Johnny-In-A-Box
Johnny in a Box is a fast-paced middle grade allegory where humor collides with spiritual truth. Thirteen-year-old Johnny wakes to find himself trapped in a series of strange, color-coded rooms with Angela, the girl he’s admired from afar. What begins as a survival puzzle full of awkward jokes, broom antics, and failed escape attempts slowly reveals a deeper layer: they cannot free themselves through effort, wit, or willpower alone. The story blends suspense, middle-school banter, and subtle theology, making it both an adventure and a coming-of-faith novel for young readers.
Comps: Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progres, Grabensein's Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Juster/Feiffer's Phantom Tollbooth
In Development
Nerd Initiation
Moving from snowy Michigan to sunny California should have been exciting, but for eleven-year-old Blaine it means being stuck with the world’s least flattering nickname: “Glasses.” At first, he thinks he’s found his place among a ragtag crew of kids with equally weird monikers like Boogers, Ears, and Carrot—but fitting in comes with a price. From humiliating football games to a cruel “vaccination initiation” prank, Blaine’s gullibility makes him the target of escalating tests designed to prove whether he’s worthy of the group. When one scheme spirals out of control, Blaine’s quick wits turn the tables, forcing everyone—including himself—to question what real strength, belonging, and friendship look like.
Comps: Kinney's Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Spinelli's Loser
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