are the only ones who can save Terrafamiliar. With Golden Jumpsuit tracking their every move, the Mythics are on edge, and now it’s Kit’s turn to find her Mythie. Kit has a hard time relying on others and she always expects the worst to happen. She’s also never had a team like the Mythics to help her.

Kit’s search for her mythical familiar leads to surprising secrets about the magic and history of Terrafamiliar. The Mythics realize there are bigger and darker forces at play.

With Golden Jumpsuit on their trail again and her followers scattered everywhere, Kit and the Mythics must learn to follow their instincts and lean on each other. Or risk watching Terrafamiliar crumble before their eyes.

The Mythics #2: Hailey and the Dragon

Katherine Tegen Books |
Middle Grade Fantasy

Case Closed author Lauren Magaziner and artist Mirelle Ortega return for the second installment in the highly illustrated middle grade fantasy series full of action, adventure, friendship, and mythical creatures.

After Pairing Day didn’t go as planned for the Mythics—Marina, Hailey, Kit, Ember, and Pippa—they embrace their journey to find their Mythies and save Terrafamilar. Hailey has always known she was destined for adventure, and after watching Marina and Ember unite with their mythical animal familiars, she’s more than ready to embark on her quest.

Buzzing with excitement and running full speed ahead, Hailey is still adjusting to being part of a team. She’s used to leading the charge on her own, but now she has four other girls she can count on—and she’ll need them on this journey.

Golden Jumpsuit is after the Mythics, and she might have allies all over Terrafamiliar. How will Hailey and the Mythics figure out who to trust when they’re still working on trusting each other? The fate of Terrafamiliar is in their hands.

The Mythics #1: Marina and the Kraken

Katherine Tegen Books |
Middle Grade Fantasy

From Case Closed author Lauren Magaziner and award-winning artist Mirelle Ortega comes the first book in a new highly illustrated middle grade fantasy series. Full of action, adventure, and friendship, a team of five girls must stop a powerful villain by finding their mythical familiars.

It’s Pairing Day in Terrafamiliar! Marina has been waiting for this moment—anxiously—for as long as she can remember. Because today’s the day she gets to bond with her animal familiar for life, like every other ten-year-old in the land.

Except after the ceremony ends, Marina doesn’t have one. And she’s not alone . . . four other girls also didn’t get their animal companions. The leaders of Terrafamiliar realize something special is happening: Marina and the other four girls—Kit, Ember, Pippa, and Hailey—are called Mythics

In times of unrest, the Mythics must earn their Mythies—mythical beasts—in quests of courage. But danger lurks everywhere as there are others seeking this mysterious power. And only the Mythics can save Terrafamiliar!

Case Closed #4: Danger on the Dig

Katherine Tegen Books |
Middle Grade Mystery

Pick-your-own path and puzzle-packed mystery collide in the fourth book in Lauren Magaziner’s hilarious and interactive middle grade series as Las Pistas Detective Agency gets its first international case at an archaeological dig in Greece.

In this wildly entertaining and interactive adventure, YOU pick which suspects to interview, which questions to ask, and which clues to follow. You pick the path—you crack the case!

Carlos and Eliza may be going on separate paths, but their end goal is the same—keep the booby traps from taking their detective agency out! But with tricky puzzles and dozens of impossible choices, they need your help! Can you help Carlos and his friend find the lost treasure . . . and can you protect it from the culprit trying to steal it?

Can you help Carlos and his friends unravel the mystery before it’s too late? Or will it be case closed?

Middle grade readers will enjoy all four books in this favorite series: Mystery in the Mansion (#1), Stolen from the Studio (#2), Haunting at the Hotel (#3), and Danger on the Dig (#4)!

Case Closed #3: Haunting at the Hotel

Katherine Tegen Books |
Middle Grade Mystery

Pick-your-own-path and puzzle-packed mystery collide in the third book in Lauren Magaziner’s hilarious and interactive middle grade series. In the Case Closed books, the reader helps Carlos and his friends hunt ghosts at a haunted hotel.

In this wildly entertaining adventure, YOU pick which suspects to interview, which questions to ask, and which clues to follow. You pick the path—you crack the case!

