Kindle Edition Amazon Mary Cunningham Books Category:  Young Adult/Teen ISBN-10:  B002E19W3Y Type: Fiction Copyright: june 20, 2009 GHOST LIGHT tugged on my heart strings the whole way through. It's a beautiful tribute to the relationship between a grandmother and her grandson. It's a hopeful and inspirational story which is deftly told in the hands of a wonderful author. I recommend this story for people of all ages!! 11-year-old Jake McMillen wanted, more than anything in the world, to play varsity basketball for the Panthers, just like his late, Grandpa Max. One big problem. While Jake had inherited his grandfather’s love for the game, the McMillen height had passed him by. Not only that, “old people” like his grandmother, kept taking up too much of his precious practice time. He knew she was sick, but being dragged along to her steamy apartment by his mom, had cut into that afternoon’s pick-up game at the Island basketball court. After getting totally humiliated during the game by star player, Quinn Parker, Jake gets a ghostly message that changes his outlook toward his grandmother’s illness and inspires him to pursue his dreams.   Buy at Echelon Press Excerpt Jake shivered and pulled up the covers. It was late summer and crisp night air gusted in through the second-story window. He should've been asleep by now. Three straight hours of basketball ordinarily wore him out. But, he couldn't kick the memory of that afternoon's game. The score was tied. Darin Mitchell threw a flawless, fast-break pass. Jake streaked for the basket, right arm extended for the picture-perfect, game-winning lay-up. And then it happened. Quinn Parker, all six-feet, two-inches, slammed the ball back into Jake's face. Everything went black.

Ghost Light by Mary Cunningham
Mary Cunningham, author of the delightful, middle-grade Cynthia's Attic Fantasy Adventure series, has just written a short story for young readers ages 10 and up: "Ghost Light".



Eleven-year old Jake McMillen is a bit annoyed when his mother forces him to visit his grandmother, who is very sick. Sure, his grandmother is a sweet old lady and he loves her dearly, but he would rather be practicing basketball and preparing himself for the upcoming game.



After all, basketball is his passion and he must make up in practice for his lack of height. Jake wished he could be tall like his grandfather used to be. But we don't always get what we want, right?



The day he visits his grandmother, she gives him some wise yet unusual advice. Impatient and distracted, he listens. Later, on the day of the game, things don't turn out as good as Jake had hoped. Depressed by his lack of 'good genes' he goes to bed almost in tears... but something startles him, a light in the window. He alos hears a familiar voice. The supernatural experience fills him with hope and the strength to follow his dreams.



I read the story (20 pages) with great interest from beginning to end. Having read all of Mary Cunningham's books, I was intrigued by her short fiction writing skills and I was not disappointed. The prose and suspense will appeal to young readers. The author makes every word count, making the story come to life without too much narration and description. Dialogue and action move the story along. This is a well-written short story that will be particularly enjoyed by boys who like basketball.



You can purchase your copy of "Ghost Light" from the publisher's website. For a limited time, if you buy the ebook you get a free copy of The Missing Locket, book I in the Cynthia's Attic Fantasy Adventure series.

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