Ellen Poe: The Forgotten Lore

The first book in an exciting YA series about a teen girl, descended from Edgar Allan Poe, who must navigate the haunting legacy of her ancestor while learning to harness her own strength and intelligence, especially as she begins to commune with the dead.

What happens when your tell-tale nightmares turn into reality and the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe won’t seem to let you alone? For as long as she can remember, sixteen-year-old Ellen Poe’s family has claimed to be long-lost descendants of Edgar Allan Poe. But when she moves in with her aunt in a Poe-themed B&B, the nightmares that have always haunted her begin bleeding into Ellen’s waking hours. When she stumbles upon a journal in the house, none other than Edgar Allan Poe himself begins visiting her. Has the journal somehow released his ghost? And what does he want with Ellen? Through secret messages in his writings, she learns that the two share the same psychic ability to interact with spirits–which is what ultimately drove him mad. This thrilling new series for young adult readers follows Ellen on her quest to learn more about her abilities, the afterlife, and the clues Poe has left for her (ciphers and cryptograms galore), in an effort to not suffer his same fate.

• "Balancing the cozy and the creepy, Ellen Poe is a delightfully dark salute to the fascinating figure of Edgar Allan Poe. The characters are instantly engaging, and Peterfreund has clearly done her research. More than just referencing Poe’s greatest hits, the story delves into his messy life, explores the echoes of his death, and draws on his passion for cryptic puzzles to craft a Poe-themed escape room of an adventure for our young protagonist. All around, a satisfying supernatural mystery to make Poe proud."

  William Ritter, New York Times bestselling author of the Jackaby series