The White Gates

WHEN TORIN SINCLAIRS mom gets a job as the town doctor in Snow Park, Colorado, Tor cant wait to learn to snowboard. But on Tors first night there, a member of the high school snowboarding team dies. “Its the curse,” everyone whispers. Tors new friends Drake and Raine explain that theres an old Native American curse on the doctors of the town. Snow Park can never get a doctor to stay. Tor and his friends must piece together a mystery involving an old mine, a Ute curse, the entire snowboarding team—who just might be blood doping in order to win competitions— and an attempt to save the wild river otters of Colorado. But to complete the puzzle, will Tor have to ride the deadly White Gates? And how will he survive the avalanche that follows?

"Adult mystery writer Ramthun makes a smooth transition to YA with this action-packed tale set in a Colorado resort town. Twelve-year-old Torin (Tor) and his mother get a chilly reception when they move to Snow Park, where his mother has been hired as the town physician. They soon find out that residents' less than welcoming attitude has to do with an aged Ute woman's half-century-old curse against doctors and healers. Believing more in foul play than old curses, Tor wants to get to the bottom of things, especially after his mother's first patient unexpectedly dies. With the help of fellow outcast Drake and Raine, a descendant of that Ute woman, he discovers a web of deceit and greed. Solutions to puzzles come as swiftly and dramatically as an avalanche that nearly takes Tor's life, but the distinctive location and thrilling snowboard scenes overcome improbabilities in the denouement. Ages 10 — 14." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Torin Sinclair's mom gets a job as the town doctor in Snow Park, Colorado, but on Tor's first night there, a member of the high school snowboarding team dies. Tor's new friends explain that there's a curse on the doctors of the town. Now they must solve a mystery.

Bonnie Ramthun grew up in an old gold-mining town in the mountains. She spent her time reading books and exploring abandoned mining camps. She is also the author of three mystery novels for adults. She lives in Erie, Colorado.