Tess Morelli is living a dream: she was selected for an incredible exchange program in Rome, where she's spending a month taking in the beautiful sights and sounds and tastes of Italy. Her Italian counterpart, Sofia, is staying with Tess's family while she's away. Sure, her host parents barely speak English, but they seem cool enough. Until one day when Tess is woken up before dawn by her hosts, who are on a video chat with their daughter. Tess sees her sleeping parents on the screen-and Sofia brandishing a knife over them. Tess's parents will die, her hosts tell her, unless she follows their exact instructions. They've taken her passport, credit cards and phone, and Tess, at their mercy, must commit a series of crimes that add up to a shocking plan. Now Tess must find a way to outwit these criminals before she-and her family-end up dead.

Each step gets him closer to greatness . . . or disaster.

Lauer Middle School has a super-secret society--The Legend. No one knows who is in it. Or how they pull off the spectacular school-wide events. Seventh grader Travis Raines may be about to find out. A mysterious message appears in his locker. "You have been chosen," it says. And it gives him a mind-bending puzzle to solve and a challenge. Travis could become legendary. If he completes all the tasks--and stays out of trouble. The assistant principal has her eye on him. So do his parents. And Travis isn't very good at staying out of trouble.

And then there's the biggest puzzle of all: What if the messages "aren't" from The Legend? Could someone want to take Travis down?