Description: Readers can choose their own paths that lead to different outcomes as they read stories about three reportedly haunted hospitals.
Brief description: Ailynn Collins learned a lot about writing from her teachers at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. She has always loved reading science fiction stories about other worlds and strange aliens. She enjoys creating new characters and worlds for her stories, as well as envisioning what the future might look like. When not writing, Collins enjoys spending her spare time reading and playing board games with her family. She lives near Seattle, Washington, with her husband and loveable dogs.
Review Quotes: According to the publisher, these adventures are based on actual places "inspired by reports from real people." Thus, the venues, historical information, dates, phenomena, persons (except for story characters) are genuine. Each adventure begins with protagonists joining an organized "ghost tour" of a location and concludes with them having encountered paranormal phenomena. The text is designed to be read in short bursts to facilitate fast-paced, atmospheric reading--very suitable for this material and also appropriate for striving readers. Each volume's final chapter is a discussion of whether the locale's phenomena are real, and pits ghost hunters and their equipment (occasionally pictured) against skeptics. The narrative ultimately leaves matters open-ended, asking readers what they think. Some story conclusions are more satisfying than others. VERDICT Recommended for schools and public collections. Spooky but not too terrifying, and readers will glean a few historical tidbits as they go.--Carol Goldman, formerly at Queens PL, NY "School Library Journal"