Best Selling Books by Mary Downing Hahn

A witch called Old Auntie is lurking near Dan''s family''s new home. He doesn''t believe in her at first, but is forced to accept that she is real and take action when his little sister, Erica, is "took" to become Auntie''s slave for the next fifty years.

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.

Just before summer begins, 13-year-old Ali finds an odd photograph in the attic. She knows the two children in it are her mother, Claire, and her aunt Dulcie. But who’s the third person, the one who’s been torn out of the picture? Ali figures she’ll find out while she’s vacationing in Maine with Dulcie and her four-year-old daughter, Emma, in the house where Ali’s mother’s family used to spend summers. All hopes for relaxation are quashed shortly after their arrival, though, when the girls meet Sissy, a kid who’s mean and spiteful and a bad influence on Emma. Strangest of all, Sissy keeps talking about a girl named Teresa who drowned under mysterious circumstances back when Claire and Dulcie were kids, and whose body was never found. At first Ali thinks Sissy’s just trying to scare her with a ghost story, but soon she discovers the real reason why Sissy is so angry. . . . Mary Downing Hahn is at her chilling best in this new supernatural tale that’s certain to send shivers down her readers’ spines.

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.

Beware of Helen... Heather is such a whiny little brat. Always getting Michael and me into trouble. But since our mother married her father, we''re stuck with her...our "poor stepsister" who lost her real mother in a mysterious fire. But now something terrible has happened. Heather has found a new friend, out in the graveyard behind our home -- a girl named Helen who died with her family in a mysterious fire over a hundred years ago. Now her ghost returns to lure children into the pond...to drown! I don''t want to believe in ghosts, but I''ve followed Heather into the graveyard and watch her talk to Helen. And I''m terrified. Not for myself, but for Heather...

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.

When Travis and his sister, Corey, learn that their grandmother''s quiet Vermont inn has a history of ghost sightings, they decide to do a little "haunting" of their own. Before long, their supernatural pranks are drawing tourists to the inn. But Travis and Corey soon find out that there are other ghosts at Fox Hill Inn, and their tricks have awakened something dangerous and threatening. It''s up to these pranksters to figure out how to lay to rest the ghosts they''ve stirred. A fresh take on haunted houses, Mary Downing Hahn''s entertaining, spooky story pokes gentle fun at charlatan ghost hunters while suggesting that ghosts are not to be trifled with.

The acclaimed and award-winning author of "Hear the Wind Blow" pens a chilling ghost story in the tradition of her most successful spine-tingling novels. The intriguing characters, frightening secrets, and plot twists make this one of Hahns spookiest ghost stories.

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!

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.

In a small Southern town in 1944, two girls secretly help a seriously ill army deserter, a decision that changes their perceptions of right and wrong. Issues of moral ambiguity and accepting consequences for actions are thoughtfully considered in this deftly crafted story.

Florence looks forward to a new life with her great uncle and aunt at an old manor house. But Florence doesn''t expect the ghost of her cousin Sophia, who concocts a plan to use Florence to help her achieve her murderous goals.

Unnerved by the overgrown forest near her aunt''s house and the wild black cats that live there, Danni encounters a mean old woman who claims to be their owner and makes a discovery that places her life in danger.

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

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.

At the same time that Matt and Parker find the body of the dead man in the creek, they recognize George Evans, the owner of the antique shop where Parker''s mother works.

When her widower father inherits a castlelike estate in the mountains of West Virginia, 12-year-old Jen is thrilled. It seems like a wish come true. But she quickly realizes that not all change is positive. Her dad has a mysterious new girlfriend, Moura, who slowly drives a wedge between Jen and her father. Furthermore, Moura has an unusually strong—almost obsessive—interest in the antiques that fill the mansion, especially a beautiful glass globe that Jen finds hanging in a window. When Jen’s cat accidentally breaks the globe, which Moura calls a “witch catcher,” strange things begin to happen. . . . An odd-looking girl wearing a torn dress appears, seemingly out of nowhere, and Moura’s behavior becomes more sinister, leading Jen to believe that her father is a pawn in an evil scheme. Soon Jen finds herself caught in the midst of a supernatural war, with the fate of an enchanted race—and her family—at stake. Inspired by the age-old legend of witch catchers, Mary Downing Hahn brings a magical cast of characters to life in this compelling fantasy adventure. Author’s note.

