X-Men meets Spy Kids in the fifth installment of The Forgotten Five middle-grade fantasy/adventure series by the New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds. The Forgotten Five and their friends are reeling in the aftermath of the raid on Magdalia Palacio's campaign rally—an attack masterminded by her corrupt opponent President Fuerte and his henchmen. Birdie is in the hospital with a head injury, and under arrest for stealing a police horse in her attempt to evade capture. Separated from her friends—and not even allowed to see her mother—how can Birdie escape when she is utterly alone? Then the Librarian is taken captive in the heavily guarded palace dungeon after Fuerte discovers she's been acting as a double agent. What will they do without their trusted mentor? Luckily, the five have been honing their supernatural abilities, and it's Brix who takes the lead, forging an unlikely alliance and putting together a plan. Does the group have what it takes to rescue their friends and even the odds in the president's all-out war against Estero's supernaturals? Lisa McMann is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of dozens of books, including The Forgotten Five series; The Unwanteds series; the Wake trilogy; and Clarice the Brave . She is married to fellow writer Matt McMann, and they have two adult children—their son is artist Kilian McMann, and their daughter is actor Kennedy McMann. Lisa spends most of her time in Arizona, California, and Vancouver, British Columbia, and loves to cook, read, and watch reality TV. You can visit Lisa at lisamcmann.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @lisa_mcmann. UNDER ARREST Several days after Birdie Golden had been arrested in her hospital bed following Magdalia’s rally, a nurse came in for a routine check of the girl’s injuries. Birdie had been diagnosed with a severe concussion and a simple skull fracture from flying off the police horse and hitting her head on the stone fountain at the park. She remembered thinking during the chase that a helmet would have been a good ­idea . . . but she didn’t recall anything after that. The doctors had been worried about her brain for a few days. She also had a cut that had required eleven stitches, and they’d shaved part of her hair to fix it, which was awful, but not the worst part of this whole ordeal. If only Brix had been allowed in her room to heal her, he could’ve taken away the pain in a few minutes. But getting healed would have only hastened things along for what would be happening next. And that was the last thing Birdie wanted. “You’re being discharged today,” the nurse whispered. Birdie’s eyes widened in fear. When she left here, she wouldn’t be enjoying the safety of the monastery cottage or the company of her family and friends. She was an alleged criminal and would be going to jail. The unknown was terrifying. What would it be like? She recalled Tenner’s description of the jeering prisoners who were being held at the police station. And she could picture the cold gray walls of the penitentiary they’d visited when looking for her mom, Elena. Would she be headed to one of those places? She couldn’t decide which would be worse. After the nurse changed Birdie’s head bandage for the last time, she took out a tablet computer and started the discharge process. Police officers who’d been guarding the room this whole time made small talk in the hallway outside the ­door—​­Birdie could catch glimpses of them through the open door and hear their muffled voices. If Tenner were here, he’d be able to tell her exactly what they were saying. But Birdie was well aware of the only things that really mattered right now: They were guarding her to make sure she didn’t escape, and they were waiting to take her away. Birdie hadn’t seen or spoken to any friends or family since she’d gotten hurt. The police wouldn’t let them in. But she kept hoping to see a slight shimmer in the hallway, which would mean Seven was there, sneaking ­around . . . but he never snuck in, as far as Birdie knew. Not even Birdie’s mother had been allowed to see her, which seemed especially harsh. Though this same nurse had whispered to Birdie that Elena had stayed in the waiting room for days, trying to convince the authorities to change their minds and let her talk to her daughter. But they definitely wouldn’t allow a former lawbreaker like Elena Golden to visit her probably guilty daughter. This was the law in Estero. Criminals didn’t have many ­rights—​­not even ­thirteen-​­year-​­old criminals. Being supernatural certainly didn’t help. And Commander Collazo knew she was a super. “You talk to animals.” Collazo had accused Birdie shortly after her arrest, when the handcuff was still cold around her wrist and the other police officers stood intimidatingly around her bed. “I saw you communicate with that raven outside the police station the first day we met. I’ve seen your pig, too.” The way she’d said t