Brief

When on a camping trip with her father and best friend, a young girl becomes determined to find answers after encountering the ghost of a girl who went missing years ago. She learns that her father did business with a dangerous woman, and if she does not figure out how to save the ghost soon, the same curse may be placed on her.

What We Liked

With a thrilling mystery at its center, this suspenseful story moves at a quick pace and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Fans of supernatural Young Adult fiction would love to come along on this journey thanks to a protagonist who is clever, caring, and brave. In this one, teenagers give friendship a new meaning with the lengths that they are willing to go for each other.

Film: This story could easily be broken up into a classic three act structure for film, and its ending perfectly sets the stage for a sequel (or potentially several sequels). The themes of friendship, family, and forgiveness are themes that draw viewers in when watching films, and the supernatural Young Adult genre has a loyal fan base when it comes to film adaptations of books. This exciting story with a suspenseful mystery at its core would make for a thrilling film, and the protagonist is one that viewers can get to know and love over the course of the film.

TV: This story lends itself well to the type of long-running supernatural series that audiences love. Writers could easily adapt this thrilling concept to television, and since the ending leaves us wanting more, there are so many exciting directions that writers could take this story. Besides the constant conflict and adventure, there is a strong friendship at the center of this story that would be incredible to watch evolve throughout the course of a show. Alternatively, this show could also make for a compelling limited series. The pacing is quick and would keep the attention of audience members, and the budding romance between James and Rosie would appeal to viewers.

Key points:
Active, likable female protagonist; The good guys win; Supernatural mystery; Loyal best friends; Plenty of room for sequel(s).

Synopsis

ROSIE BROWN (14) goes on a weekend camping trip with her father, MR. BROWN, and her best friend, JENNY (14). Mr. Brown tells the girls a scary story about a young girl named Lucy Clarke who was looking for her father in the woods years ago and went missing; they say her ghost still haunts the forest and that wherever she goes, a thick mist called The Devil’s Mist follows. After waking up from a nightmare, Rosie sneaks off into the forest to explore. Jenny follows, and the two of them see Lucy’s ghost. They come across her family’s abandoned home nearby and go inside, where they find articles detailing Lucy’s disappearance. After getting lost in the mist, they girls eventually make it back to camp, where they tell Rosie’s father about the mist. He begins to act suspiciously and has them all pack up and head home. At home that night, Rosie overhears a conversation between her father and an old woman. The old woman threatens him into upholding his end of a deal they made and tells him that if he does not, she will curse Rosie so that she becomes a ghost like Lucy. Rosie sneaks back up to her room, and Lucy the ghost climbs in the window. She and Rosie become friends, and Rosie agrees to try to help break the curse and free her.

The next day at school, Rosie realizes that a teacher at the school, MRS. WILSON, looks almost identical to the old woman who was in her house threatening her father the night before. After confronting Mrs. Wilson, she realizes that Mrs. Wilson knows that she and her father are in trouble and wants to help them. After school, she confronts her father about the conversation she overheard the night before, and he admits that when they were in financial trouble, he made a deal with an old woman who said that she could get him money. He didn’t realize the price he would have to pay – Rosie potentially getting cursed. Rosie forgives him.

The next day, Rosie, Jenny, and their friend James skip school and go back to the woods together. They find Lucy, and she warns them that the woman who threatened Rosie’s father is the witch who cursed her and turned her into a ghost ages ago. The old woman shows up and is about to turn Rosie into a ghost when James messes with her potion, sacrificing himself for Rosie. He turns into a ghost, and Lucy turns into a human again. Mrs. Wilson arrives and confesses that ASHLEY, the evil witch, is her twin sister, and the two of them made a deal with a magician years ago in order to survive during the bubonic plague. The result was that they became immortal, but Ashley’s soul went to the devil. They realize Ashley and James are gone, and Mrs. Wilson takes Jenny, Rosie, and Lucy home safely. A couple of days later, James is declared missing, and Rosie and Jenny return to the forest to try to save him. The magician who made Mrs. Wilson and Ashley immortal during the plague is there with Ashley, and he tries to make the three kids disappear with magic. However, Rosie pulls out a pocket mirror and causes his spell to rebound, making himself disappear. Ashley flees, and Rosie realizes that James sacrificed himself for her because he has feelings for her. She talks to his ghost, and their love is able to make him a human again. Ryan ended up on a far away beach by himself, where he vows revenge on Rosie and her friends.

About The Author

Liam Moiser enjoys writing mystery novels for young readers that center on friendships. In addition to Devil's Mist, he is known for being the award winning Author of the Moore Field School Series. But writing didn't always come easily to Moiser; as a child, he suffered from ADHD and needed learning assistants in all of his classes.