Ghost Girl In Car No.9 — Jan Pierson

Young readers love mystery but not always history. In Calamity Jan's latest book, history and mystery grab unsuspecting readers when the ghost town detectives see the Ghost Girl in Car N° 9 in the Nevada State Railroad Museum. The story finds its rhythm and heart in Nevada and California history as a young girl and her small dog board the Virginia & Truckee in Reno in 1873, bound for the Nevada Children's Asylum in Virginia City. Fearing the orphanage and in a desperate attempt to find her beloved dog who disappears during the tunnel fire at Lakeview, Jennica Teague cries out for help.

According to legend, the Ghost Girl has been appearing on the Virginia & Truckee railroad for over a hundred years. Suddenly the legend becomes a reality for the three ghost town detectives when the beautiful young girl appears and beckons from the baggage section of car N° 9, pleading for their help and asking them to follow her into an old trunk that takes them back in time. Reluctantly, they follow her, finding themselves caught up in a wild and famous segment of Nevada history circa 1873. Infamous stagecoach driver Hank Monk, notorious Pony Bob of the Pony Express and legendary John “Snowshoe” Thompson of Genoa all engage the desperate girl in a heart-stopping journey to find her dog and avoid her dismal fate. This tension-packed story, laced with humor and drama, blends with just the right amount of history to make this read both educational and fun. Dedicated to the Nevada State Railroad Museum, the book is recommended for the 9-13-year-old reader.