The Story

     The Girl Who Wouldn’t Stop Running is a fast-paced outdoor adventure that an older teen will love.  The book has three main characters. Opal is 13 and living through her parent’s messy divorce. She has been sucked into the blame-game of her parents and seeks solace with a mysterious texting friend who uses this friendship to have Opal kidnapped while on a hiking trip. Once captured, Opal uses her smarts and courage to survive and escape. Geologist Sara Cafferty and pilot Archer MacClehan are recruited to outsmart the kidnappers save her. 

Things to Know

•          The desert setting teaches students a lot about that environment and survival.
•         It is an adult reading level but only 200 pages.
•         No sex, yes romance.
•         Native American/Christian themes.
•         Good transition book to adult reading levels.
•         Cost is $15, no e-book available 

The Far Journey

Story

A Far Journey is a young adult novel that throws a modern teenager back in time to the Oregon trail.  The young heroin, Paula Masters, is not a typical senior in high school. She is part of the elect, beautiful, popular, and feared at school. At home, however, she deals with a disabled brother, and parents so caught up in their own messy divorce. Paula’s world turns inside out when she wakes up to find herself with a broken arm in the back of a covered wagon.  Paula and the book take a wonderful turn as she slowly discovers this new life is all too real, and she must adapt to it or perish.

Things to Know

• ·        A young adult novel, YA, is for ages 13 to 22. 
• ·        It is adult reading level.
• ·        It contains some non-graphic sex.
• ·        Historical content is accurate. 
•       Cost is $14.95 on Amazon and bookstores.

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Children and Young Adult Book Reviews in 200 Words or Less!

This blog is to provide parents and students reviews in a fast, fun format. We would love new reviewers to this page, especially students.

Biography

Mary Haley is an award-winning published author of The Great Potato Murder. She is a retired educator and a former ghost writer. Through her teaching experience she came to appreciate students’ sense of humor.

Pend Oreille Paddler by Whitney Rae Palmer

Story

This picture book is the legend of lake Pend Oreille’s monster, The Paddler. The book whimsically wonders about the nature of the Paddler who is supposed to be a large, prehistoric, swimming reptile who lives in the depths of the lake. Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille is the fifth deepest lake in the U.S. at 1,150 feet, so the possibility of a deep dwelling creature is at least as likely as the Loch Ness having one at its paltry 745-foot depth. Every beautiful lake should have a fanciful monster swimming around in it.

Things to Know

·       This is a picture book not a young reader book. The reading level is adult.

·       This is a fun story, but the whimsical art work is the best part.

·       It’s paper back and small so don’t let the dog eat it.

·       Great North Idaho appeal.

·       Available at books stores or Amazon price $9.95 or $3.95 on Kindle.

The Great Potato Murder, Ghost Writer Series, by Mary Haley

Story

This is a light, fun grade school murder mystery. The main character, Julie Ann, comes home to find her aunt is a ghost. She has been murdered with a baked potato. Now they must solve the murder, stop the killer, and attend a parent teacher conference.

Things to Know

·       I wrote it so I can’t review it. I added Amazon and newspaper reviews below.

·       Reading level is 4^th grade and above.

·       Working on getting an AR test for it.

·       It has 250 pages so it is a good segue to longer books.

·       Mysteries teach logic so they help with math and science.

·       It contains a ghost and mentions heaven, but that isn’t the point. This is about solving a problem, and laughing while dealing with loss.

·       Available at books stores and Amazon, book $9.99, Kindle $2.99.

Other People’s Reviews

"After 25 years of volunteering for junior high author Mary Haley has a pretty good idea what that age level wants." Ben Olson editor of the Reader Magazine.

“Mary Haley has written a wonderfully entertaining novel. I was not sure I would like it because it's target audience are the younger set, but it is such an interesting story with captivating characters, I read it through in one sitting. I literally could not put it down. The only disappointment was when it ended. I wanted it to go on. I hope Ms. Haley is working feverishly on the next book in the Ghost Writer series.” May 4^th 2016 Amazon Review 5 stars

“What a fun book! I want my own ghost as awesome as Aunt Cynth. Julie Ann, her niece, makes a witty and courageous assistant to her aunt as they race to find who killed Aunt Cynth, and continues to threaten them. This is a wonderful cozy mystery that I would have loved as an adolescent, and which I thoroughly enjoyed as an adult.” September 16. 2016 Amazon Review five stars.

“Amazing! Looking for something my kids and I could read together that would also hold my interest. Looking forward to the next book!” April 2016 Amazon Review 5 stars.

There are many more reviews on Amazon.com The Great Potato Murder

Want Your Book Reviewed?

I review children’s books up through young adult. Send me an e-mail at ghostwriterhaley@gmail.com with approximate age level, word count, and one paragraph synopsis. If It piques my interested, I’ll ask you for a copy. If you want your book back send a self-address, stamped envelope with it. You may quote this blog on your promotional material and book cover, but I don’t promise to like it. I have a preference for North West authors.