Fourteen-year-old Lucille lives in a world of "carefully curated neutrality." While others see joy in a wide grin, Lucille feels a "profound, deeply rooted terror." Her life is a "silent battle" against the uninhibited mirth of others. But when she is forced to confront her grandmother Eleanor’s peculiar collection of figurines, Lucille discovers that her fear might be linked to a "clandestine" secret buried decades ago. To find peace, she must look past the "facade" of a smiling garden gnome and uncover the "Phantom" echoes of a forbidden love.
C. E. Wolfie is the author of the Jitter Jumpers series, a collection of horror stories designed to keep readers of all ages on the edge of their seats. A lifelong fan of all things spooky, Wolfie specializes in middle-grade and young adult suspense that blends heart-pounding action with supernatural chills. When not dreaming up new ways to give readers the jitters, they are usually hunting for the perfect campfire story or getting lost in a haunted forest (on purpose).