New Releases by Mary Downing Hahn

Hüte dich vor Helen ... Als ihre Mutter wieder heiratet, versuchen Molly und ihr Bruder Michael, sich mit ihrer neuen Stiefschwester Heather anzufreunden. Die macht aber immer nur Ärger. Heather lügt und benimmt sich daneben, und irgendwie bekommen die beiden immer die Schuld. Das Verhalten von Heather wird noch seltsamer, als sie immer öfter auf dem Friedhof hinter dem Haus spielt. Sie sagt, sie könne mit dem Mädchen Helen sprechen, die vor über 100 Jahren bei einem mysteriösen Feuer ums Leben kam. Michael glaubt nicht an Geister. Aber Molly ist sich da nicht so sicher, vor allem als Heather droht, dass Helen kommt und sie holen wird ... Mary Downing Hahn (geboren 1937) ist eine amerikanische Autorin, die für ihre gruseligen Geschichten für Jugendliche bekannt ist. Wait Till Helen Comes erschien 1986 und wurde ein Klassiker, der bis heute immer wieder aufgelegt wird. Ihre Werke enthalten selten grafische Gewalt, doch einige ihrer Themen eignen sich eher für Erwachsene, etwa Selbstmord, das Übernatürliche und psychische Erkrankungen. Aus diesem Grund werden ihre Bücher häufig aus Schulbibliotheken verbannt.

Diana and her little brother, Georgie, know every inch of the land around the old Willis place, a crumbling mansion that some people say is haunted. They climb the trees and swim in the pond. And they can do whatever they want, even stay up all night. They don't have to change their clothes, brush their hair, or go to school. They have total freedom--as long as they don't leave the grounds. When Lissa arrives with her father, the new caretaker of the estate, Diana is overjoyed. She's been wishing for a friend. She can show Lissa all her favorite spots, and they can share their favorite books. Maybe Lissa can even help her uncover the ghastly secret of the creepy old Willis house. But there are rules that must be followed in order to keep the peace. Diana and Georgie aren't allowed to make friends. If Diana makes contact with Lissa, she could unleash evil forces beyond her control . . . and then they'll all be sorry. For more spooky graphic novels from Mary Downing Hahn, check out Took, Wait Till Helen Comes, and All the Lovely Bad Ones!

A chilling murder mystery lies at the heart of this page-turning thriller about a missing teacher, small town secrets, and turbulent tween friendships from master of middle grade horror Mary Downing Hahn. When best friends Abbi and Skylar witness a clandestine meeting between a mysterious woman and someone in a dark van, they're thrilled. Finally, a mystery to spice up the summer! Who could these people be? Why are they meeting? Are they spies? Criminals? The two girls are determined to find out. But then a local woman goes missing and is found dead in the woods. And Abbi and Skylar realize that their detective work could hold the keys to solving her murder. Suddenly, sleuthing isn't so fun anymore. As tensions rise and their friendship frays, the girls find themselves in increasing danger, and must choose between keeping a secret or exposing a life-altering truth.

The ultimate gift for young readers who love thrills, chills, and spooky stories, here are three haunting tales from award-winning master of middle grade horror Mary Downing Hahn, together in one ghostly collection. Are you ready for a hauntingly good read? There are scares aplenty in this enticing collection of three of Mary Downing Hahn's most popular books: Took, The Girl in the Locked Room, and The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall. Daniel's little sister disappears in a forest haunted by witches and beasts. Jules is sure that someone--or something--lurks in the upstairs of her new house. Vengeful Spirit Sophia stalks the shadows of a gloomy manor, and dreams of the girl inside. Three of award-winning author Mary Downing Hahn's spookiest tales come together in this gathering of ghosts. Guaranteed to give you goosebumps!

Credi alle cose che non si possono dimostrare? Molly e suo fratello Michael non hanno mai legato con la sorellastra Heather, una bambina di sette anni che non perde occasione di accusarli ingiustamente, seminando discordia tra i genitori. Fin quando la famiglia si trasferisce in una vecchia chiesa ristrutturata in campagna e le cose precipitano. Attratta dall'antico cimitero che confina con la proprietà, Heather sostiene di parlare con il fantasma di una bambina di nome Helen, morta oltre cent'anni prima, e minaccia i fratelli con un cupo avvertimento: «Quando Helen verrà a prendervi, vi pentirete di tutto quello che mi avete fatto». Ma chi è Helen e come mai la sua lapide si erge solitaria, con le sue sole iniziali a ricordarla? Unita a lei da un terribile segreto, Heather ne è come posseduta, anche se nessuno tranne Molly crede alla sua esistenza. E, quel che è peggio, Heather ignora quanto sia pericolosa... Helen era così malvagia come Heather la faceva sembrare o era semplicemente una bambina smarrita in cerca di qualcuno che le volesse bene?

Against the ominous backdrop of the influenza epidemic of 1918, Annie, a new girl at school, is claimed as best friend by Elsie, a classmate who is a tattletale, a liar, and a thief. Soon Annie makes other friends and finds herself joining them in teasing and tormenting Elsie. Elsie dies from influenza, but then she returns to reclaim Annie's friendship and punish all the girls who bullied her. Young readers who revel in spooky stories will relish this chilling tale of a girl haunted by a vengeful ghost.

Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery Two friends set out to solve the years-old mystery of a murder, testing their friendship and placing them in danger, in this creepy thriller by suspense master Mary Downing Hahn. A pair of thirteen-year-old boys investigate the unsolved theft and murder that took place in the old house one boy's family has just moved into. Their quest takes them to the highest and lowest levels of society in their small Maryland town, and eventually to a dark and derelict amusement park where someone will go to any length to shut down their investigation for good. Themes of adjusting to a new town, navigating complex friendships, and resisting a bully are deftly explored in this eerie page-turner.

