The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney

by Carol Williams

Overview

Possessed dogs, missing livestock, cloaked figures . . . CJ Delaney's summer vacation just got really weird.

When a boring old skatepark opening becomes the scene of a something truly strange, CJ Delaney can’t believe her luck. This is just the kind of big story she’s dreamed of breaking for the town's local paper. 

With best friend Parker in tow, CJ is determined to get to the bottom of everything and save the town from evil. Isn’t this what summer vacation is for? But when all answers point to someone close, CJ stands not only to lose her byline but the scariest thing of all—the people and pet she loves.

With a strong, snappy voice and a warm sense of humor, The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney is a fast-paced middle grade mystery (with just the right amount of hair-raising thrills) that begs to be read cover-to-cover in one sitting. This debut from Carol Williams shines with love for its characters, college-town setting, and belief in the power of the written word.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823457694
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	877,918
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Carol Williams has a long history of writing: ad agency copywriter, healthcare content wordsmith, insurance marketing scribe—you name it, she’s written a ton of it. She’s also managed to raise two children, creating lots of her own stories for kids along the way. Carol lives in Ohio with her husband and maybe a dog if she can ever talk said husband into it. The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney is her debut.

Editorial Reviews

04/29/2024

Sixth grader Countess Jewel Delaney, an inquisitive aspiring journalist living in the small fictional college town of Galahad, Ohio, secures a summer opportunity to be a community citizen reporter at the Galahad Guardian, where her grandmother serves as editor. While reporting on the grand opening of a skate park, a howling shriek from the Galahad Grove woods prompts CJ to investigate with hopes of breaking a big story. After gathering clues from the scene, CJ notices that animals have vanished all over town. When her best friend Parker shows her some “weird pix” depicting ritualistic-looking items such as bones and miniature altars set up in the Grove, CJ sets out to uncover what’s really happening in the woods. With a handful of clues, a trail of missing animals, and photographs of unidentified “cult” paintings, CJ determines to prove that she has the passion and wits to be taken seriously as a journalist. Via an endearing and quirky cast embarking on an adventurous, unearthly mystery, debut author Williams presents a new world of thrills and mystique for young readers. CJ and Parker are Black. Ages 8–12. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"[J]ust the right amount of thrills to keep readers hooked. Suspenseful and emotionally intelligent."—Kirkus Reviews

"Debut author Williams writes an entertaining story with a lovably sassy character."—Booklist

"CJ is a kid reporter, but don't judge her for her age. She's got story in her blood, the itch for the scoop, and spunk and sass to boot. If you're looking for a modern-day Nancy Drew with a journalistic twist and a whole lot of heart, CJ Delaney is your reporter for the job!"—Graci Kim, New York Times bestselling author of the Gifted Clans trilogy

“I love CJ’s ambition, nerve, and sense of humor. This winsome heroine’s pursuit of a sensational scoop will have you gasping at every twist in Williams’s spooky and thrilling mystery!”—Karah Sutton, author of A Wolf for a Spell and The Song of the Swan
 
"Stakes start high and accelerate quickly when a kid-reporter’s investigation veers into the realm of ancient sorcery. A dark mystery illuminated by an incisive voice and a splash of humor."—Dianne K. Salerni, author of The Carrefour Curse and Jadie in Five Dimensions

From the Publisher