Elise Leonard is the author of the AL'S WORLD series (Simon & Schuster), the JUNKYARD DAN series (Nox Press), the LEADER series (Nox Press), the SMITH BROTHERS series (Nox Press), the A LEEG OF HIS OWN series (Nox Press), and the series entitled PETE'S PLACE (Nox Press). She was a teacher for many years before becoming a full-time author. Due to her concern about the plummeting literacy rates in the U.S. and throughout the world, she now writes cool, funny, high-action books for struggling adult, adolescent and English Language learners, to help older struggling readers increase their reading levels and have a better life through literacy.