Riley's Ghost - John David Anderson book blog tour

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK

 

From the author of Posted comes a ghost story pulled from the darkest shadows of middle school—and a tale of one girl’s attempt to survive them.

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, on this particular day, decide 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.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John David Anderson is the author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including the New York Times Notable Book Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, Posted, Granted, One Last Shot, and Stowaway. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wonderful wife, two frawesome kids, and clumsy cat, Smudge, in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at www.johndavidanderson.org.

 

Tour Stops

 

January 10 Nerdy Book Club @Nerdy Book Club

January 12 A Nerdy Bibliophile in Wanderlust @bethshaum

January 13 Teachers Who Read @teachers_read

January 14 A Library Mama @alibrarymama

January 15 Maria's Mélange @selkeslair

January 18 Lit Coach Lou @litcoachlou

As I walk around the halls of our middle school on a daily basis I hear the whispers and see the emotions across faces - emotions filled with fear, anger, sadness. The stillness in looking for someone they might know or could feel elated to see, but a lot of time there's a loneliness to the hallways. Students who don't feel like they belong, or who are forcing themselves to belong - not always making the wisest decisions on who they spend their time with. 

I dug into Riley's Ghost without realizing how obvious the connection to real life middle school truly was. Fear. It lives within the students on a day in and day out basis, and Riley's Ghost is a story that every single kid I teach could relate to. 

I appreciated the complete honesty throughout this story that Anderson has written - he has such a way of connecting with middle school readers. I know the flashbacks may be harder for a younger group to follow along with, which could. make this for a good read aloud/discussion, but when it comes to 5th and up - I highly recommend. 

There's a little bit of Riley in all of us, and I think sometimes facing those fears, the things you don't believe in until they're in your face, help us grow in ways we never thought possible.