Roland Smith Books In Order

Publication Order of Beneath Books

Publication Order of Jacob Lansa Books

Publication Order of I, Q Books

Publication Order of Marty and Grace Books

Publication Order of Peak Books

Publication Order of Storm Runners Books

Publication Order of Zach's Lie Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers Books

Publication Order of Alphabet Picture Books

Publication Order of Great Episodes Books

An American author, the well known and equally well regarded author Roland Smith has come to be highly praised for his unique and perceptive brand of young adult fiction which he has been writing for a number of years now. With a large quantity of titles, he is largely seen as being at the forefront of the genre, pioneering much of it for the many writers that have followed in his footsteps since. He has also written a number of non-fiction books as well, with many of them being focused upon animals and animal welfare, something which is of a primary interest to him as an author.

Early and Personal Life

Born in Portland, Oregon, in the United States of America on the 30th of November, 1951, the author Roland Smith was brought up with a passion for both reading and writing. This was something that he would constantly come back to over the years, continually nurturing and progressing it as a finely tuned craft of his. Another keen interest he held was that of animals, something which would also become a recurring theme throughout his lifetime.

Graduating from Portland State University where he majored in English, he was soon well on his way towards achieving his childhood dream of becoming an author. It was also during this time that he developed his passion for animals, something which he would continually return to time and time again. With his education and his keen interest in animal welfare, he was soon well on his way to becoming the author that he’s currently known as today.

After leaving university he went on to work in a zoo for some time, a job that really helped both him and his work. Also developing his passion for animals as a subject, it really inspired him, as he got a closer more in-depth look at the creatures there. Initially he thought that this job would simply be a part-time position, but he ended up working with animals for over twenty years before leaving to work full-time.

Now living on a small farm south of Portland, he lives with his wife Marie where he continues to write to this day. Still writing about animals, he manages to draw upon his past informing what he has and will continue to work with in the following years to come. As his writing career grows from strength-to-strength, he will carry on building upon his popularity and material for some time yet.

Writing Career

Publishing both fiction and non-fiction, Roland Smith has produced a variety of books over the many years of his career. With a focus on young adult fiction, he’s managed to carve himself a niche in the market that remains unparalleled to this very day. Winning awards as well, such as the Oregon Book Award in 1996, he has not gone without his fair share of critical acclaim too.

His style has come to be known of as exciting and enthralling, whilst also not forgetting to inform and engage the reader along the way. Knowing what he’s working with and exactly who he is as a writer is one of his greatest strengths as an author of contemporary fiction. It really manages to progress the action and the readers understanding, something which definitely tends to appeal to many of his younger readers.

Bringing out his second novel, Thunder Cave, in 1997, he was already well on his way to becoming the success that he currently is today. Featuring recurring characters throughout, he’s been able to maintain his storylines and narratives over the years, carrying them steadily forwards. With more releases to follow on the horizon, this looks set to continue on into the foreseeable future, as he doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon.

Elephant Run

First published on the 25th of September, 2007, through the Disney-Hyperion publishing label, this was to be a stand-alone novel from Roland Smith. Still retaining his signature style and tone as an author though, it manages to capture the best of his writing, providing much of what his readers have now come to know and love. That’s not to say that it isn’t without a few surprises though, as it offers a few unexpected twists and turns along the way as well.

Set during the Second World War in 1941, the action begins with the apartment of a young Nick Freestone being bombed, leaving his mother to send him to Burma with his father. It is in Burma though that the village he’s staying in is attacked by the Japanese, ending up with his father being taken away as a POW, as he’s forced into a life of servitude back on the plantation with its new rulers. That’s when him, and his new young friend Mya, decide to escape on elephant back and go rescue his father, all whilst evading the Japanese along the way. Will they be able to escape the captors, or will they be dragged back? Can they both stay alive during this troubled time? What will become of Nick and Mya as they head off on their elephant run?

Eruption

Initially published in 2012 on the 1st of March through Scholastic Incorporated, this was to be the third book in the ongoing Storm Runners series of novels. Charting the progress of Chase Masters it manages to provide the epic conclusion to the trilogy, finalizing all the loose ends in one major climax. It also works at creating an exciting narrative in much the same vein as before, whilst also simultaneously managing to keep its readers guessing right up until the very end.

Looking to track down the Rossi Brothers Circus, the protagonist Chase Masters heads over the south of the border with his friend, Nicole Rossi. This is all after an enormous earthquake has taken place, leaving volcano to potentially go off in its wake as well, something which potentially threatens them all. With his dad coming along as well, they will come across a whole variety of different animals when meeting the circus, all whilst just attempting to survive. Will they find what they’re looking for? What will they discover in the south? Can they all evade the eruption?