Carlos Serrano is now officially an apprentice detective at Las Pistas Detective Agency. He finally earned his mom’s trust, but his next case will be his most difficult one yet. Guests at a creepy mountain hotel are complaining of weird disturbances, threatening messages, and hair-raising howls!

Carlos, along with his best friend, Eliza, and her wacky little brother, Frank, arrive on the scene to investigate a . . . ghost? What secrets is this haunted hotel hiding? With tricky puzzles, ghoulish secrets, ectoplasmic enemies, and dozens of impossible choices, these junior detectives need your sleuthing skills!

Can you help Carlos and his friends unravel the mystery before it’s too late? Or will it be case closed?

Middle grade readers will enjoy all four books in this favorite series: Mystery in the Mansion (#1), Stolen from the Studio (#2), Haunting at the Hotel (#3), and Danger on the Dig (#4)!

Case Closed #2: Stolen from the Studio

Katherine Tegen Books |
Middle Grade Mystery

The hilarious and high-stakes Case Closed middle grade series gets a touch of Hollywood glamor! Pick-your-own-path and puzzle-packed mystery collide in this star-studded sequel in which the reader must help Carlos and his friends solve the disappearance of a famous teen actress.

In this wildly entertaining and interactive adventure, YOU pick which suspects to interview, which questions to ask, and which clues to follow. You pick the path—you crack the case!

Carlos Serrano needs your help—again! His mother has received an urgent assignment to find the missing star of a wildly popular TV show, but she won’t let Carlos investigate!

With his genius friend, Eliza, and her little brother, Frank, along for the case, Carlos is excited to examine the studio for clues and interrogate suspects on the set of Teen Witch, but he has to keep his detective work hidden from his mother’s laser-sharp gaze. And just like before, he can’t do it without you!

Can you help Carlos and his friends solve the puzzles and stay out of trouble long enough to save Layla Jay? Or will it be case closed?

Middle grade readers will enjoy all four books in this favorite series: Mystery in the Mansion (#1), Stolen from the Studio (#2), Haunting at the Hotel (#3), and Danger on the Dig (#4)!

Case Closed #1: Mystery in the Mansion

Katherine Tegen Books |
Middle Grade Mystery

Pick-your-own-path and puzzle-packed mystery collide in the first book in Lauren Magaziner’s hilarious and high-stakes four-book middle grade series in which the reader must help Carlos and his friends put together the clues to save his mom’s detective agency.

In this wildly entertaining and interactive adventure, YOU pick which suspects to interview, which questions to ask, and which clues to follow. You pick the path—you crack the case!

Carlos Serrano has never solved a mystery in his life. But when Carlos’s mom gets sick with a flu on the morning of an investigation that could save her failing detective agency, Carlos takes on the case.

With the help of his best friend, Eliza, and her wild little brother, Frank, Carlos must uncover a mystery involving an eccentric local millionaire, anonymous death threats, and a buried treasure. But with tricky riddles, cagey suspects, hidden secrets, and dozens of impossible choices, they need your help!

Can you help Carlos and his friends find the culprit and save Las Pistas Detective Agency? Or will it be case closed?

Middle grade readers will enjoy all four books in this favorite series: Mystery in the Mansion (#1), Stolen from the Studio (#2), Haunting at the Hotel (#3), and Danger on the Dig (#4)!

Wizardmatch

Dial Books |
Middle Grade Fantasy

Take the hilarious, magic-infused world of Eva Ibbotson’s Which Witch, add the lovable feuding family from The Incredibles, and you’ll get Wizardmatch–funny, fantastical, action-packed, and totally heartwarming.

Twelve-year-old Lennie Mercado loves magic. She practices her invisibility powers all the time (she can now stay invisible for fifteen seconds!), and she dreams of the day that she can visit her grandfather, the Prime Wizard de Pomporromp, at his magical estate.

Now Lennie has her chance. Poppop has decided to retire, and his grandchildren are coming from all over to compete in Wizardmatch. The winner inherits his title, his castle, and every single one of his unlimited magical powers. The losers get nothing. Lennie is desperate to win, but when Poppop creates a new rule to quelch any sibling rivalry, her thoughts turn from winning Wizardmatch to sabotaging it…even if it means betraying her family.

