Psyched Out

Get Psyched #2

by Janet McLaughlin

When Zoey Christopher is invited to a week’s vacation on the Caribbean Island of St. Anthony’s, she’s thrilled. Sun, sand, and absolutely nothing to do are exactly what Zoey needs. But what she gets is something totally opposite. There’s Tempy, a pesky ghost who won’t leave her alone; Chris, a boyfriend wanna be she can’t shake; and Enid and Doris, two sisters who seem determined to make her vacation miserable. Zoey is surprised when the ghost first appears. She’s used to seeing visions of what might happen in the future, but this is the first time she gets a visitor from the past. A visitor who seems determined to keep appearing until Zoey finds the answers she needs. Problem is, Zoey has no idea what the questions are. Then there’s Chris. He’s cute. He’s nice. And he likes her. Zoey kind of likes him too, which brings up all kinds of guilty feelings, because Zoey already has a boyfriend at home. As far as Zoey is concerned, this vacation can’t end soon enough.

194 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2013

About the author

I have been involved in the communication field most of my adult life as either a writer, teacher, or editor. I am a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Florida Writers Association and am an avid fan of cheerleading competitions, especially those involving my grandchildren. I live in Florida with my husband Tom. My other passions involve tennis, traveling, walking, and meeting people.

"Different"

Twelve-year-old Izzy wants to be like everyone else, but she has a secret. She isn’t weird or angry, like some of the kids at school think. Izzy has Tourette syndrome. Hiding outbursts and tics from her classmates is hard enough, but when a new girl arrives, Izzy’s fear of losing her best friend makes Izzy’s symptoms worse. And when she sees her crush act suspiciously, runaway thoughts take root inside of her. As the pressure builds and her world threatens to spin out of control, Izzy must face her fear and reveal her secret, whatever the costs.

Authentic and perceptive, Different shines a light on the delicate line of a child’s hopes and fears and inspires us all to believe that perhaps we are not so different after all.

Reviews

[Susan Banghart · Rating 5 out of 5]

On spring break, sophomore cheerleader, Zoey Christopher, is headed to the West Indies for a luxury vacation with her best friend, Becca. But Zoey's psychic abilities interfere with her plans for a fun-filled week. The first night on the island, she's haunted by Tempe, the ghost of a fifteen-year-old slave girl. Zoey senses that Tempe needs her help but it isn't clear why.

Ignoring islanders' warnings to leave the past alone, Zoey and Becca embark on a journey to track down Tempe's history. They are repeatedly interrupted by brothers, Chris and Jake, who are also visiting the island. Zoey is attracted to Chris but she's determined to stay true to her boyfriend back home. Suspense builds as Zoey draws closer to learning Tempe's tragic story and struggles to keep Chris just a friend.

Readers of Janet McLaughlin's Get Psyched will love following Zoey in this fast-paced adventure.