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Phantom Algebra
Zuri and her mother settle in Pinedale, North Carolina, to start over. For years, they’ve been on the run from Zuri’s father, a retired boxer and full-time gangland enforcer.
In Pinedale, Zuri finds a gym where she can train in mixed martial arts to pursue her dream of becoming a champion fighter. At Pinedale High, she discovers friends among the outcasts, academic challenges, and something unexpected…ghosts.
When Zuri encounters a tween phantom haunting the library, her life is turned upside down and inside out as she attempts to help the spirit. This incurs the wrath of devils, living and dead. Zuri will need her martial arts prowess, heart, and the aid of friends to protect everyone she loves.
In Pinedale, Zuri finds a gym where she can train in mixed martial arts to pursue her dream of becoming a champion fighter. At Pinedale High, she discovers friends among the outcasts, academic challenges, and something unexpected…ghosts.
When Zuri encounters a tween phantom haunting the library, her life is turned upside down and inside out as she attempts to help the spirit. This incurs the wrath of devils, living and dead. Zuri will need her martial arts prowess, heart, and the aid of friends to protect everyone she loves.
- GenresYoung Adult
312 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2025
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 15, 2025
Phantom Algebra, by Dan Rice, is the seventh book in The Haunting of Pinedale High series. Zuri and her mother have recently moved to town to escape her violent father. As a black girl from an underprivileged background, Zuri doesn’t quite fit in with her classmates. This starts to change when she meets Luis, a fellow classmate who is a math prodigy. Zuri is not a fan of math, but her training in mixed martial arts helps save this young man from bullies.
Luis and his friends tell Zuri about the hauntings at the high school. She finds it hard to believe until she starts seeing things for herself. One of her favorite ghosts is a young lady who appears in the library to help her with her math lessons. Zuri and Luis decide to secretly find out the story behind this ghost. As they investigate, they discover that there is an evil presence dwelling in a secret sub-basement, and their favorite ghost is in danger. Among everything else that is happening in the teens’ lives, they team up to rescue this stranded soul.
Phantom Algebra is a gritty, well-written coming-of-age story. Blending ghostly intrigue into a drama involving tough issues like domestic violence and bullying helps create an intense paranormal fantasy that immediately captures readers’ attention. The characters are well developed, whether they be friend or foe.
Zuri’s character is especially compelling. Even while she’s mired in her own family issues, she takes the time to help others. She made a difficult entrance into a high school where she had to defend herself from others. The already established cliques and the bullying made it even more difficult to try to fit in. Her passion for mixed martial arts helps keep her grounded.
The supporting characters incorporate well into the narrative, whether they be human, ghost, or evil entity. The main antagonist is a malevolent force with a long, complicated history of power and corruption within the town. The interactions are entertaining, even though often terrifying. The high school setting has gothic influences, resulting in palpable feelings of fear. The mysterious sub-basement and the haunted forest both add to the gothic elements.
Dan Rice’s Phantom Algebra is the first book for me to read in this series. It stands alone perfectly; however, I am intrigued by his talented creative writing, and I plan on going back to read the others. Readers of all ages will enjoy this paranormal fantasy written for teens and young adults. Even as an adult, I found myself quickly caught up in the characters’ lives. I look forward to reading more paranormal adventures by this talented author.
Luis and his friends tell Zuri about the hauntings at the high school. She finds it hard to believe until she starts seeing things for herself. One of her favorite ghosts is a young lady who appears in the library to help her with her math lessons. Zuri and Luis decide to secretly find out the story behind this ghost. As they investigate, they discover that there is an evil presence dwelling in a secret sub-basement, and their favorite ghost is in danger. Among everything else that is happening in the teens’ lives, they team up to rescue this stranded soul.
Phantom Algebra is a gritty, well-written coming-of-age story. Blending ghostly intrigue into a drama involving tough issues like domestic violence and bullying helps create an intense paranormal fantasy that immediately captures readers’ attention. The characters are well developed, whether they be friend or foe.
Zuri’s character is especially compelling. Even while she’s mired in her own family issues, she takes the time to help others. She made a difficult entrance into a high school where she had to defend herself from others. The already established cliques and the bullying made it even more difficult to try to fit in. Her passion for mixed martial arts helps keep her grounded.
The supporting characters incorporate well into the narrative, whether they be human, ghost, or evil entity. The main antagonist is a malevolent force with a long, complicated history of power and corruption within the town. The interactions are entertaining, even though often terrifying. The high school setting has gothic influences, resulting in palpable feelings of fear. The mysterious sub-basement and the haunted forest both add to the gothic elements.
Dan Rice’s Phantom Algebra is the first book for me to read in this series. It stands alone perfectly; however, I am intrigued by his talented creative writing, and I plan on going back to read the others. Readers of all ages will enjoy this paranormal fantasy written for teens and young adults. Even as an adult, I found myself quickly caught up in the characters’ lives. I look forward to reading more paranormal adventures by this talented author.
January 6, 2026
I had never heard of this series before I won a copy of this book from LibraryThing. It has so many things that I love in books I read. I love reading books where one or more of the main characters are underdogs. We have Luis who loves math but gets bullied. We have Zuri who practices mixed martial arts. She and her mother have moved to Pinedale to get away from her father who is very violent. She actually saves Luis from the bullies and they become best friends. Then of course who doesn’t love stories that have ghosts. Zuri meets one in her school library. Zuri has a ghost friend she meets in the library and helps her with her math. I wish I had a ghost when I was in school to help me with my math. As I read I learned there was an evil entity in the sub-basement. I have had a fear of basements since I was about ten years old. Zuri, Luis and many of the other ghosts in the school decided to help Zuri protect the ghost helping her with her math. Here is why teens will love this book. It deals with so many issues they often deal with. Zuri has to deal with not only a violent father, but also with racism. Then there is Luis who has to deal with bullies. They can identify with and relate with so much in this book. Of course this is a great book for anyone who loves reading about people who overcome major obstacles in their lives and especially for those who love ghost stories. I would most definitely recommend this book.
