The Ghost of Schafer Meadows Excerpt

By Beth Hodder  -  Cover Illustration by Maria Vekkos  -  Map Illustrations by Guy Zoellner

When her father accepts a job at the Schafer Meadows Ranger Station in Montana’s Great Bear Wilderness, Jessie Scott, 12, is devastated. She has to leave her best friends in New Mexico for a life without TV, cell phones, the Internet, or even electricity. Jessie feels her dad has taken everything important from her except her dog, Oriole.

After traveling for 20 miles on horseback to reach the Schafer Meadows Ranger Station, Jessie and her family immediately make friends with the U.S. Forest Service workers there, but they also meet some unpleasant characters who make life difficult.

Schafer Meadows presents fun and challenging adventures for Jessie and Oriole. Together they explore their new home as Jessie seeks answers to strange happenings, stolen food, and a ghost that won’t leave her alone.

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Praise for The Ghost of Schafer Meadows

“Ms. Hodder’s story depicts life in a remote ranger station and describes a child’s connection to the outdoors…that connection has all too often been lost.”
 ---Abigail R. Kimbell, Chief, U.S. Forest Service

“Beth Hodder captures the heart of readers with her strong characterizations and her obvious zest for the great Northwest wilderness. With bold honesty, Hodder accurately portrays the highs and lows of a teen who is suddenly taken from her friends and the convenience of city life and placed in what many would call hardship conditions. The Ghost of Schafer Meadows is a good coming-of-age read for anyone interested in outdoor life, adventure and solid family connections.”
 ---Mary E. Trimble, Author of Rosemount and McClellan’s Bluff

"The fast action and quick thinking skills of a resilient heroine make for excellent entertaining fiction for young (and older) adults."
--Midwest Book Review, Children's Bookwatch: August 2010

"******FIVE STARS!*...Author Beth Hodder brings her career as a Forest Ranger to vivid and colorful life, teaching about the wilderness through the eyes of a smart girl on the verge of becoming a teenager. Filled with suspense, mystery, a haunting ghost, and a bit of danger, this story is sure to please!*****"
 --Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews