A Hole in the World

In 'A Hole in the World,' 15-year-old Paul Shackleford, sent to a distant relative's farm after getting into trouble, discovers a community still reeling from the death of a popular farmhand. What begins as a punishment transforms into a summer of self-discovery as Paul, aided by a dog and a local girl, investigates the haunting mystery. This chapter book explores themes of grief, justice, friendship, and personal growth, offering a poignant look at how confronting the past can lead to profound change. While the protagonist is 15, the book's themes and reading level are well-suited for middle-grade readers, roughly ages 10-14.

Fifteen-year-old Paul Shackleford experiences an eye-opening and transformative summer living and working on the central Virginia farm belonging to a distant relative, where everyone seems to be haunted by the death of a much-loved and admired farmhand the year before. Paul Shackleford has gotten himself into trouble, and now heb2ss being sent away to a relativeb2ss farm in the middle of nowhere. He thinks heb2ss in for the worst summer of his life - until he discovers a haunting mystery and a ghost with a familiar face. With the help of a dog named Einstein and a beautiful girl named Rebecca, Paul unearths the truth behind the hole in this isolated world. What he learns will change him forever.