Imaginarium Best Children's Book in 2021 Scooter has been wheelchair bound ever since the accident that took her mother's life. Carrying on her mother's ghost hunting work, Scooter and her best friend Harlan create a YouTube show called Spirits Among Us. Wanting to get a message from her mother before she passes over, Scooter buys a special ghost hunting camera and places it in her family's cemetery. But, when a string of robberies frighten the locals, will the camera capture more than a ghost? "An aspiring ghost hunter who uses a motorized wheelchair becomes a sleuth when a robber strikes her Kentucky hometown. Twelve-year-old Scooter, a self-described 'sensitive', is fascinated by ghosts; she and her best friend, Harlan, chronicle their ghost-hunting vigils on their YouTube channel, 'Spirits Among Us'. But the spirit she really longs to meet is her Momma, who died in the car accident that injured Scooter's spinal cord a year ago. When Scooter attempts to record the ghost of her great-great-great-grandfather, a repentant former slave owner, she captures something else: a clue to the robberies plaguing her family's holler, Chamber's Corner. Can she and Harlan-and her trusty Labrador, Max-identify the culprit before her family's paintball business is hit? Heavy foreshadowing weakens the mystery, but Scooter's conversational narration and a dash of suspense keep the pages turning. A tender exploration of family and loss forms the story's heart. Scooter's close-knit extended family is warmly supportive despite her Marine dad's stern exterior, and the ending is sweet if somewhat pat. Howard-who relearned how to walk as a child-portrays Scooter's disability realistically, including her hopes of recovery and insecurity about the appearance of her legs. Most characters default to White, though a description of Harlan's tightly curled black hair may lead readers to imagine him as Black." - Kirkus Reviews Sherry Howard lives with her children, silly dogs, a dragon, and many fish in Middletown, Kentucky. For years, she spent time in a hospital for crippled children, relearning how to walk like Scooter, the main character. She also served as a middle school principal in one of the largest metro school districts in the United States. READING LEVEL
Geared towards children 13-17 years old and grade levels 4-6 MULTILAYERED STORY
About familiar fears, social issues, self-esteem, self-reliance, new experiences, and values among children AWARD WINNING
Best Children’s Book 2021 for the Imadjinn Award STARRED REVIEWS
Kirkus REYCRAFT BOOKS
Authentic stories and illustrations reflecting the voice and vision of children