Dark Thirty Southern Tales of the Supernatural

In that special half-hour of twilight—the dark-thirty—there are stories to be told. Mesmerizing, suspenseful, and breathtakingly original, these tales make up a heart-stopping collection of lasting value, a book not quickly forgotten.

This Newbery Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Award Winner from beloved author Patricia McKissack offers a stellar collection of ten original stories, all with a foundation in African-American history or culture (School Library Journal).
In that special half-hour of twilight the dark-thirty there are stories to be told.Mesmerizing and breathtakingly original, these tales are inspired by African American history and range from the time of slavery to the civil rights era. With her extraordinary gift for suspense, Patricia C. McKissack has created a heart-stopping collection of lasting value, a book not quickly forgotten.
An ALA Notable Children s Book
An NCSS-CBC Notable Children s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
An IRA Teachers Choice

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When it is neither day nor night, when shadows lurk and play tricks on the mind, storytelling takes on a spectral cast. In that special half hour of twilight -- the dark-thirty -- you'll feel the spine-tingling horror of these tales:

-- When a retired Pullman porter hears a ghostly whistle, he knows it's the last train he'll ever ride.

-- Phantom pictures appear on a windowpane -- and expose a man's guilt in a lynching.

-- An ex-slave reveals how a straw doll and an ancient chant helped him gain his freedom.

Haunting and original, these ten stories are inspired by African American history, from the time of slavery to the civil rights era. With her extraordinary gift for suspense, Patricia C. McKissack has created a heart-stopping, award-winning collection.

Patricia C. McKissack lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Brian Pinkney lives in Brooklyn, New York.