In Jefferson, monsters don't always hide in the dark. Sometimes, they smile.
Fourteen-year-old Sarah Taylor knows how to disappear. After years of drifting between towns with a tightly wound military father and a mother retreating deeper into silence, she's mastered the art of staying invisible-safe. But her new town doesn't want quiet. When Sarah's stolen private story hits the school rumor mill-alongside whispers of a haunted cave and a vanished gangster's treasure-she's pulled into a mystery that refuses to stay buried. With sharp-tongued classmate Tommy at her side, Sarah begins unearthing Jefferson's legacy of grief, silence, and power-one etched into the town's roots and hidden just beneath the polished hallways of her school. To survive the truth, Sarah must make a choice: stay hidden, or finally speak.
A haunting middle grade mystery about friendship, memory, and the courage it takes to stop running. Perfect for readers ages 10-14 who love stories with heart, history, and just a hint of shadows.