The Ghost Isle

By Holt Clarke

In the Charleston Harbor rests an old abandoned military fort. History and mystery surround Castle Pinckney. And there's a reason the living call it, The Ghost Isle. Squojo has slipped out of the orphanage, again. While adventurin’ with Sash, his ghost-sniffing dog, their destiny will become intertwined with Cheetze, a legendary ghost boy. Together with the help of a Gullah root doctor and her young apprentice, they race against time to solve the Specter’s riddle. But to do so, they must journey to the mysterious Ghost Isle, where they encounter menacing ghost pirates from Charleston’s infamous past.

To see. To see. A ghost you must be. To free. To free. A ghost key you will need. Readers Beware!

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Holt Clarke
• Release date: Sep 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9780997988833

Holt Clarke

Holt Clarke is a proud Dad of the coolest kids on earth, on Santa's Nice List, and keep'n the magic real along with his family in Charleston, South Carolina. Holt earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University, Master of Divinity degree from Duke University, and Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Book preview

HOLT CLARKE

THE GHOST ISLE

A Ghost Club Adventure

Cover Design and Interior Illustrations by Aprilily

Imagination 2 Creation Publishing

Charleston, SC

Copyright © 2016 Holt Clarke

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Books by Imagination 2 Creation Publishing may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Imagination 2 Creation Publishing

www.HoltClarke.com

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN 978-0-9979888-3-3

To Alexis, Kiera, and Luke

I love you!

Also Available as an Audiobook

Chapter 1

OLE PINCHER

STANDING STRAIGHT AS a board with hands on her hips, Ms. Whorter glared down the long hallway of the Charleston Orphan House.

Squojo, you get up right this instant, Ms. Whorter hollered sternly. Don’t make me come and drag you out of that bed.

No answer. Only obstinate silence.

Ms. Whorter began rubbing her thumb and index finger together as she strutted across the creaking wooden floor to the room at the end of the hallway. Stepping into the room, Ms. Whorter started to raise her voice again, but stopped short.

Squojo was gone. A single candle was burning low with a flickering flame drowning in the melting wax.

A piece of tattered paper with a crab’s claw on it was laying atop a dingy pillow with a musty odor. A few words were scribbled on it, You’ve pulled on my ear for the last time. I’m on an exodus.

Ms. Whorter had the look of a mad bull as she crumpled the note in her hands with an audible, humph.

Squojo’s message was not lost on her. She had just taught the orphanage children about Moses leading the Israelites on an exodus out of Egypt into the Promise Land.

Well, we shall see about that, Ms. Whorter said, as she hurriedly made her way to the front office. Charging down the hallway she startled a young girl who was moseying about. Yikes! The girl said, darting into the nearest room.

The children in the orphanage were afraid of Ms. Whorter, especially when she had that mad bull look. And the morning time was always the worst. It was the time of day that Ms. Whorter seemed to grow horns on her head. The community outside the walls of the orphanage thought of her as a fine, upstanding saint of a lady. But those inside knew differently.

All the kids knew better. And none more so than Squojo. Calling her Ole Pincher, he had felt more than once, the throbbing pain from her crabby pinching fingers.

Swinging open the creaking wooden door of the front office, Ms. Whorter made her way to the Headmaster’s office. Hurrying past the secretary, she barged in unannounced.

Mr. Prattle froze in his seat as he locked eyes with Ms. Whorter. Whatever could be wrong now? Mr. Prattle thought to himself.

Can I help you Ms. Whorter? He asked politely.

You most certainly can, Ms. Whorter shot back. It’s that mix-breed Indian boy, Squojo. Nothing but trouble, that one is. I warned you about taking him into the orphanage. Nothing good will ever come of that insolent brat.

Slow down. What has he done now that’s got such a bee in your bonnet? Mr. Prattle asked, leaning back in his chair.

He has gone on an exodus.

An exodus? Whatever do you mean? Mr. Prattle asked, refraining from laughing.

Well here, read for yourself, Ms. Whorter barked, as she tossed Squojo’s note on Mr. Prattle’s desk.

Calmly picking up the crumpled note, he feigned a serious expression so as not to agitate Ms. Whorter. It would seem that Squojo has runaway. He shouldn’t be hard to locate. He is often in Mount Pleasant, down along Shem Creek fishing and crabbing. Send the color girl he is often seen with. What’s her name?

"Who, Palmetta? That girl is certainly not the

Reviews for The Ghost Isle

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

ghosts, gullah, action-adventure, 19th-century, middle-grades, series, historical-figures, historical-places-events Excellent beginning to a series. Ghosts of people familiar in US history are presented in this tale of what magic is common lore along the Carolina coast. An orphaned boy of mixed heritage and lousy self image escapes his tormentors and his friend dog and a friend girl who knows things get together with the Gullah root doctor to battle ghosts of pirates and more. Full of action and adventure with a few painless American history lessons. It might be aimed at kids, but I loved it.I was, however, thankful that I had an audio copy, as I would have obsessed over pronunciation of some of the names.J. Scott Bennett gives an excellent performance as narrator.I requested and received this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.