Fall 2024 BookFest Award Winner First Place: Juvenile – Action & Adventure In the second installment of the Scary Shivers Mystery series, a hiker vanishes in Shadow Park. Ollie and his two best friends, Mellie and Scotty, strive to find out what happened to him. As they search for the missing hiker, they must enter the Forbidden Zone of the park. Legend has it that the notorious Captain Jacques LaMal and his vicious crew of pirates buried gold treasure there. When they delve deeper into the Forbidden Zone, the three friends encounter ghosts, thieves, and scary creatures. Dark forces lurk in the shadows, determined to protect the cursed gold at all costs. Together, they must conquer their fears as they face evil, dark magic, and other terrifying surprises. Will Ollie, Mellie, and Scotty solve the mystery of the missing hiker and uncover the truth about the curse of Shadow Park? Here are what readers are saying about The Curse of Shadow Park (from Amazon reviews): “The story's unexpected twists, including encounters with tunnels and pirates, kept the pages turning.” “Each chapter leaves you hanging, making it super hard to stop reading. The characters are cool, and the story is packed with twists.” “The characters are relatable and their banter lightens the mood, making the spooky parts feel exciting rather than overwhelming. It’s a great way to introduce younger readers to the mystery genre without it being too scary.” “With elements of dark magic, ghosts, and hidden treasure, each chapter is packed with suspense and excitement that keeps you turning the pages.” “Kids will love the characters, their interactions, and the dangers they face in this book. It kinda reminded me of Stranger Things but for younger people. Recommended!” “Great Book. My friend’s daughter loved it and can't wait to read more. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.” “I think it could be a good practice for children who are not into reading very much. Because it is easy to read and makes the reading fun.” F. P. LaRue is the author of the Scary Shivers mystery series. These adventure mysteries are written for middle-grade children and are designed to show them that reading is fun! She loves scary stories and particularly enjoys sharing her own frightening tales. F. P. is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and The Curse of Shadow Park won a First Place Award for Best Juvenile Action & Adventure in the Fall 2024 BookFest Awards. Before writing children’s books, F. P.’s career was in education. She progressed from being a teacher to the dean of academic affairs for a small Michigan college. When not writing, F. P. loves to travel, having visited all fifty states and fifty-four countries worldwide. F. P. hopes her stories inspire children to discover the wondrous adventures reading can bring―no matter their age. You can find out more about F. P. LaRue and the next Scary Shivers Mystery below. www.FPLaRue.com www.ScaryShivers.com Facebook: FPLaRue