Showing results by author "Laura Segal Stegman" in All Categories

Eleven-year-old stuttering Darby believes she's supposed to be perfect, just like her mother demands. But summer away at camp promises temporary escape. There, she befriends twelve-year-old Justin, who hasn't uttered a word since his dad died, and ten-year-old Naz, who is struggling to learn English. When mysterious calliope music from a nearby warehouse grants the trio power to communicate without words, they sneak inside to find out why.

Best friends Darby, Justin, and Naz are facing their biggest challenge yet. Since last summer's adventure, they find themselves growing apart, making new friends, and being pulled in different directions. But when a ride at ghostly Mr. Usher's carnival experiences a mysterious malfunction, the trio reunites to answer his desperate call for help.

With his summer headed downhill fast, thirteen-year-old Justin faces a tricky choice—stand up to bigotry or let fear hold him back. When he's targeted by a bully, and a good friend stops speaking to him, Justin counts on help from Leroy Usher, the ghost whose magical carnival helped transform Justin's life after his father died last year. So this should be a breeze, right? His expectations rise further when a mysterious message from Mr. Usher invites him and pals Darby and Naz for a midnight visit.