The Paranormal Playbook

By Vanessa Lanang

No matter how hard they work, Mary Joy's basketball team can't win a game. But after one of their losses, she and some of her teammates find an old playbook. They use a few of the new plays in their next game, and to everyone's surprise, crush their opponent. But soon each win is followed by an incident of bad luck for the players—a missing pet, a sprained ankle, a car accident—leading them to believe the playbook is responsible. Soon the team decides winning isn't worth the risk. But how can they stop the playbook before it hurts anyone else?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Aug 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781541564718

Vanessa Lanang

Vanessa Lanang lives and writes in California near Los Angeles.

Book preview

bright.

1

The girls’ locker room door slammed open. I flinched when it smacked the wall. We’d lost another game. But am I really surprised?

My teammates, the South Hills Spirits, shuffled over to the benches like unenthusiastic zombies. The squeak of their sneakers echoed off the green chipped paint and dented lockers. I took a deep breath and used the hem of my jersey to wipe the sweat off my brow. I wished the school district would fix up this place, but I figured since our team hadn’t won a single game, we weren’t high on the list for a new gymnasium.

Coach Valdez stood in the middle of the locker room. She planted her hands on her hips and waited for everyone to take a seat. I remained standing—being the shortest person on the team, I looked like I was seated. A set of black knee braces peeked out from beneath the hems of our coach’s basketball shorts. She’d blown out both her knees in her youth, ending her college basketball career early.

Tough game tonight, ladies, Coach began, but that full-court press in the last quarter put some pressure on them.

Next to me, Laila let out an audible sigh and rolled her eyes. I elbowed her to keep it quiet, and she gave me an innocent what-did-I-do look. We could’ve put on a full-court press the entire game, guarding our opponents the second the ball was thrown inbounds from beneath the visitors’ hoop, but we still would have lost. It was inevitable. That was the fate of the South Hills Spirits.

I saw a couple of nice shots out there, Coach continued.

Yeah, that air ball in the third quarter was awesome, I thought. Now it was my turn for sarcasm—at least I kept it to myself.

I like the direction our defense is going, and with better execution on offense we should be able to close the gap in terms of points, Coach said.

Yeah, we can lose by twenty points instead of forty, Laila whispered. I put my finger to my lips for her to stay quiet.

All right, Spirits, good game. See everyone at practice tomorrow, Coach said before she exited.

"Geez, Mary Joy, I think you left your sense of humor on the court," Laila said once the rest of the team headed for the showers.

I gave her a stern look. You know only my mother calls me that.

Laila laughed and tossed her long ponytail over her shoulder. I know, I know. Just teasing. Her eyes brightened. But you have to find the humor in this. Otherwise it’s just not fun anymore.

I wished I could be as free-spirited as my co-captain. She had a point. It wasn’t about winning. I loved playing ball—I couldn’t imagine never hearing the squeak of basketball shoes on the court again, the swoosh of the net, or the pound of adrenaline in my ears beating to the dribble of the ball. I was realistic—I knew we’d never make it to Sectionals—but, still, it’d be incredible to win just once.

What if we ran a zone defense? I asked out loud.

Laila shook her head again. "There you go again. Do you ever not think about basketball?"

I smiled. No, not really. In algebra class I even change all the math problems to basketball stats in my head before I solve them. I shrugged. Somehow I managed to get an A last semester.

Girl, that sounds like extra work you don’t have to do.

Probably, but anything about basketball makes school easier, I thought as I pulled off the headband I used to keep my bob of brown hair out of my face during games. What if you brought the ball down the court instead of me? Or what if we worked the plays and drills on the new girl—she might be a better option as center. Or—

Hold up, Laila said, waving her hands for me to stop. Seriously, MJ, we should just enjoy our senior year. Play hard no matter what. We’re never going to win.

I blew out a breath of defeat. Maybe Laila was right. The season would be over before we knew it, and then we’d be off to college.

Neither top-of-the-line sneakers nor different offensive tactics could secure us a win. Not even a new girl who could out-rebound anyone. The South Hills Spirits would need all the luck we could get to break this losing streak—or a miracle. I couldn’t count on either.

2

Practice the next day was brutal. Afterward, I sprawled out on the gymnasium floor, panting heavily and drenching the floor with puddles of my sweat. So. Gross. But I didn’t care. I was just relieved practice was over. Coach Valdez wasn’t kidding when she said she wanted to step up the