The Ballad of Dani and Eli

by Nicholas Bruner

What Dani Moser thought would be a boring family vacation turned into an adventure she will never forget.

In a tiny Ozark town, the last thing Dani expected was falling for a small-town bad boy named Eli, or making a mysterious connection with a bear. And she definitely didn’t expect that connection to give her strange new abilities.

Now Dani has to learn how to use her newly discovered powers right, or she could lose almost everything she loves because of them.

The Ballad of Dani and Eli is a dark and whimsical story about how messy and painful young love and growing up can be, and the inner strength we can all find inside ourselves when we look.

308 pages, paperback

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Nicholas Bruner is the author of Roll dem Bones and more than twenty other works of fiction. He has a background as eclectic as his stories, having worked everywhere from summer camps in Hungary to explosives crews in the U.S. Before becoming a full-time writer, he spent years as a government contractor in Washington, DC.

Nick writes books that blend suspense, imagination, and heart. His latest YA horror, Roll dem Bones, has been called “masterfully written” and praised for its chilling atmosphere and unforgettable characters.

When he isn’t writing, Nick can be found running, weightlifting, playing chess, or digging through vintage comic book bins. He lives in Fairfax, Virginia.

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. I especially loved the deep connections with the animal spirits underlying the story. It has adventure, lore, love, and heartbreak, with a little ode to Janis Joplin! Great book, thank you!

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mixture of summer memories and suprises from this first story by Nicholas Bruner. Very sweet, hesitant even, like many young teenagers, but full of feeling and wonder.

[pacon ! · Rating 4 out of 5]

my cousin wrote this