Carissa

Mack was ready for a legendary summer. He just wasn't ready for her.

Sixth grade is hard enough, but for Mack, the real mystery is right next door. When a new family moves into the house that's been empty for years, Mack's "tactical observer" instincts go into overdrive.

The new neighbor, Carissa, isn't like anyone he's ever met. She has strange habits, an obsession with lemons, and moves with a speed that shouldn't be possible. While his best friend Noah is busy hunting for ghosts in old farmhouses, Mack is convinced the truth is much closer-and much more "out of this world."

But when a daring mission into a forbidden basement goes wrong, Mack realizes that knowing the truth is one thing... surviving it is another.

In a summer filled with glowing secrets, gravity-defying escapes, and a friendship that crosses boundaries Mack never imagined, he'll have to decide: Is Carissa a threat to the neighborhood, or the partner-in-adventure he's been waiting for?

• Fast-Paced Action: Perfect for fans of Stranger Things and middle-grade mysteries.
• Relatable Heroes: A protagonist who uses his brain (and a bit of tactical stealth) to solve problems.
• Heart and Humor: A story about seeing past "weird" to find a true friend.