The Ghost Light Read online

  My love for both drama and abandoned buildings started young. My mother worked as an actress, and her theater troupe was one of the first to rent out practice space in an abandoned high school that was being converted to an arts center. I owe her, as well as the Maryland Hall Story Theater, a debt of gratitude for letting me tag along to rehearsals, where I learned so much about acting and directing and urban exploring.

  Life as a working writer continues to challenge and excite, and I am ever appreciative of all of you who tenderly cheer us on. Brava to my peerless agent, Erin Murphy, who sets a standard of integrity and kindness that regularly leaves me in awe. She also does a masterful job of attracting an exceptional gaggle of writers that it is a blessing to know. I adore each and every one of you in my EMLA family, but I especially want to thank Elly Swartz, Jason Gallaher, Jennifer Ziegler and Chris Barton, Debbie Michiko Florence, Lori Snyder, Christina Uss, Anna Redding, Ann Braden, Hayley Barrett, and Maria Gianferrari for your incredible warmth and generosity as I muddled my way through my debut. And the longer I work with Imprint, the more I delight that this series has found a home here. A standing ovation for Erin Stein and Nicole Otto; it is a dream to collaborate with you, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your thoughtful shepherding of this series, and of me. Much applause also for Rayanne Vieira, Natalie C. Sousa, Kelsey Marrujo, and the whole Imprint and MacKids team.

  Heartfelt thanks to Monstrously Good Middle Grade and all my fellow spooky authors for making horror so much fun. My continued gratitude to Jarrett Lerner, Corrina Allen, and all the folks at MG Book Village for continuing to champion the books our middle graders need. So many roses flung onstage to #bookexpedition, #bookvoyage, #collabookation, and all the other ARC-sharing groups for sharing, loving, and promoting books and literacy. Educators like Erin Varley, Susan Sullivan, Rosy Burke, Jason Lewis, Michele Knott, Kristen Picone, Andrea Childes, Rebecca Reynolds, Patrick Andrus, Miss Nikki, and all the folks at nErDCamp keep authors inspired and remind us why we write. Foot-stomping hoots and hollers for independent bookstores like Red Balloon and Tattered Cover, who make every author feel welcome and loved. I am also grateful to Barnes & Noble for all the support it has given to me and this series.

  And finally, I’d like to thank my treasured friends and family for keeping the ghost light burning for me near and far, with cameo appearances by Jane Leo, Rebecca Anderson, Mary Jo Scott, the HYDIAS crew, Julie Maigret, Kathi Chandler-Payatt, Brenda Winter Hansen, Sarah Azibo, and Kevin Maher. And to my forever costar, Eddie Gamarra, and our ensemble cast of dogs, the spotlight of my heart shines always on your cherished faces. Beloved, beloved, beloved ones, I thank you.

  About the Author

  KAT SHEPHERD loves to create fast-paced adventure stories that are likely to engage reluctant readers because she wholeheartedly believes that reading should be a joyful experience for every child.

  A former classroom teacher, Kat has also spent various points in her life working as a deli waitress, a Hollywood script reader, and a dog trainer for film and TV. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, two dogs, and a rotating series of foster dogs. Babysitting Nightmares is her first middle grade series.

  Visit her online at katshepherd.com, or sign up for email updates here.

  babysittingnightmares.com

  About the Illustrator

  Rayanne Vieira is a children's book illustrator who also works on visual development for short films and TV shows. She has illustrated such books as Babysitting Nightmares: The Phantom Hour, Babysitting Nightmares: The Shadow Hand, and The Nice Monster Under My Bed. You can sign up for email updates here.

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author and Illustrator

  Copyright

  Text copyright © 2019 by Katrina Knudson. Illustrations copyright © 2019 by Imprint.

  A part of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC

  120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271

  mackids.com

  All rights reserved.

  Think you’ll steal this book, my friend?

  Heed this warning: Think again!

  Those who kidnap books, it seems,

  Never live to reach their dreams,

  But disappear, like Vivien Vane—

  Never seen or heard again.

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018955722

  Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by email at [email protected].

  Imprint logo designed by Amanda Spielman

  Illustrated by Rayanne Vieira

  First hardcover edition, 2019

  eBook edition, August 2019

  eISBN 9781250157027