Shallow Grave (Orca Soundings)

When they're hauled into the office in the wake of a stupid prank, schoolmates Elliot and Shannon have no idea that hiding the principal's Smart Car in the woods was the least of their problems. As part of their punishment, the pair is tasked to clean up the school boathouse. Should be an easy enough task, they figure: chuck all the broken stuff, organize whatever still works and get the weekend underway. But when Shannon talks Elliot into making a Ouija board, things take a turn for the horrifying. When the pair accidentally unleashes a dark force, they find themselves caught up in a mystery that must be solved if they have any hope of escape.

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-These titles feature well-intentioned teens in tough situations. In Coming Clean, Rob's golden opportunity to pursue his passion for music leads to unintentional involvement with drug deals and the death of a friend due to an Ecstasy overdose. Dead Run focuses on Sam, who loves bike racing. His gig as a bicycle courier becomes more than he bargained for when his boss asks him to deliver secret packages to a sketchy location. In Shallow Grave, Elliot is wrongly accused of a prank and ends up cleaning an old boathouse with a female classmate as punishment. The spirit of a deceased teen speaks to them through a Ouija board, and they struggle to untangle her messages. All three protagonists are unquestionably good people; their choices are what get them in trouble. Brief, current, and fast paced, these books will be enjoyed by reluctant teen readers.-Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WIα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

After rule-bound Elliot is caught up in a prank that runs afoul of the principal, he is stuck cleaning out the school’s spooky old boathouse after school with “loser goth weirdo” Shannon. Elliot is surprised to find that he may have misjudged Shannon, who is smarter and nicer than he thought, and their work goes by amiably even though the dim, disused atmosphere unnerves them. When Shannon finds half of a friendship necklace, she claims to feel a “presence” and insists they make a Ouija board to investigate. Elliot reluctantly agrees, but he isn’t prepared when they actually contact the ghost of a murdered girl who demands they solve her mystery before she will let them leave. Brief hints of school and family drama flesh out the two main characters, and Elliot’s snappy first-person narrative will be relatable to teens. Written for the Orca Soundings line for reluctant readers, this fairly tame ghost story would make a good introduction to scary stories while still being suspenseful enough to hold the interest of older readers, too. Grades 4-7. --Krista Hutley

Library Media Connection

"A fast-paced, entertaining ghost story that targets reluctant readers with its high interest, low readability format."

TriState YA Book Review Committee

"A thrilling short novel...This fast paced mystery is sure to delight young adult and reluctant readers."

NJ Youth Services

"Enough creepiness to keep readers on the edge of their seat."

Booklist

"Brief hints of school and family drama flesh out the two main characters, and Elliot's snappy first-person narrative will be relatable to teens...A good introduction to scary stories while still being suspenseful enough to hold the interest of older readers, too."

Resource Links

"The dialogue...is excellent, up-to-date, and witty, moving the story along well, reflective of the way real students talk to each other."

From the Inside Flap

"spirits, murder, crime"

From the Back Cover

spirits, murder, crime

About the Author

Alex Van Tol grew up reading a wide range of books, from Enid Blyton to Stephen King. She taught middle school for eight years, then made the switch to writing for a living. She has published numerous titles with Orca. Alex lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her family. For more information, visit www.alexvantol.com.

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