Ghost Cave

Nominated for an Edgar Award: When Marc and his friends discover an Indian grave in a long-abandoned cavern, they begin to wonder if it’s haunted

It’s the summer of 1954, and Marc Schaller expects to spend his days playing baseball, swimming in the river, and reading comic books. But when he hears about a fifty-dollar reward for the discovery of any local Indian graves, his summer plans suddenly get a lot more exciting. Marc gathers his best friends, Eddie and Hermie, and they decide to search for the artifacts together. The three boys soon stumble across a grave in a large abandoned grotto, and they know they’ve struck gold. That reward will soon be theirs!
 
But something about the find is unsettling to Marc, and they decide to hold off on telling anyone about it for a few days. However, as the boys explore the cave further, Marc starts to suspect that they might not be the only ones in there.

“The banter that masks the boys’ affection for each other and for Bluedog; the spooky mood that fits the story, but that does not manipulate readers into feeling gratuitous fear; and the hint of fantasy, raise the book above formula fiction and round the story into a satisfying whole. Add respect for native American culture and delicate evocation of the 1950s setting, and the result is a memorable novel of adventure.” —School Library Journal
 
“Told from Marc’s point of view, the story derives some added interest from a subplot concerning Marc’s uncertain relationship with his father during his mother’s illness.” —Kirkus Reviews

Barbara Steiner (1934–2014) was an acclaimed author known for her books for children and young adults. Steiner authored over seventy titles, including picture books, early chapter books, mysteries, young adult thrillers, historical novels, and romances. In her lifetime, Steiner visited more than ninety-four countries and all seven continents, and many of her books were inspired by her travels. She lived in Boulder with her family until her death in January 2014.