I don't know how Tiffany D. Jackson does it.This fortunately prolific writer scores in three reader age groups--picture, juvenile, and YA. Her characters are distinctive individuals, her settings and plots deeply engaging. When one of her works arrives for me by the miracle of inter library loans you better believe I'm doing my library happy dance. Reading her Ghost In The Night in the cool evening air by my lovely garden with blackberries to munch on--now that was total bliss.
Jackson takes readers into one of the most legendary haunted cities in America: Savannah, Georgia. Harmony, Jackson's narrator, has been accompanying her musician father on a tour. Her grandmother with whom she'd stayed when he was out of town has died. She'd lost her mother quite early in life. Savannah is the last stop before their return to Harlem where she'll reunite with her besties and hopefully start a prestigious photography program.
Harmony isn't sure whether she believes in ghosts. But she isn't one to pass on a ghost tour.
"On ghost tours, you find out about the real nitty-gritty stuff that happened. Stuff they'd never say on the Disneyland-type tours."
On a Savannah ghost tour Harmony takes a picture that seems to be of a spectral entity with a possible link to a horrific crime. A recent unsolved murder to be exact. When the body of Tim Truman was discovered his young nephew was nowhere to be found. People assume he's been kidnapped.
If the ghost is that of Tim Truman perhaps he has some information that might help people locate his very young nephew and reunite the child with his anxious family. Harmony and two new friends are determined to search the building where the entity was seen before it gets demolished...
...secretly of course because their parents would collectively veto that plan for good reason. Plenty could go terribly wrong.
Young mystery lovers will relish the chance to join the ghost hunters on their perilous journey, while also getting insights into the fight to shine a light on long covered up Black history, the kind the current administration is working overtime to bury.
On a purrrsonal note, when I called to make precious Tobago's yearly check up appointment I learned some really sad news. Her primary care vet, Dr. Julie Keene, has died. She was one of those truly incredible animal docs who dealt beautifully with not only creatures great and small, but with those pesky two legged beings who brought them in. I got to know her really well because she was my beloved Joey cat's vet for most of his medically frail but exuberant sixteen years of life. We visited her quite often so I got to know her really well. She was so patient with him, getting down on the floor and talking softly. I could tell he was special to her. She encouraged and empowered me in caring for my sweet Tuxedo boy. She made me feel like we were partners in his care. In his final months she helped me give him a quality life and cope with the bittersweetness of kitty hospice. She was also really good with Tobago who came with decided vet anxiety. She was also concerned about my potential. When I decided to go to graduate school in my sixties she was definitely on Team Jules when a lot of people were doubting my sanity. She was one of those people who touches your life deeply and leaves you a better person. Do I ever miss her!!!
A great big shout out goes out to Dr. Julie Keene. May her memory be cherished and inspire those who miss her to be better humans.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my Galaxy
No comments:
Post a Comment