From ghost story master Mary Downing Hahn, an assortment of eerie short stories to thrill and chill young readers.

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.

Mysterious disappearances! Ghost appearances! From the supernatural to the downright scary, these three spooky stories from award-winning author Mary Downing Hahn are sure to send shivers down readers’ spines. Mysterious photographs, ghostly old houses, and all things supernatural await readers in these three frightful tales.

Alienated, bullied, a classic underachiever, 12-year-old Brendan retreats into his fantasy world and then faces the long and demanding journey to a real world where he belongs.

Young Mollie traverses eerie, perilous lands to retrieve her baby brother, Thomas, from the Kinde Folke, malicious sprites who snatched him and left a hideous changeling in his place.

The sequel to the award-winning Stepping on the Cracks. “Sometimes heart-rending, sometimes funny, Gordy Smith will prove memorable to all who meet him.”—Booklist (starred review) In Following My Own Footsteps, sixth-grader Gordy Smith comes to grips with the fear that he’ll turn out no better than his abusive father . . . With his father now in jail and one brother hospitalized, Gordy’s mother has no choice but to take the family to their wealthy grandmother’s house in North Carolina. There Gordy meets William, a boy who had polio and is now wheelchair bound. Though they become friends, Gordy’s plans to help William fail spectacularly. Matters only get worse when Gordy’s father is released from prison and his mother is poised to give him a second chance. Gordy must decide where he belongs—with his dysfunctional parents or with the grandma who is more than his match in toughness, in courage, and in love. “A cast of unforgettable characters inhabit this work, seasoned with WW II setting but utterly contemporary in its concerns. Hahn is in top form, proving through Gordy’s first-person narration that real love can triumph over all kinds of adversity, and often does.”—Kirkus Reviews “The complex characterizations, period setting and Gordy’s brave attempts to break a cycle of violence will hold readers’ interest.”—Publishers Weekly “It’s a timeless social issue really, in any era, of having a dysfunctional abusive parent . . . A very good story showcasing complex friendships, familial relationships, and inner conflict, all set in WW2 America.”—Cats and Fiction

Gordy wasn''t happy to move back to his old hometown of College Hill, Maryland where everyone knew his troubled family history. Things were much better in North Carolina. Can Gordy make it or will he slip back to his old ways.

Daphne tells Jessica a secret, one which Jessica knows could be very dangerous to keep even though telling is breaking a promise.

Narrated from several different perspectives, tells the story of the 1956 murder of two teenaged girls in suburban Baltimore, Maryland.

A “ripsnorting western . . . With plenty of twists and turns—and a cameo appearance by Doc Holliday—it’s a real cowgirl triumph” (Kirkus Reviews). In 1887, twelve-year-old Eliza Yates—disguised as a boy—sets out with her faithful dog Caesar to search for her missing father. Along the way, she falls in with gentleman outlaw Calvin Featherbone. “Together, they make their way to Tinville, Colorado, where, coincidentally, Calvin’s father was killed by a certain Sheriff Yates. Calvin plans to avenge the murder, but he gets himself and Eliza in so much trouble with his amateurish schemes that the pair arrives in town ready to be hanged as horse thieves. Hahn’s writing crackles like gunshot in the Ol’ West, and Eliza and Calvin make a lovable team. The plotting is . . . tight and fast paced, and Hahn does a fine job of recreating the atmosphere of the days of cowboys and miners” (Booklist). “Hahn has obviously done her research, and succeeds in bringing the ambiance of the Old West to her novel. The result is a fast, funny, and entertaining adventure that’s just the thing for fans of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.”—School Library Journal “An amusing comedy of errors that derives much of its humor from Calvin’s speech and manners and Eliza’s wry asides alluding to her true identity as a girl.”—Kirkus Reviews

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.

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?

“Out of sight, out of mind.” That’s what Tallahassee Higgins’s mother, Liz, always says about her ex-boyfriends. But now that Tallahassee has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle in Maryland so Liz can start a movie career in California, the words are taking on new meaning. Aunt Thelma says that Liz is gone for good, but Talley is sure her mother will come for her. So who cares if mean Aunt Thelma hates her, if she’s failing sixth grade, or if the kids at school think she’s a liar? It’s not like she’s staying in Maryland forever. Unless Aunt Thelma is right and Liz isn’t coming back.

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.