Today's Featured Books— Children and Young Adult

Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on books of the Time Runner Series from author Paul Darden:

• Rise of the Runners - FREE!
• Rise of The Runners: Winds of Ora Grant - $2.99
• Freedom Runner - From $9.99

★★★★★ "Beautiful, emotional, and engaging." ~Goodreads Review

Bonus: Visit the SeriousPensPublishing Shop for book bundles, posters, merchandise, and more.

Rise of the Runners
Genres: Teen & Young Adult Short Reads, Teen & Young Adult Fiction
4.6 stars, 34 ratings on Amazon.com
42 pages
Ebook price: FREE!



Duante Elliot is a brilliant young boy who has everything a child could want. His days in New York City are fast-paced but perfect for him—until his life comes crashing down when a series of events takes away the world he loves the most.

Moving back to the Bronx is a big change. Duante is destined for greatness, but his future is in doubt because Duante is unsure if life is worth living. Duante has to find the courage to get through troubled times, and he finds hope when a light emerges in the midst of the darkness and paves the way for healing.

Life is about choices, and making the right ones will unleash Duante's full potential or drag him into a dark world to do the unthinkable. His destiny is far more significant than he or anyone around him can ever imagine. 

Rise of the Runners: Winds of Ora Grant
Genres: Teen & Young Adult Short Reads, Teen & Young Adult Fiction
60 pages
Ebook price: $2.99



Duante Elliot finds himself processing life nearly a year after an unspeakable loss. To escape it all, he finds himself in Jamaica where he has a chance encounter with Ora Grant and Valentina Sánchez.

The world of the Runners is expanding as Duante takes another step to becoming a Runner in a journey that encapsulates the thrill of adventure, the weight of responsibility, and the warmth of camaraderie among those who serve.

Freedom Runner
Genres: Teen & Young Adult Fiction
4.67 stars, 6 ratings on Goodreads
294 pages
Hardcover: $27.99
Paperback: $15.99
Ebook: $9.99



Duante Elliot's life has been anything but ordinary including ups and downs no child should have to endure. But everything changes forever when he turns sixteen years old...

Duante leaves his house and heads to school with his best friends, as he has done countless times. He expects to continue to thrive at Antioch Academy, making his family proud and finding the peace he once had. But Duante mysteriously vanishes after hanging out with his friends.

Lost, alone, and confused, Duante has to figure out how to survive. He wants to get back home, if possible. He also needs to harness his newfound abilities and uncover the truth behind the journey. In short, Duante must overcome tragedy, accept his destiny, and embrace the runner within.

Paul C. Darden teaches 7th and 8th grade school social studies in The Bronx, New York, making him part of the 2% of black male teachers nationwide. He is also owner of SeriousPensPublishing, and creator of the seven-book Time Runner Series and the five-book Oneirology Chronicles.

Though relatively new to the world of publishing, Paul is not new to writing; he has been creating engaging content for his students for years. His books are an extension of his teaching and a solution to the lack of representation in literature and the classroom. 

Learn more at SeriousPensPublishing.com, and be sure to follow Paul online: 

Jamison is a Gold Coast boy who desperately wants to visit his dad in Paris. When a friendly dragon offers to help, Jamison has no idea what is in store. He must deal with four eccentric dragons. Also, he must survive a hot air balloon crash, a cyclone, and getting lost in Shanghai. Will he find his dad? Will he ever feel that he is truly home? A book that will delight dragon lovers of any age. 4.8 stars, 13 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

In a journey of transformation, Kendall, a seemingly ordinary individual, is unknowingly thrust into a profound mission. Guided by a powerful and enigmatic force, he must navigate a path that will reveal hidden truths buried deep in the folds of time. Ancient legacies and long-forgotten tales provide clues leading to more questions, until finally, distant connections reveal their true significance in a breathtaking twist. From $4.50 - SHOP NOW / 

Mona is a mischievous monkey. She likes to have fun in ballet class, which sometimes gets her in trouble. She’s not (always) grumpy; she’s just misunderstood. Her moodiness is attached to a memory she holds dear from long ago. What could it be? Follow along as Mona shares her memory with her friends, Sasha and Cami, and finds out the true meaning of family. From $18 - SHOP NOW / 

Sasha, the youngest in a royal family of tigers, is going to be presented to the kingdom. As she prepares to receive her tiara, her insecurities come out. She’s shy, awkward, and clumsy (and she has really big feet!). Her best friend, Cami, convinces her to take ballet classes, where she finds self-confidence, makes new friends, and learns to believe in herself. Follow Sasha's journey as she becomes The Furry Princess. $18 - SHOP NOW / 

