Description

From John David Anderson, acclaimed author of Posted, comes a ghost story pulled from the darkest shadows of middle school.

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 decide one day 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. Moments from her own life...and a life that is not her own.


  • Middle Grade Supernatural Book: Trapped after hours, Riley discovers her school is home to more than just bad memories. A haunting presence has a story to tell, and it won’t let her leave until she listens.
  • Friendship and Bullying: This gripping story tackles the pain of being left behind by a best friend and the terrifying reality of being targeted by bullies who take things way too far.
  • Suspense for Reluctant Readers: With a fast-paced plot and short, tense chapters, this is the perfect scary story to keep kids aged 8-12 turning the pages long after the lights are out.
  • Coming of Age Horror: As Riley confronts the ghosts of the school, she must also face the ghosts of her own past—learning what it means to be brave when you feel completely alone.

About the author(s)

John David Anderson is the author of more than a dozen acclaimed and beloved books for kids, including the New York Times Notable Book Ms. Bixby’s Last DayPostedGrantedOne Last ShotStowawayThe Greatest Kid in the World, Keep It Like a Secret, and many more. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wonderful wife, two frawesome kids, and a pair of mischievous kitties in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at johndavidanderson.org.

Reviews

Praise for ONE LAST SHOT: "Anderson beautifully blends tough topics and humor, perfecting the recipe for young readers. Malcolm’s struggles with his love and heartbreak for his parents, and the news of the loss of a premature brother, will resonate with readers as he negotiates the new roles in his family." - School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for ONE LAST SHOT: "Readers will cheer when Malcolm finally comes into his own. A well-crafted, emotionally resonant book, brightened by irrepressible wit." - Booklist (starred review)

"Riley is a multi-layered and sympathetic protagonist, and Anderson gets the blend of the supernatural and psychological right." - The Horn Book

Praise for FINDING ORION: “Eccentric yet believable characters and Rion’s perceptive narration prevent Anderson’s unpredictable tale from feeling overwrought as the relationships between three generations of fathers and sons are rewritten anew.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for GRANTED: “Anderson provides wonderfully convincing details about his imagined ‘world of waning wonder,’ where fairies struggle to keep magic alive. A faithful dog, a good friend, and pinch of magic work wonders in this modern fairy tale.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for POSTED: “Written with understated humor and fine-tuned perception, Frost’s first-person narrative offers a riveting story as well as an uncomfortably realistic picture of middle school social dynamics.” - Booklist (starred review)

"Its slowly unraveling central mystery presents a humanizing account of outcasts, the friends who betray them, and the trauma that follows." - Kirkus Reviews

"Lots of humor, a little horror, and a dash of the bizarre round things out. Highly recommended." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"A tale to test the nerve of all fifth-graders who are looking ahead to junior high and finding themselves anxious about what’s in store." - Booklist (starred review)

More by John David Anderson

More School & Education

More Juvenile Fiction

More Friendship

More Social Themes

More New Experience

More Horror

More Mysteries & Detective Stories

More Thrillers & Suspense

More Bullying

More Survival Stories

More Action & Adventure

More Girls & Women

More Emotions & Feelings