About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels like an outsider or struggles with the weight of a mistake they are too afraid to confess. It is a perfect fit for the quiet, observant middle schooler who finds solace in history but feels overwhelmed by the pressures of peer groups and the unknown. Johnny Dixon is a shy boy living with his grandparents who accidentally triggers a supernatural curse after taking an artifact from a church. The story follows his harrowing journey to break the curse while navigating intense feelings of guilt and fear. Through his friendship with the eccentric Professor Childermass, Johnny learns that bravery is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to face it with help from those who love you. It is a spooky, atmospheric mystery that validates the anxieties of growing up while offering a comforting sense of protection through intergenerational friendship.
