Shadow Grave

Description

Twelve-year-old Arlo is afraid of fire, creepy TV shows, and even his own shadow-but most of all, he's afraid of losing his mother to the disease that nearly claimed her life a year ago. During a Thanksgiving road trip, a sudden collision with a strange beast in the middle of the road totals the family's car, and Arlo, his mom, and his sister end up stranded in a small town called Livermore. But there's something off about this place. No one has a phone or a car, and the townspeople aren't exactly friendly. Without phone service to make a call for help, Arlo and his family stay at the Samuels' mansion, but inexplicable sightings at night set Arlo on edge. When he stumbles upon a dark secret that the town's inhabitants will kill to keep, getting out of Livermore becomes a matter of life or death.

Marina Cohen grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, where she spent far too much time asking herself what if. . . In elementary school, her favorite author was Edgar Allan Poe. She loved "The Tell-Tale Heart" and aspired to write similar stories. She is attracted to the fantastical, the bizarre, and all things eerie. Her previous novels, The Inn Between, The Doll's Eye, and A Box of Bones, were published by Roaring Brook Press. Marina's books have been nominated for numerous awards in the United States and Canada. Visit her at marinacohen.com

Cohen blends inspiration from Tuck Everlasting and 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost...in this excellent, spooky story about a[n] anxious boy who tries to keep his family safe. Cohen's writing is sometimes disarmingly beautiful...It's a fantastic show of craft. - Booklist Cohen dishes up another expertly twisted chiller. Shivery reading for under the covers...or, for that matter, in broad daylight. - Kirkus Cohen...brings shivers with the isolated, insular small town and its creepy residents. - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Equal parts spooky and charming, this story offers plenty of suspense and relatable ties to real-world difficulties. - Horn Book Magazine