The best place to start is with the first book, The Door in the Dragon's Throat. This book introduces archaeologist Dr. Jacob Cooper and his teenage children, Jay and Lila. While each story functions as a standalone adventure that can be read out of sequence, reading them in order allows you to follow the characters' growth and experiences chronologically.
Cooper Kids Adventures in Publication Order
Because chronological order aligns perfectly with the publication release, following the series in order of publication is highly recommended. The complete run includes the following eight books:
The Door in the Dragon's Throat (1985)
Escape from the Island of Aquarius (1986)
The Tombs of Anak (1987)
Trapped at the Bottom of the Sea (1989)
The Secret of the Desert Stone (1996)
The Deadly Curse of Toco-Rey (1996)
The Legend of Annie Murphy (1997)
Mayday at Two Thousand Five Hundred (also published as Flying Blind) (1997)
Title Alterations and Collections
When collecting the physical books, note that the eighth novel, Mayday at Two Thousand Five Hundred, is frequently sold under the alternative title Flying Blind. The text and plot are identical. There are no spin-offs, co-authored additions, or side-novels, though the original books are sometimes packaged together in multi-novel omnibus reprints.
Frequently Asked
QDo you have to read the Cooper Kids books in order?
No. Every book in the series is a standalone adventure. You can read them in any sequence without losing track of the plot, though publication order is recommended to watch the characters grow.
QIs Flying Blind the same book as Mayday at Two Thousand Five Hundred?
Yes. Flying Blind and Mayday at Two Thousand Five Hundred are the exact same book (the eighth and final entry in the series) published under different titles.
QWho are the main characters in the Cooper Kids series?
The series centers on the Cooper family: archaeologist Dr. Jacob Cooper and his teenage kids, Jay and Lila Cooper.
QWhat age group is the Cooper Kids series for?
The books are geared toward middle-grade readers aged 8 to 14, combining action-packed, Indiana Jones-style archaeological mystery with Christian themes.
QAre there any Cooper Kids spin-offs or sequels?
No. The series consists of only the eight core novels written by Frank E. Peretti, with no official spin-offs or companion series.
QWho is the author of the Cooper Kids Adventures?
The entire series was written by the bestselling Christian fiction author Frank E. Peretti.
