The Phantom Airplane Mystery

On a moonless night, something big, dark, and terrifying roars low over the canoe of 12-year-old cousins Allison Lopez and Riley Travis as they watch a meteor shower. Investigating this phantom airplane turns up a link to a different plane that disappeared along with its pilot years before. The result is a baffling case with a gruff hermit, missing jewels, too many clues, and a bear on a mountain climbed in search of answers.

Fast paced and action packed, The Phantom Airplane Mystery stars two young sleuths who live across a country lane from each other in Butternut Village. Riley loves New Hampshire's deep woods. He's impulsive, quick witted, never gets lost, and always wears a backpack with survival gear.

In contrast, Allie is a city girl who grew up in Mexico. She's sophisticated, competitive, doesn't like getting her clothes dirty, and fears getting lost because all trees look alike to her. But her Latina street smarts ensure that she always lands on her feet.

Each of them is good at everything the other one isn't. With these two best friends on the trail, it's criminals beware!

The award-winning Butternut Village Mystery Series appeals to girls and boys alike. Nurturing and inclusive with diverse characters, it presents its protagonists with challenges they must solve for themselves, makes performing research an exciting part of solving each mystery, provides a connectedness to nature and outdoor activities, and avoids negative undercurrents to leave readers with a sense of well-being and agency.