Morton-Shaw, Christine.
THE HUNT FOR THE SEVENTH
New York : Katherine Tegen Books, 2008
IL 5-8, RL 5.0
ISBN 0060728221

(2 booktalks)

"Find the Seventh."  (say in a loud, creepy whisper)
 This is the ghostly phrase that haunts Jim since he moved to Minerva Hall, a mansion on large estate where his dad has taken the position as head gardener. The estate has lush gardens, several outbuildings and more than 100 statues. Both the house and the grounds are closely monitored by the menacing Lord Minerva who sits in his wheelchair, watching everything that happens on dozens of closed circuit tv cameras. Despite warnings from the unpleasant Lord Minerva, Jim explores his new home. By following clues he learns about six Minerva children who each died in a different freakish accident. He begins a quest to discover the estate's secrets and along the way has to watch reenactments of each of the children's deaths. By 'finding the seventh, ' can he prevent yet another tragedy?  If you like murder mysteries, ghost stories, or reading about family secrets or pagan rituals, then you will love "The Hunt for the Seventh." (Jennifer Mooney,  jmooney@mcps.org, librarian)

Booktalk #2

“Somebody died here once.  I ‘m convinced of it.  Somewhere here in this huge garden.  I feel them watching me.”   (from prologue, p.1)

Hello.  My name is Jim.  My little sister Sally, and my Father and I live here at Minerva Hall.  Dad took a job here as head gardener after our Mum died.  Minerva Hall is a huge place with sixty two rooms; it looks like a castle.  There are many gardens, orchards, statues, and even an ice house.  Well, right after we arrived here, my sister Sal and I were walking the Tudor garden and that’s when I heard the voice.  The tiny whisper that said: “Find the Seventh”.   I’ve seen and felt many strange and terrifying things since that day here at Minerva Hall.  I found out that six Minerva children over the years have died here.  I invite you to read my story about how  I “find the seventh”.  (New Hampshire Great Stone Face nominee, 2011)