Dead Air

Kat Sinclair is living in a trailer, traveling from one 'haunted' location to another because her father is the star of a paranormal reality show. Skeptical of the supernatural, Kat views the show as a fake production until she begins to experience unexplainable events. Along with the producer's nephew, she starts a behind-the-scenes blog to document the truth, only to realize that the history of the locations they visit might be more dangerous than the staged scares for the cameras. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals with the death of a mother in the past, handled with a secular and realistic approach. The grief is an underlying motivator rather than a primary plot point. It also touches on the ethics of 'faking' truth for entertainment. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with a sense of isolation and skepticism. As Kat investigates, the tension builds into genuine fear and urgency. It concludes with a hopeful sense of agency as Kat finds her voice and strengthens her bond with her father. IDEAL READER: A 10-year-old who feels 'different' or lonely, perhaps due to homeschooling or frequent moving, and who uses technology (like blogging or coding) as a way to process their environment. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might see their child struggling to connect or feeling like their interests don't align with their peer group. PARENT PREP: Read cold. The spooky elements are atmospheric but not graphic. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger readers will focus on the 'is it a ghost?' mystery and the fun of the TV set. Older readers will pick up on the nuance of Kat's cynicism and the complex dynamics of adult career pressures. DIFFERENTIATOR: It uses a modern 'meta' framework, blending traditional ghost stories with the specific culture of reality television and blogging.