Grade level: 4, 5, 6, 7, e, i.

With its tales of benevolent and malicious specters, terrifying monsters, and unexplained phenomena, Halloween is the holiday most people associate with spooky stories. But do spirits remain hidden the rest of the year? In the rich storytelling customs of the commonwealth, the supernatural world is also connected with holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Memorial Day. In Haunted Holidays, celebrated storytellers Roberta Simpson Brown and Lonnie E. Brown have assembled a hair-raising collection of paranormal tales for readers of all ages. The stories present many new and spooky characters, including the deceased great aunt who still rocks in her favorite chair on Mother's Day, the young boy who made good on his promise to return a silver dollar on the Fourth of July, and even the ghost who hated Labor Day. In addition to tales of haunting, the Browns reveal many Appalachian legends and their importance to the storytelling tradition, such as the phantom bells who guide the dead to the other side, and a "chime child" born when the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Day, who is rumored to be blessed with the gift of second sight. More than a collection of ghost stories or family legends, Haunted Holidays takes readers on a fireside journey that preserves and promotes oral traditions, revealing the importance of sharing beliefs, traditions, and values with a new generation of listeners.

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Their hooves hit the ground. Their tails swish in the morning air. But are these horses real? According to local lore, ghost horses haunt the edge of a forest near Chicago, Illinois. Many have claimed to see them, but few have offered proof. In this book, you’ll discover the full story of Chicago’s ghost horses… if you dare.

Christmas brings a deadly threat—and a chance at love—to a Lakota lawman in the New York Times–bestselling author’s suspenseful Western romance. When Border Patrol helicopter pilot Dante Thunder Horse is shot out of the sky, he barely makes it out of the wreckage alive. And just as the shooter tries to finish him off, he’s saved by paleontologist Emma Jennings. It’s nothing short of a Christmas miracle, and now Dante must now return the favor by keeping his guardian angel safe. Bringing Emma back to his Badlands ranch, Dante discovers that a vengeful enemy is threatening his family and proud heritage. Caught in a killer’s crosshairs, Emma is also in danger of falling for the brave Lakota pilot. But before they can celebrate in peace, Emma wonders if there can be a future with a man so haunted by his past.

Thirty-one days, thirty-one chilling stories to scare you all the way to Halloween. On each day leading up to All Hallows’ Eve, you’ll be introduced to a frightening poltergeist. A Haunted October provides a month’s worth of terrifying tales that’ll haunt you for years to come.