A white boy helps a black child escape slavery in the midst of the Civil War

Kit includes 6 copies of the book and discussion questions.

When sixteen-year-old Cynda goes to stay with her father and his second wife, Susan, at their remote bed-and-breakfast inn in Maine, everything starts off well despite legends about ghosts and a murder at the inn. But Cynda feels like a visitor in Dad's new life, an outsider. Then intense, handsome stranger Vincent Morthanos arrives at the inn and seems to return Cynda's interest. At first she is blind to the subtle, insistent signs that Vincent is not what he seems-that he is, in fact, a vampire. Can Cynda free herself-and her family-from Vincent's power before it's too late? Full-bodied characterizations and page-turning suspense ensure that this eerie, riveting novel will appeal to middle school fans of mystery and horror.

When thirteen-year-old Ali spends the summer with her aunt and cousin at the family's vacation home, she stumbles upon a secret that her mother and aunt have been hiding for over thirty years.

Twelve-year-old Molly and her ten-year-old brother, Michael, have never liked their seven-year-old stepsister, Heather. Ever since their parents got married, she's made Molly and Michael's life miserable. Now their parents have moved them all to the country to live in a house that used to be a church, with a cemetery in the backyard. If that's not bad enough, Heather starts talking to a ghost named Helen and warning Molly and Michael that Helen is coming for them. Molly feels certain Heather is in some kind of danger, but every time she tries to help, Heather twists things around to get her into trouble. It seems as if things can't get any worse. But they do—when Helen comes.

Third-grader Janey is so excited about meeting her favorite author at a literature festival that she almost ruins the day for her entire class.

Sample Text

On a cold, snowy night, Haswell Magruder makes a decision that will have a profound effect on his own life as well as the lives of all those he loves. A wounded Confederate soldier appears at the family’s Virginia farm, and Haswell convinces his mother and sister to take the man in, despite the certain repercussions if the enemy Yankees were to catch them in such a “traitorous” act. Unfortunately, this is precisely what happens, setting off a horrific chain of events that leaves Haswell’s mother dead and the farmhouse burned to the ground. After leading his younger sister to safety with relatives, Haswell sets out on his journey in search of his older brother, a Confederate soldier. His quest is also a passage into manhood, as he experiences the last bloody days of the Civil War. Skillful storytelling, well-developed characters, and a fast-paced plot distinguish this compelling family story by an award-winning author.

Eight-year-old Anna enjoys one exciting experience after another in this charming story set in Baltimore just before World War I. She gets a new winter coat that's even better than Rosa's, rollerskates down the steepest hill in the neighborhood, and rides the trolley all by herself. And she delights in the changes occurring in the world around her, as motorcars and electric lights appear for the first time on her street. Based on the childhood experiences of the author's mother, these heartwarming episodes touch on timeless themes of family, friends, and the wonders of growing up.

As author Jessica and artist Daphne collaborate on a picture book for a seventh-grade English class contest, Jessica becomes aware of conditions in Daphne's home life that seem to threaten her health and safety. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

Mary Downing Hahn's latest ghost story is a fascinating tale of a unique friendship between two boys whose lives are eerily intertwined. Andrew can feel the presence of his ancestors in Great-Aunt Blythe's old house. His fantasies of ghosts and the past become all too real when another Andrew, who lived at the beginning of the century and died young, appears.

Although they share a love of poetry and problems with their parents, a shy high school senior's attraction to a popular classmate is tempered by her fear of his moody, self-destructive side.

When Parker Pettengill and Matt Armentrout find a dead man at the edge of Indian Creek, their camping trip comes to a close -- and a detective hunt begins. Evans, the creepy new boyfriend of Parker's mom, Pam, was seen at -- the place of the crime -- but there's no solid evidence that he committed the murder. Parker is convinced that Pam's boyfriend is to blame, and he will not rest until he has proof. And when Parker and Armentrout hide out in Pam's antique store and spy on Pam and Evans, they find out more than they bargained for....

QUESTIONS Sensitive and idealistic fifteen-year-old Kelly McAllisterfeels at odds with everyone around her. Her best friendhas suddenly turned boy crazy. Her talented mothercreates greeting card designs instead of real art, andher father never talks to her about anything exceptworking hard and getting ahead. That's why Kelly becomes so involved in the plight of ahomeless Vietnam vet who takes refuge in the libraryeach day. Interviewing him began as a Social Studiesproject, but it takes on new meaning after her offers offood and friendship backfire into a real disaster.What had the war done to destroy this man? And whathad it done to her own father, who had been to thesame war ... and refuses to speak of it?

When Matt and Parker learn the body they found in Indian Creek is a drug-related death, they fear Parkers's mother may be involved.

Tallahassee Higgins enjoys the vagabond lifestyle she lives with her free-spirited mother, but when Mother goes to Los Angeles to try her luck in TV and movies, Tallahassee is placed with her uncle whose conventional suburban lifestyle makes her question her mother's values--and her own.

When Clint, a handsome, mysterious stranger, rents a room in Madigan's grandmother's house, Madigan becomes convinced that he is the father she's never met.

After Ashley and Kristi find an antique doll buried in old Miss Cooper's garden, they discover that they can enter a ghostly turn-of-the-nineteenth-century world by going through a hole in the hedge.

When economic reasons cause two families to merge into a crowded household on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, more personal problems exacerbate the tense living conditions.

Forthright, domineering Sara shows Emily how to speak up for herself and what she likes, but as a result Emily finds herself having to take a stand against Sara.

Laura tells an old woman of her wish that her parents were back together again, without realizing that she is speaking to a real witch.