J. E. Thompson

In this middle-reader mystery, twelve-year-old Callie's parents send her to South Carolina alone for a spring break visit with her grandfather. Joined by a rambunctious Jack Russell Terrier and a friend with a secret of his own, she's set on revealing what the adults in her life are keeping from her. This STEM focused coming-of-age story features a girl/boy dynamic with a bit of pirate mystery and ecological danger thrown in. The adventure includes a prominent secondary character with dyslexia and is set in OpenDyslexic typeface. Perfect for high-low or reluctant readers and fans of The Goonies

When Ruby regains consciousness in a dingy prison cell, she quickly realizes that she is suffering from a suspicious bout of amnesia. She remembers her name, but the rest of her memories appear to be locked behind an impenetrable mental barrier. A man wearing luxurious purple robes informs her that a royal has been assassinated, and Ruby is the kingdom's only suspect in the murder. He claims that she fought the guards so fiercely that they couldn't subdue her without using force, and the events leading to her capture left her with a severe concussion that resulted in her memory loss. Usually, enemies of the crown are executed, but because of her unique set of skills, her jailer has deemed her too valuable to kill outright. Instead, as a show of good faith, he offers to help her regain her memories and gives her an opportunity to earn her freedom. But something isn't quite right. When her memories begin to resurface, she realizes that someone had intentionally manipulated her mind. With this frightening discovery, Ruby is thrust into a tangled web of lies and deceit that could bring an entire kingdom to its knees.