How to Read The Secrets of Droon: The Recommended Path
To fully experience the magical world created by Tony Abbott, readers should follow the integrated chronological order. While the series is divided into 36 numbered main books and 8 Special Editions, the Special Editions are not optional side stories. Instead, they contain major plot developments, key character transformations, and critical battles that bridge the gaps between the main books. Reading only the numbered books will leave you confused when characters suddenly possess new abilities or reference massive events that occurred off-screen.
For the best experience, intersperse the Special Editions within the main series using this integrated sequence:
- Book 1: The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet (1999)
- Book 2: Journey to the Volcano Palace (1999)
- Book 3: The Mysterious Island (1999)
- Book 4: City in the Clouds (1999)
- Book 5: The Great Ice Battle (1999)
- Book 6: The Sleeping Giant of Goll (2000)
- Book 7: Into the Land of the Lost (2000)
- Book 8: The Golden Wasp (2000)
- Book 9: The Tower of the Elf King (2000)
- Book 10: Quest for the Queen (2000)
- Book 11: The Hawk Bandits of Tarkoom (2001)
- Book 12: Under the Serpent Sea (2001)
- Special Edition 1: The Magic Escapes (2001)
- Book 13: The Mask of Maliban (2001)
- Book 14: Voyage of the Jaffa Wind (2002)
- Book 15: The Moon Scroll (2002)
- Book 16: The Knights of Silversnow (2002)
- Book 17: Dream Thief (2003)
- Book 18: Search for the Dragon Ship (2003)
- Book 19: The Coiled Viper (2003)
- Book 20: In the Ice Caves of Krog (2003)
- Book 21: Flight of the Genie (2003)
- Book 22: The Isle of Mists (2004)
- Special Edition 2: Wizard or Witch? (2004)
- Book 23: The Fortress of the Treasure Queen (2004)
- Book 24: The Race to Doobesh (2004)
- Special Edition 3: Voyagers of the Silver Sand (2005)
- Book 25: The Riddle of Zorfendorf Castle (2005)
- Book 26: The Moon Dragon (2006)
- Book 27: The Chariot of Queen Zara (2006)
- Special Edition 4: Sorcerer (2006)
- Book 28: In the Shadow of Goll (2006)
- Book 29: Pirates of the Purple Dawn (2007)
- Book 30: Escape from Jabar-Loo (2007)
- Book 31: Queen of Shadowthorn (2007)
- Special Edition 5: Moon Magic (2008)
- Book 32: Treasure of the Orkins (2008)
- Book 33: Flight of the Blue Serpent (2008)
- Special Edition 6: Crown of Wizards (2009)
- Book 34: In the City of Dreams (2009)
- Book 35: The Lost Empire of Koomba (2009)
- Special Edition 7: The Genie King (2010)
- Book 36: Knights of the Ruby Wand (2010)
- Special Edition 8: The Final Quest (2010)
What to Know Before You Start
Written by Tony Abbott, The Secrets of Droon is a 44-book epic children's fantasy series published by Scholastic between 1999 and 2010. Abbott was inspired to write the series after years of reading bedtime stories to his own kids, wanting to build a fantasy world that felt as rich and magical as J.K. Rowling's Hogwarts but remained highly accessible to early readers transitioning into chapter books. The series went on to sell over 12 million copies worldwide, earning high praise as a top recommendation for young readers looking for their next adventure.
The story follows three ordinary children—Eric Hinkle, Julie Rubin, and Neal Kroger—who discover a portal in Eric's basement: a rainbow-colored, magical staircase. This staircase leads directly to the mystical land of Droon, a realm home to wizards, sorcerers, spider-trolls, and flying lizards. Because of a time dilation effect (where a year spent in Droon is only a few seconds in the Upper World of Earth), the children can go on epic quests and return home before their parents even realize they are missing.
Upon entering Droon, they quickly ally themselves with the young Princess Keeah and the powerful, ancient wizard Galen Longbeard. Together, they fight to defend Droon against the forces of darkness, led first by the sinister, red-eyed sorcerer Lord Sparr and later by the moon dragon Gethwing.
Understanding the Special Editions and Chronological Caveats
The core of the series is its accessibility; each main-series book is relatively short (usually under 100 pages) with larger text and frequent illustrations, making them easy for kids to devour. However, the Special Editions function differently. They are longer, cover more complex narrative ground, and feature higher stakes. Reading them in their publication slots is critical because key elements of the plot shift during these books. For example, in The Magic Escapes (Special Edition 1), the magical rules of the series expand as Droon's magic begins to spill over into the kids' home on Earth. In The Final Quest (Special Edition 8), Abbott pulls together every ongoing thread for the ultimate climax of the entire saga, meaning the story does not actually end with Book 36.
While publication order matches chronological order perfectly, readers should be prepared for the shifts in tone. The early books focus on episodic, whimsical quests. As the series progresses, particularly after the introduction of Gethwing, the overall narrative shifts into a more serialized, epic struggle where actions have lasting consequences across multiple volumes.