Paige Parker is adjusting to life in Heather Hollow. She's O.K. with the ghost-girl roommate, the Hounds of Hell, and the vampire buried around the corner. What's really scary? The mean girls at Heather Hollow High. Queen bee Heather Duffy is using all her nastiest tricks to make the new girl in town feel very unwelcome. Meanwhile, Heather's parents and Duffy Development have big plans for their little town: a brand-new upscale housing subdivision on lands rumored to be a Native American burial ground. Is it a coincidence that a ghost begins making an appearance, gliding across the surface of a local pond? As Paige investigates, she finds more questions than answers. Why does a Hound of Hell seem to be her new running buddy? Is the librarian, Myrtle Thyme, really a harmless little old lady, or is she something else altogether? And what is that vegetarian stuff her mother keeps making for dinner? With the help of her wisecracking best friend Amelia and her super-cute new buddy Gabe, Paige tries to solve the mounting mysteries. She uncovers secrets at every turn, some darker than others. With just days to go until her fourteenth birthday, Paige finds herself in a place where the government waged an unthinkable war against children. Will Paige Parker live long enough to blow out the candles on her birthday cake?