This book is dedicated to my wife, Lynette,

and to our mothers,
Linda Dashner and Patti Anderson.

Thank you for making my life so far

a wonderful thing to have lived.

Text © 2008 James Dashner
Illustrations © 2008 Bryan Beus

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, Shadow Mountain¨. The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of Shadow Mountain.

All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Visit us at ShadowMountain.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Dashner, James, 1972-
   The Journal of Curious Letters / James Dashner.
         p. cm. — (The 13th Reality ; v. 1)
   Summary: Thirteen-year-old Atticus “Tick” Higginbottom begins receiving mysterious letters from around the world signed only “M.G.,”
and the clues contained therein lead him on a journey to the perilous
13th Reality and a confrontation with evil Mistress Jane.
   ISBN 978-1-59038-831-0 (hardcover : alk. paper)
eISBN 1-60641-615-4 (eletronic)
[1. Space and time—Fiction.  2. Letters—Fiction.  3. Family life—Washington (State)—Fiction.  4. Washington (State)—Fiction. 
5. Science fiction.]  I. Title.
   PZ7.D2587Jou 2008
   [Fic]—dc22                                                                                  2007042579

Printed in the United States of America

Worzalla Publishing Co., Stevens Point, WI

10     9       8       7       6       5       4       3       2       1

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Part1: The Fire

Chapter 1: Master George and Mistress Jane

Chapter 2: A Very Strange Letter

Chapter 3: A Kid’sWorst Nightmare

Chapter 4: Edgar the Brave

Chapter 5: A Most Unwelcome Patch of Smoke

Chapter 6: The Ladyin the Trees

Chapter 7:Mothball

Chapter 8: A VeryImportant Date

Chapter 9: The Gnat Rat

Chapter 10: The Temptation of the Flames

Part2: The Journal

Chapter 11: Old and Dusty

Chapter 12: The Voiceof M.G.

Chapter 13: Talking to Sofia

Chapter 14: Shoes and Mittens

Chapter 15: Little Ball of Bread Dough

Chapter 16: Nowhere in Between

Chapter 17: Smoky Bathroom

Chapter 18: Edgar the Wise

Chapter 19: An Odd Christmas Present

Chapter 20: The Land of Ice and Snow

Chapter 21: Old, Funny, and Smelly

Chapter 22: Going Postal

Chapter 23: Bonding with Norbert

Chapter 24: Pedal to the Metal

Chapter 25: The Girl with Black Hair

Chapter 26: Time Constraints

Part3: The Magic Words

Chapter 27: April Fool

Chapter 28: A Meeting in the Woods

Chapter 29: A Bundle of Clues

Chapter 30: The Third Musketeer

Chapter 31: Paul’sLittle Secret

Chapter 32: Shattered Glass

Chapter 33: The Final Clue

Chapter 34: The Miracle of Screaming

Chapter 35: The Final Preparation

Part4: The Barrier Wand

Chapter 36: Among the Dead

Chapter 37: A Familiar Name

Chapter 38: Sitting Down

Chapter 39: A Lot of Water

Chapter 40: Master George

Chapter 41: The Taleof the Realities

Chapter 42: The Doohickey

Chapter 43: A Bump in the Night

Chapter 44: Escalation of Plans

Chapter 45: The Thirteenth Reality

Chapter 46: Chi’kardaDrive

Chapter 47: Annika’sToss

Chapter 48: Double Doors

Chapter 49: The Golden Button

Chapter 50: The Calmafter the Storm

Chapter 51: Homecoming

Epilogue: The Thwarted Meeting

A –Glossary of People, Places, and All
Things Important

Discussion Questions

Acknowledgments

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Acknowledgments