• Publication Season/Year: Spring, 2011
• Publisher: Little, Brown
• Release Date: TBD
• ISBN (hardcover): TBD
• ISBN (paperback): TBD

Jack – a lonely and strangely forgettable boy – isn’t happy about spending a summer in Hazelwood, Iowa with his crazy aunt and uncle. But his summer takes a decidedly strange turn when three astonishing things happen: Firstly, he makes friends – not imaginary friends like at home, but actual friends. Secondly, a bully beats him up – the bullies at home, like everyone else, never notice that Jack was in the room – their eyes just slick right past him. Thirdly, the richest man in town began to plot Jack’s imminent, and hopefully painful, death. As Jack investigates the mysteries of Hazelwood, its ancient magic thrown perilously out of balance, he discovers that the lives of his new friends – indeed, their very souls – are in terrible danger.  It’s up to Jack to put things right again no matter what it takes, or everyone he cares about will suffer the consequences forever.

About the Author

Kelly Barnhill is a former middle school teacher, former bartender, former wildand firefighter, former barrista, former waitress, former janitor and former receptionist. These experiences, in total, have prepared her for nothing – save writing, a job she currently enjoys. She is also a mom of three aspiring evil geniuses (with designs on ruling the world) and, from time to time, she teaches fiction and story writing in any school that wants her. In addition to her novels, she writes short stories for grownups, essays for people who like that sort of thing, and high-interest nonfiction for children.  Read more about how to book or contact Kelly Barnhill.

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