Alcatraz Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Alcatraz books in order, from the very first to the latest, so you won’t miss anything!

About the Alcatraz Series

Brandon Sanderson’s Alcatraz series is a fresh, quirky, and totally unforgettable take on middle-grade fantasy. Known for his epic adult fantasy sagas like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, Sanderson took a wonderfully unexpected turn when he created Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians. This wasn’t just another story about a boy saving the world—it was a tongue-in-cheek, fast-paced, and clever tale where clumsiness is a superpower, librarians are secretly evil, and nothing is ever quite what it seems. With humor, heart, and a lot of broken things (literally), this series stands out as a must-read for young readers and fantasy lovers alike.

At the heart of the story is a boy named Alcatraz Smedry. On his thirteenth birthday, he receives a mysterious bag of sand—yes, sand—that suddenly becomes the most important object in the world. And not in a peaceful way. Alcatraz accidentally delivers it into the hands of a dark society called the Evil Librarians, who plan to use it for world domination. That’s where the fun begins. Alcatraz soon learns that his clumsiness isn’t just bad luck—it’s actually a magical family talent. In fact, his entire family line is full of oddball “talents” that seem useless at first but become surprisingly powerful in their fight against the Librarians.

What makes the Alcatraz books truly unique is their tone. They’re laugh-out-loud funny but never feel shallow. Sanderson has a rare ability to mix silly humor with real emotion and big ideas. The narrator—Alcatraz himself—often breaks the fourth wall, talking directly to the reader with sarcasm, honesty, and wit. If you’re familiar with A Series of Unfortunate Events, you’ll notice a similar style, though Sanderson puts his own stamp on it with clever world-building and action-packed sequences.

The series began in 2007 with Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians and continued with three more books released between 2008 and 2010: Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener’s Bones, Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia, and Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens. Later, the final book, The Dark Talent, was published, bringing Alcatraz’s wild adventure to a dramatic and satisfying end. Each book expands the world more and more, introducing new enemies (like cyborg librarians and cursed curators) and even crazier twists (like a library that literally steals your soul when you borrow a book). And yes, there are some fantastic gadgets too—like magical glasses, or “occulatory lenses,” that give Alcatraz powers like shooting heat rays or reading any language.

While the setting looks a lot like our own world at first, readers soon realize this version of Earth has some strange secrets hiding beneath the surface. There’s a secret war going on—a battle between the Free Kingdoms and the Librarian-controlled Hushlands. Alcatraz’s job is to survive it, understand his strange family legacy, and, hopefully, not destroy everything in the process. Along the way, he’s joined by unforgettable characters like Grandpa Smedry, whose magical power is being late to things (even bullets), the sword-wielding Bastille, and cousins with talents like tripping over anything or speaking only in nonsense.

One of the best things about the Alcatraz series is the way it encourages kids to embrace their flaws. Alcatraz is far from a perfect hero—he’s clumsy, unsure, and often scared—but that’s exactly what makes him so relatable. He’s a reminder that being different doesn’t mean you can’t be important. Sometimes, our greatest weaknesses are just hidden strengths waiting to be discovered. It’s a powerful message wrapped inside a rollercoaster adventure, and one that sticks with readers long after the final chapter.

Though a movie adaptation was once in the works, the true magic of Alcatraz lies on the page. Whether or not these books ever hit the big screen, they’ve already captured the imagination of thousands of readers around the world. Brandon Sanderson may be best known for his massive fantasy worlds, but with the Alcatraz series, he’s created something just as meaningful for younger audiences. Witty, imaginative, and full of heart, this series is perfect for kids, teens, and even adults who love clever writing and out-of-the-box storytelling. If you enjoy fast-paced adventures, lovable misfits, and stories that aren’t afraid to be a little silly while saying something meaningful, Alcatraz deserves a spot on your bookshelf.