The Puppet Master's Revenge

By Donald Lemke, Rick Burchett and Lee Loughridge

The evil puppet SCARFACE and his wiseguys just pulled off one of the biggest heists in GOTHAM history. Unfortunately, there's a rat among the thieves, and the loose lips are helping BATMAN crack the case. Is the VENTRILOQUIST betraying his wooden creation to the DARK KNIGHT?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: Apr 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781434298416

Donald Lemke

Donald Lemke works as a children’s book editor and writer. He has written dozens of books for young readers—from board books to middle-grade novels—that often include today’s most popular characters, such as Batman, Superman, Scooby-Doo, and more. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with his beloved family, which includes his wife, Amy, and their three growing-up-way-too-fast daughters.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

PUPPET HEIST

CHAPTER 2

A HAND IN THE CRIME

CHAPTER 3

INSANELY JEALOUS

CHAPTER 4

HONOR AMONG THIEVES

CHAPTER 5

TRUE CRIMINAL

Ventriloquist & Scarface

Biographies

Glossary

Discussion Questions

Writing Prompts

Copyright

Back Cover

Three minutes past midnight, a small cargo plane touched down at Gotham International Airport. Near the main gate, a security officer stepped out of his armored truck. He had waited more than an hour for the shipment to arrive.

Hurry it up, boys! shouted the guard.

Two ground crew workers stood a few feet away, chuckling. They warmed their hands near the engine of a forklift. Both wore thick coveralls, blue vests, and oversized headsets.

One had a gray ski mask pulled over his face to protect against the cold. You got it, he growled. The worker spit a chewed up toothpick onto the ground and mumbled toward his partner. Then he jumped into the cab of the forklift.

Soon, the plane’s rear door opened like a mechanical jaw. A metal ramp unfolded like its tongue. Steam from the heated cargo bay filled the November air.

Eighteen