• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Medusa's Scream is a thrill ride that hurtles a train through an out-of-service gold mine in the Fraser Valley.

Chase can't believe his luck when he lands a summer job in the food truck outside the ride's entrance. But then he notices strange things happening at the old mine. Chase starts to piece things together, and soon his life is threatened by a villain even scarier than the snake-headed Medusa of myth.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Scottish-born and mystery-minded, Melanie Jackson is the author of Orca's Dinah Galloway Mystery Series for eight-to-11-year-olds, and young-adult suspensers such as The Big Dip and High Wire. Melanie, who lives in Vancouver with her husband Bart, is a business/advertising writer and editor. She's a member of the Vancouver Sun's Book Club, which reviews current novels in print and online. Melanie likes hiking, piano, English/Scottish history—and continually learning from the kids she works with as a writing mentor with the Vancouver School Board.

Melanie teaches a mystery unit to Grades 8 and 9 at two Vancouver secondary schools. She welcomes schools’ inquiries about her presentations for intermediate and secondary classes. For more information, e-mail Melanie or visit her blog.

Melanie Jackson's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

"Dialogue is short, sharp and direct, leading the plot along well, while Chase's inner dialogue reveals his character and his thinking about the mystery. Middle school students interested in mysteries will enjoy Chase's dilemma."

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