A spunky budding scientist faces the paranormal in this endearing new middle grade adventure in the vein of Nancy Drew and the Goosebumps series. Young readers with a taste for adventure and magic will find a new hero to adore in The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee by Erin Petti.
Eleven-year-old Thelma Bee is never bored. In fact, she has curiosity and adventure in her blood. She spends her time running science experiments, practicing Spanish, and daydreaming about exotic landscapes. But Thelma gets more than she bargained for when a strange woman sells a jewelry box at her father’s antique shop. That night, a ghost kidnaps her father, and the only clues are the jewelry box and a word the ghost whispered in her ear: “Return.” Now it’s up to Thelma to get her dad back, and it might be harder than she thought—there’s someone wielding dark magic, and they’re coming after her next.
Thelma is the real star of this book; she’s smart, into science, and doesn’t let the bullies get her down. She admires her researcher mom, while also admitting that it sucks not having her around; and her relationship with her father is really beautifully written. She has her friends, her hobbies, and sure she’s still figuring things out, but she’s pretty comfortable in her own skin. Something that’s rare for anyone, much less an eleven-year-old.
Her plucky attitude and determination are the driving force behind the story, as she teams up with friends new and old to save her dad and stop the person (or thing) behind the dark magic that’s after her. Thelma and her friends demonstrate bravery and smarts, and young readers will easily look up to them and immerse themselves in the mystery that unfolds over the course of the book.
Look for The Peculiar Haunting of Thelma Bee in stores September 6th. Pre-order it and learn more here.
Shown here is actually just ONE potential cover for the book. You can vote HERE (until August 1st) for your favorite cover, and be entered to win a pretty fabulous prize!
Novel Novice 
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