January 9, 2026
A teenage high school girl and her mother move across the country for a fresh start. Zuri enrolls in Pinedale High School in a small town in North Carolina. Academic and social challenges pale by comparison once she discovers that the school is haunted. When she attempts to help a young ghost, Zuri’s life soon turns upside down.
YA author Dan Rice is at the top of his game with this spine-tingling tale. Rice has created a cast of imperfect but believable characters with an equal balance of teenage angst and audacity. Phantom Algebra is a story of survival, young love, loss, trust, and the inner strength one must summon to face adversity and one’s demons created by both human fallibility and fate.
Rice takes his time developing the plot bit by bit, character by character, until the enormity and seemingly hopelessness of the protagonist’s efforts to help her trapped ghost is laid out in terrifying detail. Rice’s pacing is exquisitely taut. Rice deftly wove a nailbiter of a backstory that collided dramatically with the plot and ratcheted the tension of the tale to a heart-pounding maximum.
Part fantasy, part thriller, part horror story, part ghost tale, Phantom Algebra is a brilliantly plotted and well-written gem that will keep both adults and YA readers up nights with the lights on.
YA author Dan Rice is at the top of his game with this spine-tingling tale. Rice has created a cast of imperfect but believable characters with an equal balance of teenage angst and audacity. Phantom Algebra is a story of survival, young love, loss, trust, and the inner strength one must summon to face adversity and one’s demons created by both human fallibility and fate.
Rice takes his time developing the plot bit by bit, character by character, until the enormity and seemingly hopelessness of the protagonist’s efforts to help her trapped ghost is laid out in terrifying detail. Rice’s pacing is exquisitely taut. Rice deftly wove a nailbiter of a backstory that collided dramatically with the plot and ratcheted the tension of the tale to a heart-pounding maximum.
Part fantasy, part thriller, part horror story, part ghost tale, Phantom Algebra is a brilliantly plotted and well-written gem that will keep both adults and YA readers up nights with the lights on.
October 6, 2025
I was so excited to dive into another book in the Haunting of Pinedale High series, and Phantom Algebra did not disappoint! These books are such a fun mix of spooky, adventurous, and heartfelt, and this one kept me hooked from start to finish. The authors in this series never disappoint and always deliver a great story with characters you can’t help but root for.
I loved Zuri. Her strength, determination, and heart made her such a great lead, but I have to admit it was Luis who stole my heart. He’s probably my favorite character in the whole book. I loved the entire Zuri/Luis dynamic.
The plot moves at a fast pace, with plenty of twists, action, and a unique martial arts element that I thought was really cool (and that’s coming from me, a total girly-girl!). I enjoyed every minute of this story. If you’re looking for a fun paranormal read with strong characters and a good dose of heart, I definitely recommend this one.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Lana
This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...
I loved Zuri. Her strength, determination, and heart made her such a great lead, but I have to admit it was Luis who stole my heart. He’s probably my favorite character in the whole book. I loved the entire Zuri/Luis dynamic.
The plot moves at a fast pace, with plenty of twists, action, and a unique martial arts element that I thought was really cool (and that’s coming from me, a total girly-girl!). I enjoyed every minute of this story. If you’re looking for a fun paranormal read with strong characters and a good dose of heart, I definitely recommend this one.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Lana
This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...
November 13, 2025
This was an interesting story with a unique premise, characters you won't soon forget, and a kick-ass teen FMC trying to navigate high school, making this perfect for YA readers who enjoy a hint of horror and suspense. As someone who loved ghost stories from when I was young, and have always struggled with math, I wish I'd have found a ghost to help me with my math classes like Zuri did! Even though she's had a hard life, Zuri has a lot of inner strength that shines through from start to finish, although she's still human, and has worries and fears that are normal not just for a teen, but because of her past. The bonds of friendship that form feel natural, and heartwarming. The story didn't dive right into the hauntings, and I enjoyed getting to know Zuri and her mom a little before we really got into the ghostly bits. Overall, definitely recommend!
September 15, 2025
It’s always a treat to read something out of the creative mind of Dan Rice. This one in particular, a part of the Haunting of Pinedale High series, features teenagers and ghosts, a specialty of author Rice who knows how teens think, talk, feel. How they ‘work’ the system whether we’re talking MMA training, school hierarchies or family systems. Zuri has a mind of her own and knows how to use it. Her sensitivity to others—whether corporeal or ghostly—shows through loud and clear. We can’t wait for the next one from this talented writer.
Based on a scale of 1-5, Phantom Algebra merits a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
Based on a scale of 1-5, Phantom Algebra merits a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
October 1, 2025
This is a story dealing with high school cliques, bullying, racial bias, and domestic violence but it has a special paranormal base that weaves its way through the story. An algebra wunderkind poltergeist and a growing romance round out the plot. I loved Zuri Williams. The author does an excellent job writing strong, good, teenage girls. This was a terrific story and my great nieces will be getting it for Christmas this year. Highly recommended for great world building and fascinating characters
October 13, 2025
Dan's stories always have the most interesting plotting and plot twists. He's nailed it again. A strong female protagonist in Zuri with sidekick Luis; phantoms haunting the high school; MMA (kickboxing, etc.); pressure to improve her algebra scores; oh, and those phantoms! Dan always brings ethical issues to his characters: here, domestic violence & racism, all in an age-appropriate way. Teens and all the rest of us will enjoy his newest work. I highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews