Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions

Welcome to Dr. Critchlore’s School for Minions, the premier trainer of minions for Evil Overlords everywhere. No student is prouder to be at Dr. Critchlore’s than Runt Higgins, a 12-year-old werewolf. (At least he thinks he’s 12. He was abandoned at the school as a baby, so he can’t say for sure.) Runt loves everything about Dr. Critchlore’s. He loves his classes - like History of Henchmen and Introduction to Explosives. He loves his friends - like Darthin the gargoyle and Syke the tree nymph. And he loves his foster family, who took him in when his wolf pack couldn’t.

Runt Higgins needs answers, fast. Someone cursed him to die on his 16th birthday - but no one seems to know who cursed him or why. He decides he must find the Great Library, where all true knowledge is stored. Unfortunately, the only people who know the location of the Great Library are a covert network of librarian-spies who have sworn to protect the Library’s secrets. And when one of Runt’s professors is attacked, it soon becomes clear that others are also out to find the Library at any cost. Meanwhile, Runt’s not the only one whose days are numbered.

Runt Higgins has a long to-do list. He needs to find out who cursed him, and why; he needs to make up with his best friend, Syke; and he needs to pass the Junior Henchman Training Program. That last one? Not likely. Professor Murphy hates Runt and is actively trying to fail him. The only way for Runt to pass the class and stay at Dr. Critchlore’s School is to locate a rare mineral that Dr. Critchlore needs to make an Undefeatable Minion. To find it, Runt must travel to icy Upper Worb and battle gyrfalcons, yetis...and the loathsome team from Dr. Pravus’s school.

In the race to create the Undefeatable Minion, Dr. Critchlore’s longtime rival, Dr. Pravus, is winning. As Dr. Critchlore rallies his troops, Runt is kidnapped. As the last prince of Andirat, he must lead the rebellion in his home country. Isolated from his minion friends, Runt grows suspicious of the rebels, who seem to be working with Dr. Pravus. Runt knows he must escape and tell Dr. Critchlore, but reaching him activates Runt’s curse, giving him just days to live! His only chance for survival: Stop Dr. Pravus and win the allegiance of the witch who cursed him.