Riley's Ghost - by John David Anderson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From John David Anderson, acclaimed author of Posted, comes a ghost story pulled from the darkest shadows of middle school.

Riley Flynn is alone.

It feels like she's been on her own since sixth grade, when her best friend, Emily, ditched her for the cool girls. Girls who don't like Riley. Girls who decide one day to lock her in the science closet after hours, after everyone else has gone home.

When Riley is finally able to escape, however, she finds that her horror story is only just beginning. All the school doors are locked, the windows won't budge, the phones are dead, and the lights aren't working. Through halls lit only by the narrow beam of her flashlight, Riley roams the building, seeking a way out, an answer, an explanation. And as she does, she starts to suspect she isn't alone after all.

While she's always liked a good scary story, Riley knows there is no such thing as ghosts. But what else could explain the things happening in the school, the haunting force that seems to lurk in every shadow, around every corner? As she tries to find answers, she starts reliving moments that brought her to this night. Moments from her own life...and a life that is not her own.

• A Supernatural Thriller: When the doors lock and the lights go out, Riley discovers her school is a terrifying place after dark, with a ghostly presence haunting every corner.
• Facing Your Fears: Riley always liked a good scary story, but now she's living one. To survive the night, she'll have to confront the phantoms in the hall--and the ones from her own past.
• Dealing with Loneliness: Ditched by her best friend, Riley feels completely alone. But as she explores the empty school, she learns she's not the only one who has felt abandoned in these halls.
• A Haunting Middle Grade Mystery: Why is the school haunted? And whose life is Riley reliving? The answers lie in the darkest shadows of middle school history.

Review Quotes

Praise for ONE LAST SHOT: "Anderson beautifully blends tough topics and humor, perfecting the recipe for young readers. Malcolm's struggles with his love and heartbreak for his parents, and the news of the loss of a premature brother, will resonate with readers as he negotiates the new roles in his family." - School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for ONE LAST SHOT: "Readers will cheer when Malcolm finally comes into his own. A well-crafted, emotionally resonant book, brightened by irrepressible wit." - Booklist (starred review)

"Riley is a multi-layered and sympathetic protagonist, and Anderson gets the blend of the supernatural and psychological right." - The Horn Book

Praise for FINDING ORION: "Eccentric yet believable characters and Rion's perceptive narration prevent Anderson's unpredictable tale from feeling overwrought as the relationships between three generations of fathers and sons are rewritten anew." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for GRANTED: "Anderson provides wonderfully convincing details about his imagined 'world of waning wonder, ' where fairies struggle to keep magic alive. A faithful dog, a good friend, and pinch of magic work wonders in this modern fairy tale." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for POSTED: "Written with understated humor and fine-tuned perception, Frost's first-person narrative offers a riveting story as well as an uncomfortably realistic picture of middle school social dynamics." - Booklist (starred review)

"Its slowly unraveling central mystery presents a humanizing account of outcasts, the friends who betray them, and the trauma that follows." - Kirkus Reviews

"Lots of humor, a little horror, and a dash of the bizarre round things out. Highly recommended." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"A tale to test the nerve of all fifth-graders who are looking ahead to junior high and finding themselves anxious about what's in store." - Booklist (starred review)