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graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2000 and then began freelancing. Since then, she has completed many print, animation, and design projects, including graphic novelizations of classic literature, character and background designs for children’s cartoons, and textiles for dog clothing.

On Friday at three o’clock, Tyler Yu and Charlie Hitchcock stood together just inside the back doors of Blackstone Middle School.
    Each of them clutched a packet of paper. All around them, other students took books from their lockers, packed their bags, and made plans for the weekend.
    It was an ordinary Friday afternoon. There was nothing at all unusual about the scene.
    Except that Ty was the biggest bully in school, and Charlie was best known for his photographic memory, and they weren’t supposed to be friends.
    â€œOkay,” Ty said. “This is where we split up.”
    Charlie nodded.
    â€œI’ll hand out flyers to the eighth-graders,” Ty went on. “I’ll also hand out flyers to the jocks, the cool kids, the cheerleaders, and the crew in detention.”
    â€œWho does that leave for me?” Charlie asked, looking up at Ty.
    â€œThe dorks,” Ty said. He shrugged. “And the nerds.”
    Charlie rolled his eyes. “Don’t forget the geeks.”
    â€œThem too,” Ty agreed. He pointed toward the science wing. “You go that way.”
    â€œObviously,” Charlie said. He walked off into the crowd.
    â€œAnd remember — you don’t know me,” Ty called after him.
    Charlie reached the first corner and stopped. Then he turned and saw Ty, across the main hallway, handing some sheets of paper to two eighth-grade girls.
    â€œI think they’ll figure out that we know each other,” Charlie hollered, “when they realize we’re handing out the same flyers!”
    Smiling, he headed down the science hallway. He would never have tried something like that a few weeks ago, but ever since Charlie helped Ty solve two magic mysteries at the Abracadabra Hotel, the two boys had become something like friends.
    Ty would probably deny that.
    Actually, Charlie was sure Ty would deny that.
    But he knew it was true.
    Thirty minutes later, the boys met up at the front of the school. All the flyers were handed out, except one, which Charlie still held in both hands.
    â€œWhy did you save that one?” Ty said. “Did you give one to every kid?”
    Charlie nodded.
    â€œChess club?” Ty asked.
    â€œYup,” said Charlie.
    â€œComputer club?” Ty asked.
    â€œOf course,” said Charlie.
    â€œWhat about the chemistry club?” Ty suggested.
    â€œGot ‘em,” Charlie said. “I promise. I got everyone. This one is to hang up.”
    Charlie led the way to the office bulletin board. He handed the flyer to Ty. “Hold this,” he said. Then Charlie pulled two tacks from his pocket, took the flyer back from Ty, and tacked it into place on the bulletin board.
    â€œThere,” Charlie said. The boys stood back and looked at the flyer.

Hocus Pocus Hotel is published by Capstone
1710 Roe Crest Dr.
North Mankato, Minnesota 56003
www.capstoneyoungreaders.com
    Copyright © 2012 by Capstone. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.
    Summary: The biggest bully in school recruits the kid with a photographic memory to help solve mysteries in the hotel where he lives.
    Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available at the Library of Congress website.
    ISBN 978-1-4342-4253-2
ISBN 978-1-4342-5983-7 (e-book)
    This book is also available in two library-bound editions:
Out the Rear Window
978-1-4342-4038-5
To Catch a Ghost
978-1-4342-4100-9
    Design: Kay Fraser
Photo credits: Shutterstock
Abracadabra