Inventors, Explorers, and World Changers. When the Wright Brothers, Marie Curie, Leonardo Davinci, and others set out to change the world, a chicken was there. Over the course of twenty-five short stories, these eyewitnesses to history will show you history as you've never seen it before. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

When my life turns upside down, my Uncle Jed, a fur-trader living in Indian Country, comes to my rescue. At Fort Union I am not met by my uncle. Instead, a young Indian, Good Eagle, greets me. We instantly dislike each other, but when he defends me against harm, I realize I must befriend him. But he still dislikes me. At this point, is friendship even possible? 4.3 stars, 59 ratings. From $0.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

Children tell you the story! Watch as a tortoise, cat, pig, bird, and insects plant a mysterious black seed. What will grow as the fruit of their labors? Kids’ vocabulary blooms as they describe events. Explore this simple gardening story for beginner readers. Low stimulation for autistic children. Build kids’ minds today! From $4.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

A rumor has spread around the kingdom of the four beautiful girls who live in a little house at the end of a long lane... And the King is looking for a wife. Join Alexandra, Belle, Celine, and Darla—with their older sister, Zygmunda—on their adventures at the castle, dealing with a man whose selfishness and arrogance are as famous as their own beauty. From $1.68. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

New release in juvenile fiction (ages 10-14): When Ruby’s mother goes missing due to struggles with mental illness and addiction, Ruby and her aunt set out to find her. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when a jewelry store robbery and an act of kindness from the victim leads them down an unforeseen path. From Georgia to Washington to New York City, Ruby learns that even in life’s darkest moments, hope and unexpected blessings can shine through. "Heart-wrenching and profoundly moving." ~Bookshelf Awards. From $9.99 - SHOP NOW / 

"Am I good enough?" ask the three-leaf clovers of themselves. Go on this journey and find the answer to this question. A thoughtful book presented in a fun way to explore the meaningful concept of loving others and accepting them. "A great book for teaching young children about self esteem." ~Amazon Review. 4.2 stars, 84 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

Our family trip to the beach was over before it even began, wiped out by Mother Nature in an instant. Now, it’s just me and my sister, stranded 100 miles from home with no car, no phones, and barely any food. But just as we start to figure things out, she disappears, leaving me utterly alone and desperate to find her no matter what it takes. Book 1 in the Nature's Fury Series. 4.4 stars, 110 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

When Clayton Day’s father is wrongfully accused of murder, his world shatters. Fleeing in desperation, he finds himself on the edge of a cliff—until a mysterious purple café door offers him a second chance at life, but at a cost. Bound to serve the enigmatic Proprietor, Clayton must uncover the truth behind his grandfather’s death, racing through time with the help of Abigail, a skilled Secreteer, while dark forces threaten to erase everything, including him. 4.8 stars, 20 ratings. FREE - SHOP NOW / 

New release! In this dystopian middle-grade science fiction novel, siblings Nick and Lily must navigate a world where Earth's atmosphere is vanishing into space. As oxygen dwindles, Nick discovers hidden tunnels connecting homes, while Lily devises a communication system to keep their community informed. With time running out, they race to expand the tunnels before food and air run out, battling against the odds for survival. From $9.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Daniel and his best friend, Papa, head to Splodge City to take on Wild Will Hickory Dickory Jock and his gang, who are after Papa’s black book of secrets. At the Glue Pot Ranch, Daniel is stuck knee-deep in mud as Weston Wolf closes in. Meanwhile, Two Clouds, a magical Indian chief, whispers a spell—WHOOSH! Lightning strikes, revealing the entrance to Splodge City. With chaos erupting and Papa’s book stolen, Daniel faces Sir Stumpy Slugworm in a final showdown. Their hands twitch—SPLOOSH! Who will be The Fastest Water Pistol in Splodge City? From $4.99. Free via KU. SHOP NOW / 

The boy has a lot of questions—hard ones about love, honesty, grief and loss, prejudice, forgiveness, why we are here, and more. Bear's wise answers are always offered with compassion and enthusiasm. The friendship between these two is deep, tender, and sometimes fun. Bear's clear, common-sense philosophy of life is a welcome contrast to the complex world our children face today. 4.9 stars, 20 ratings on Goodreads. From $0.99 - SHOP NOW / 

Join Misha the Travelling Puppy on a magical Christmas adventure in Lapland! From riding with reindeer to helping Santa in his toy workshop, Misha discovers the wonders of the midnight sun. When Santa’s sleigh is out of commission, Misha and her friends step in to deliver gifts to children worldwide, showing the true spirit of teamwork and friendship. This vibrant and heartwarming story introduces little ones to European Christmas traditions, festive vocabulary, and the joy of helping others, making it a holiday must-read! From $1.99. Free via KU - SHOP NOW /