ROCKPORT — The Rockport Public Library’s Circulation and Technical Services Librarian Benjamin Odgren has just published his second book, The Hidden Brain: A McKraken & Voilà Investigation.

The library will host an author event with Odgren on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 4:30 p.m. Odgren will discuss his new middle-grade book; read a selection; and create some on-the-spot illustrations with help from the audience.

The Hidden Brain takes place in the fictional North Star City — a world of superheroes, supervillains, very small robots, regular-sized robots . . . and mysteries. The story follows Alex McKraken and Marie Voilà, the two youngest reporters for their school newspaper. The students suspect that their sixth-grade English teacher might be the city's most notorious supervillain, and the young sleuths are compelled to uncover the truth.

The book is the first in a series of mysteries that Odgren plans to write about McKraken and Voilà, which will follow the students’ investigations as they progress through middle school and beyond. 

Prior to his current position at the library, Odgren was the Youth Services Librarian for seven years. His first book was published in 2021, a middle-grade book from a different (equally adventurous) new series about a wayward mouse called Havertail.

Odgren will be selling and signing copies of both books at the end of the presentation. Refreshments will also be provided.

For more information about this and other events at the Rockport Library, visit rockportlibrary.net.