Abbott, Tony (1952-…), is an American children’s author who has created several popular series of novels aimed at readers from the ages of 6 to 14. Most of Abbott’s stories feature fantasy, science fiction, and mystery, with children as the heroes.
Abbott is probably best known for his series “The Secrets of Droon.” The 44-book series takes place in a fantasy world called Droon. Three children—Eric, Julie, and Neal—find the entrance to Droon by following a secret staircase in Eric’s basement that takes them down to that world. The children return to Droon repeatedly to help Princess Keeah defeat the evil Lord Sparr. The series began with The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet (1999) and ended with The Final Quest (2010).
Abbott’s first series was “Danger Guys,” about two child detectives named Noodle and Zeek. The boys find themselves in one wild adventure after another, from riding in a runaway rocket ship to killing movie monsters that have come to life. The series began with Danger Guys (1994). In the “Cracked Classics” series, Abbott created comical satires on classic books. The series began with Dracula: Trapped in Transylvania (2002), based on the famous 1897 horror novel Dracula.
Abbott’s other series include “Time Surfers,” time travel stories beginning with Space Bingo (1996), and “Weird Zone,” comic thrillers beginning with Zombie Surf Commandos from Mars (1996). “The Haunting of Derek Stone” is a series of suspense stories beginning with City of the Dead (2009), and “Goofballs” is a comic mystery series beginning with The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder (2012). The “Underworlds,” a series of mythology stories, begins with The Battle Begins (2011). “The Copernicus Legacy,” a series of intrigue and adventure stories, begins with The Forbidden Stone (2014).
Abbott also has written nonseries individual books. Kringle (2005) is a fantasy tale set in A.D. 500 about a boy named Kringle. Firegirl portrays the friendship between young Tom and Jessica, who has been disfigured after being badly burned in a fire. The Postcard is about a 12-year-old boy who investigates a mystery in Florida. Lunch-Box Dream (2011) is a historical story about racism in the United States during the 1960’s. In the verse novel Junk Boy (2020), two bullied teens forge a friendship that draws them out of their isolation.
Robert Terrance Abbott was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 26, 1952. He moved at the age of 8 with his family to Connecticut. Abbott graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1974 with a B.A. degree in English literature. He began using the name “Tony” about that time. He worked in book stores, a library, and a publishing company before becoming a full-time writer.
