Orion O’Brien and the Ghost of Samuel Grayhawk

Orion O’Brien

and the Ghost of Samuel Grayhawk

There’s the ghost of an Indian boy in the basement across the street!

That’s what Orion, her brother Ollie and neighbor kids Sal and Sofi Martelli discover in the Martellis’ basement. Now they understand all the weird things that have been happening since the Martellis moved in. Eleven-year-old Samuel Grayhawk attended the Shawnee Indian Mission school, which stands a few blocks from the kids’ homes. He’s been waiting more than 100 years for someone to help him find the spirit of his sister Molly, and he hopes his chance has finally come. The kids keep him a secret while trying to find a way to learn Molly’s fate. Using their wits, imagination and a tall order of faith, they get answers. The catch? If Samuel finds Molly, he’ll go to the spirit world and they’ll never see him again.

Read the Prologue
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Samuel Grayhawk

“I made the long journey to Kansas Territory with my people, the Wendat. When my mother and father died of a fever, my sister Molly and I were sent to the Shawnee Indian Mission to learn the white man’s ways. Then Molly got the fever, too, and was on her deathbed. In my hurry to see her before she died, I was thrown from a horse and killed.  I never got to honor her in the Wendat tradition. I have waited many years for someone to help me find where she was laid to rest so that I may join her in the spirit world.”

Richard Zane Smith, a member of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas, provided crucial insights and details about the life of the Wyandot. He is an artist and cultural revivalist, working to preserve the Wyandot language. His contributions were invaluable in creating a true-to-life character from history.

Read more about him and see his beautiful pottery at studiopotter.org

More About the Shawnee Indian Mission
More About the Wendat (Wyandot)
More About the Wyandot National Burying Ground