Skeleton Creek (novel) facts for kids

Skeleton Creek is an exciting mystery novel for kids, written by Patrick Carman. It came out in 2009. This book is the first in a thrilling series. Other books in the series include Ghost in the Machine (2009), The Crossbones (2010), The Raven (2011), and The Phantom Room (2014).

What is Skeleton Creek About?

The story happens in a small town named Skeleton Creek. This town used to be busy with gold and silver mining. But now, it's known for something spooky. The town is haunted by the ghost of "Old Joe Bush." He was a man who died in an accident. This accident happened on The Dredge, a huge old mining machine.

Two young friends, Ryan McCray and Sarah Fincher, decide to investigate. They want to learn more about The Dredge and its ghost. However, their parents and Ranger Bonner are watching them closely. They try to keep Ryan and Sarah apart. This is because Ryan broke his leg while exploring The Dredge. After Ryan's accident, the friends find it hard to talk to each other.

To make the story even more exciting, there's a special video series. Sarah stars in these videos. They show her trips to The Dredge. You can also see spooky ghost sightings, like Old Joe Bush. These videos go along with the book.

Awards and Recognition

The Skeleton Creek series has won several awards. These awards show that many people enjoyed the books. They are recognized for being great stories for young readers.

• 2011 New Mexico Land of Enchantment
  • Short List
    • 2011: Skeleton Creek
• Children's Book Council nominee
  • 2010: The Crossbones
• Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Awards
  • 2010-2011: Skeleton Creek
• Delaware Diamonds Booklist
  • 2010-2011: Skeleton Creek
• Oregon Battle of the Books List
  • 2010-2011: Skeleton Creek