When a wall of their cave hideout crumbles, three boys discover a skeleton, clutching a treasure map. They set off to trace the story of an old murder, but stumble into a modern crime, and confront ancient Chinese dragons.

Sam inched forward and aimed the flashlight inside. “Uh oh.”

“What?” Joey gasped.

“It’s a ... well, kind of a ... skeleton.”

“Awww,” Roger screamed, ran, tripped, and sprawled on his stomach.

“It can’t hurt you, Roger,” Sam said. “Come on.

Take a look.” One thing about being in a family of paleontologists, you got used to bones.

Roger quick-shook his head. “No. No. No.”

Joey took three slow steps and stood next to Sam. “Sweet. A dead guy. Man, let’s get out of here.”

“Hold this.” Sam handed Joey the flashlight. “Keep the light on him, okay?”

The skeleton was partly covered by a tattered shirt and pants. Bony fingers clutched a wooden box with a piece of thin metal about two inches long on its top.

Reaching inside, Sam tried to pry the box from the skeleton’s grasp, but the finger bones fell through the rib cage and clattered to the bottom of the chest. The box lodged between the ribs.
The light jiggled in Joey’s hand. “Come on Sam, enough already.”

Sam picked up the thin metal piece from the top of the box, and held it under the light. One end of it was bent at a right angle. A faded red tassel looped through the other end.

“Here, take this.” Sam handed Joey the strange object, then reached inside the chest and gripped the box. He lifted it slow and easy. It could be a trap. It could be dangerous. His hands twitched and the edge of the box caught on a rod that held the chest lid open. He barely snatched the box free before the lid crashed down.

What sounded like an angry dragon exploded around the cave.

The walls trembled, and the floor heaved under foot.

C. Lee McKenzie has a background in Linguistics and Inter-Cultural Communication. Her greatest passion is writing for young readers. Sign of the Green Dragon is her third Middle Grade novel. Alligators Overhead and the sequel, The Great Time Lock Disaster were her first two. She has traditionally published four young adult novels: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

I'd like to highlight the fact that I always have a free ebook (a different one every few months) available on my website for visitors. http://cleemckenziebooks.com

Website: http://cleemckenziebooks.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2809083.C_Lee_McKenzie    
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sign-Green-Dragon-Lee-McKenzie/dp/1532721250
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sign-of-the-green-dragon-c-lee-mckenzie/1123482000 

C. Lee McKenzie will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

)Ah, spring! What better time to break out the crayons and have some fun. In the spirit of this vibrant season, let's do a super fun coloring contest! Open to all ages,

There are two categories: 

• Smoos Coloring Contest: ages 8-12
• Ennara Coloring Contest: Ages 13+

I'm not checking ages on each entry, these are just guidelines. And the 13+ category is open to everyone. Unleash your coloring skills, friends!

• First prize: A congratulatory letter and art advice from Ennara's illustrator, Anna Maria Minerva, who lives in Italy!
  
  
• Second prize (8-12 category): A poster of Anna Maria's artwork for Ennara and the Fallen Druid
• Second prize (13+ category): A poster of Anna Maria's artwork for Ennara and the Book of Shadows
  
  
• Third prize (8-12 category): A signed, print copy of Ennara and the Fallen Druid (recommended for ages 11+)
• Third prize (13+ category): A signed, print copy of Ennara and the Book of Shadows (recommended for ages 11+)

Deadline for entries is July 31, 2016.

Download and print your entry form here.