In a future world where superstition and magic are displacing science, odd-looking, eleven-year-old Nova grows tired of being harassed by ghosts and decides to fight back. So with the help of Benny, a science geek in a wheelchair, Takeesha a budding shaman, and Max Kim, a magician, she tries to discover how to stop the ghosts. But strange things start happening almost immediately. Nova sees visions of a white-haired man fight for his life. Her new born filly, Shade, seems to be developing wings. The ghosts' appearances turn violent, and a ghost who looks like her is always a victim. Then an attractive young sorceress, Leandra Contrast, appears suddenly in a grocery store and offers to help. Leandra explains that Nova's father, Ralf, was a Neanderthal from a nearby dimension-that's why Nova is magical. Also, though Nova thought her father is dead, he is alive and has been taken captive by Ahlon, an evil Neanderthal sorcerer, who is behind the ghosts. Together, Nova and her friends (and Shade) help Leandra break through to the other dimension, rescue Ralf, and put Ahlon in his place.Full of surreal and often whimsical adventures, The Shade Riders and the Dreadful Ghosts will appeal to readers of: Time Warp Trio and The Magic of Finkleton.