Ghost Text

By James J Barnes and Erica Branch

Best friends Jared, Curtis, and Nick are ready to face the world — but what about the underworld? When a text message from an unknown number hits all of their phones, the boys find themselves faced with a strange figure and a mystery to solve. However, it’s Nick who must find the solution or risk losing his life! Will the boys’ friendship be enough to save him, or will he spend eternity in the afterlife?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brave Brothers Books
• Release date: Mar 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781952099984

James J Barnes

James J. Barnes is a middle school student who lives in Indiana. He is the author of the mystery book Ghost Text and illustrator of Reflective Haiku: Poems for Growing, Healing, and Restoring the Soul. His best friend is his identical twin brother, Jerry. He enjoys illustrating and playing his trombone during his spare time.

Book preview

{ ONE }

Curtis, Jared, and Nick were at the twins’ house, like they were most Fridays. Curtis and Jared’s mom didn’t work, which made it a great place to hang out. However, this autumn Friday wasn’t like most Fridays.

The boys were playing a video game when their phones suddenly all started vibrating at the same time.

I just got the weirdest text, Curtis said, showing his phone to his friends.

Nick looked at Jared’s phone, and then replied, "Ours, too!

We’re all in a group text, but who sent this message?"

The text said, I NEED HELP. PLEASE MEET ME AT THE HILL AT SUNSET.

What time is that? Who says meet at sunset? Jared asked. Couldn’t this person just give us a real time, like 9 p.m.?

Whoa! Hold up! said Nick. Who cares about the time? The question is, should we even go? I don’t think we should. Remember, stranger danger? We have no idea who this is!

I think we should go and find out what is going on, Curtis said. What’s the harm?

Yeah, Jared chimed in. We should just go. There probably won’t even be anyone there. I bet it’s just a joke. We can go check it out and then come home.

Ever since they’d turned ten, the boys’ parents had been giving them a lot more freedom to go out on their own as long as