Ghost in the Headlights

Product Description

In this modern-day retelling of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” an angry ghost haunts a small-town road in search of revenge…

When Brianna Jenson agreed to move in with her cruel uncle Shane in rural Pennsylvania, she didn’t expect to find herself in the middle of a terrifying town legend.
Every afternoon on her walk home from school, as the sun begins to set behind the overhanging branches of Shadowrun Road, Brianna hears footsteps following her — footsteps that belong to no one. Then there’s the car that races along the narrow country road with blinding lights and almost runs her over! That’s when Brianna realizes… there’s no one driving. It’s almost as if someone — or something — is trying to get her attention.
As Brianna investigates what happened on Shadowrun Road, she discovers a town tragedy that has never been resolved. Can Brianna get to the bottom of this ghostly mystery before it’s too late?

From School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up—In this contemporary retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Brianna, who is white, must stay with her uncle for a few months while her mother completes her job training. Upon arriving, Brianna is haunted by dreams of a young local girl who vanished, and is warned by kids about the road in front of her uncle’s house, though they won’t say why. Brianna must figure out the mystery behind the vanished girl before she becomes the next victim. In this horror mystery, Brianna must investigate the town’s supernatural secrets while being challenged at every turn. Unfortunately, the novel’s suspense is hampered by a rushed plot and lack of character development. Brianna as a character falls flat, as do most of her relationships with others, making it difficult for readers to stay invested in what’s happening to her. Plot points seem to be thrown in so rapidly there is no time for readers to digest them before the next thing happens. The premise is fun and engaging, but the hurried plot and underdeveloped cast leave something to be desired. VERDICT While appropriate for a middle grade audience, there are other books in the horror genre that are more skillfully written. Best suited for the the middle school crowd who enjoys spooky stories and a quick, simple read.—Sara Kundrik, Gilbert Paterson M.S., Alta.

About the Author

Lindsey Duga is a middle-grade and young adult writer with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and basically any genre that takes you away from the real world. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University. Her debut YA novel,
Kiss of the Royal, was published by Entangled Teen in 2018. She lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.