Comedic, touching, and page-turny, Wizardmatch is perfect for fans of Mr. Lemoncello’s LibraryThe Gollywopper Games, and The Candymakers.

Pilfer Academy: A School So Bad It’s Criminal

Puffin Books |
Children’s Mystery

Fans of Spy SchoolEscape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Roald Dahl will gobble up this hilarious story about a secret boarding school for thieves-in-training!

Troublemaking George has never heard of Pilfer Academy, a top-secret school for training young crooks, until he’s kidnapped as its newest student. Between disguise classes, cracking safes, and DIY gadgets, George becomes an expert bandit and finds true friendship with Tabitha, his new partner-in-crime. But everything is ruined when George realizes he’s just too good-hearted to be a thief!  Unfortunately, not thieving is not an option at Pilfer Academy. In order to gain their freedom, George and Tabitha must pull the biggest heist the school has ever seen and reveal their true colors not as thieves, but as kind (and, okay, mischievous) kids.

The Only Thing Worse Than Witches

Puffin Books |
Children’s Fantasy & Magic

Rupert Campbell is fascinated by the witches who live nearby. He dreams of broomstick tours and souvenir potions, but the closest he can get to a witchy experience is sitting in class with his awful teacher Mrs. Frabbleknacker, who smells like bellybutton lint and forbids Rupert’s classmates from talking to each other before, during, and after class. So when he sees an ad to become a witch’s apprentice, Rupert simply can’t resist applying. But Witchling Two isn’t exactly what Rupert expected. With a hankering for lollipops and the magical aptitude of a toad, she needs all the help she can get to pass her exams and become a full-fledged witch. She’s determined to help Rupert stand up to dreadful Mrs. Frabbleknacker too, but the witchling’s magic will be as useful as a clump of seaweed unless Rupert can figure out a way to help her improve her spellcasting—and fast!

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The Writing Process

When a writer finishes their first draft… it’s only the beginning! In this interactive talk for young readers, we’ll trace a book through the idea stage, plotting/planning, writing, and finally revision. With a heavy emphasis on revision, we’ll discuss how writers start with big improvements (character, plot, setting, pacing) before working their way to smaller ones, through multiple rounds. Kids will peek at my editorial letters, and we’ll discuss revision tips and tricks they can apply to their own writing.

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Cracking the Case

Sometimes mystery books can leave you feeling clueless! In this talk for young readers, we discuss different elements of a mystery and how to approach one as both a reader and a writer. Breaking down how I wrote my pick-your-own-path mystery series, I demystify the genre by sharing my whiteboard and providing craft tips to deliver on that perfect twist. Your master sleuths will leave the assembly ready to solve mysteries and write their own.

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Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

One of the hardest parts of writing is coming up with an idea in the first place. In this interactive assembly for young readers, we’ll walk through idea generation: how to take a seedling of a thought and get it to blossom into a full-grown story. I’ll share pages from my writers notebooks and teach kids an exercise that is perfect for individual use and/or the classroom. We’ll also discuss what to do when you get stuck–and how to keep inspiration and ideas flowing throughout the entire writing process.

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Engaging Young Readers

A lifelong love of literacy is something we want for every kid. However, sometimes kids don’t share that same passion for reading and writing. In this talk for grown-ups, we’ll discuss ways to engage young readers, including patterns and behaviors that adults can model, strategies to use either at home or in the classroom, and different ways to make books more accessible to all kids.

Coming Soon!

Lauren’s Events Link

The Mythics Teacher Guide Link

Write Your Own Fantasy Planning Pages

Case Closed Detective Notebook Link

Write Your Own Mystery Planning Pages

The Mythics #1 Audiobook Preview

Honors, Awards & Recognition

International bestseller
Junior Library Guild Selection
Indie Next List
Amazon Bestseller
Optioned to Nickelodeon for TV movie
Books translated into nine languages (Spanish, Italian, French, Greek, Catalan, Bulgarian, Czech, Turkish, Russian)

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

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