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Title: The Crossroads Author: Chris Grabenstein Copyright Date: 2008 329 pages A.R Level: 3.7 A.R Points: 7 points

Who is your story about?

This story is about an 11 year-old kid named Zack Jennings. After cancer took the life of his mother, his father, George Jennings, remarries to Judy Magruder. Trying to get a new start on life, they move out of New York City to Connecticut. Everything looks like it's getting better for Zack. He has a new mom, a new house, even a new dog, but there’s the tree in Zack’s backyard - the old oak tree with the white cross nailed into the trunk. The tree seemed to have a life of its own – almost human, filled with anger and hatred. Depsite some of the weirdness, Zack thought it would be great living in his dad's childhood hometown. Until the evil spirits around them became stronger. They won't stop until they seek revenge. Zack may be innocent but his dead grandfather isnt. It's time for someone to pay! 

Where and When does this story take place?

This story take place in modern times in Connecticut. Most of the book takes place in the Spratling Manor and in the forest behind Zack's house. " Miss Spratling had moved her bedroom furniture into what had once been the library, a mahogany paneled chamber entered through colossal sliding doors and connected by a secret passageway to the Spratling family chapel." pg 29.

What is the major conflict in this story?

The major conflict in this story is that there is a ghost named Clint Eberhart. In 1958 he ws payed to get married to 21 year-old Gerda Spratling even though he was already married to Mary O'Claire. To get his money, he tried to kill Mary. His plan backfired and killed him and 39 other people in what was known as the Greyhound bus accident. Everyone died on the bus except for Mary. Then after Clint died, Mary gave birth to her son Thomas. Once he grew older and learned about his father's death, he went to go find the Spratling family to get the money that belonged to his father. He then got shot and died with his wife on the Spratling driveway, leaving his son and orphan. The cop that shot them was Zack's grandfather. Is Clint going to come back as a ghost and kill the Jennings family because of the death of his son? Read the book to find out!

Why would you recommend this story? Who would you recommend this book for? What genre (what type of fiction not just fiction)?

I recommend this book to everyone that can read! This book is amazing and is stuffed with tons of details! This book is fiction or to people like me who believe in ghost, realistic fiction!