THE SUPERNATURAL FILES OF CJ DELANEY

A tween journalist in Ohio has a summer that’s full of unexpected intrigue.

Lively 11-year-old Countess Jewel Delaney II aspires to become an ace reporter and follow in the footsteps of her grandmother Conti, who was one of the first Black women in America to own a newspaper. After snagging an official role at her grandmother’s newspaper, the Galahad Guardian, she’s determined to find the perfect story before the summer ends. After a dull news story about the opening of a skate park leads to a perplexing case, CJ is determined to be the one to uncover the truth. She struggles with being reminded that she’s “just a kid” and is determined to prove everyone wrong, no matter what it takes. With the help of her best friend, Parker, who’s also Black, CJ explores Galahad and finds clues that could point to cult activities, which would be major news in her small college town. In a race against the clock, she must try to solve the mystery before it’s too late. CJ’s voice is engaging and natural, and debut author Williams emphasizes learning to rely on and work with others as her protagonist wrestles with wanting to be the one to always get the scoop—even at the risk of losing friendships. Despite mentions of the occult, the story never gets too scary but instead provides just the right amount of thrills to keep readers hooked.

Suspenseful and emotionally intelligent.