Juniper had no idea that donating her favorite books-a series about psychic teenagers solving mysteries-to the school library would result in a heated protest that pits her unyielding mother against irate parents determined to ban the so-called "wicked" literature. Desperate to escape scathing embarrassment and possible expulsion, Juniper is ready to give up the fight-especially when Anne, her own best friend and fellow member of the Fortune Teller's Club, won't defend Juniper in front of her new boyfriend. But Juniper realizes she is not alone in this battle and with help from a special divination pendulum, she finds the strength to defend her beloved books and what they stand for.
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About the Author
Dotti Enderle is the author of the childrens mystery series, Fortune Tellers Club, and the educational series, Storytime Discoveries. She began her publishing career in 1995, writing for popular childrens magazines. Her work has been included in Babybug, Ladybug, Childrens Playmate, Nature Friend, Turtle and many more.
As a professional storyteller, Dotti has entertained at numerous schools, libraries, museums and festivals since 1993. She takes pride in her vast collection of original stories and folktales, and specializes in participation stories, allowing the audience to join in the fun.
Dotti is a member of The Society of Childrens Book Writers & Illustrator and the Texas Reading Association.
A native Texan, Dotti lived throughout Texas as a small child, but Houston has been her home since the age of eight. She lives with her husband, two teenage daughters, and a lazy cat named Oliver.
As a professional storyteller, Dotti has entertained at numerous schools, libraries, museums and festivals since 1993. She takes pride in her vast collection of original stories and folktales, and specializes in participation stories, allowing the audience to join in the fun.
Dotti is a member of The Society of Childrens Book Writers & Illustrator and the Texas Reading Association.
A native Texan, Dotti lived throughout Texas as a small child, but Houston has been her home since the age of eight. She lives with her husband, two teenage daughters, and a lazy cat named Oliver.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1
The Assignment
Juniper waited, nervously flicking the pages of
the paperback book she held. When that didn’t
calm her, she fidgeted with the circular pendulum
that had come with it. She wanted to ease her jitters
but they kept building, stronger and stronger,
until she thought she might spontaneously combust.
She closed her eyes, thinking of her nerves
as computer data, even trying to envision a delete
button, but that didn’t work. Her anxiety simply
multiplied like email spam.
Regan Wells was finishing her oral book report,
and Juniper was next. "So that’s why it’s important
that I donate Buffalo Soldiers to our new
school library—as a tribute to my great-greatgreat-
grandfather. He served as a buffalo soldier
in the Civil War and I donate this book in his
name."
Mrs. Blum’s clapping aroused the drowsy class,
and a few kids joined in the applause. "Well done,
Regan." She consulted a list on her desk, scanning
it through her reading glasses. "Juniper. You’re
next."
Juniper clamored to the front, holding the
book and pendulum like a wad of tissues. She
wished she could dance the report instead of
speak it. She never got nervous during her dance
recitals. Slowly, she held up the book for the
class to see. Her mouth was completely dry, like
she’d been chewing on her pillow.
"When we were asked to donate our favorite
book for the new library, I sort of had a problem
picking just one. See, my favorite books are in a
series." The classroom snickering made her pause.
That’s when she noticed the book was upside
down. Flipping it around, she continued. "This is
Grave Dangers, the third book in the Psychic Circle
series. The third one is really the best of the series,
I think."
She looked around at the moon-faced kids
staring up at her. Some were nodding, obviously
familiar with the Psychic Circle. Others had eyes
glazed over from hearing too many oral reports
in one hour. They’d obviously shut out all new
incoming information for the day.
"The Psychic Circle is a group of teenagers
who each have different psychic abilities. Using
E.S.P. and other forms of mind-reading, they
solve mysteries. In Grave Dangers, they solve the
mystery of who’s really buried in a creepy old
grave marked ‘Glover Handlestein.’" More nods
from the kids who were actually listening.
"They also have lots of supernatural stuff.
Like in this book, they see zombies coming up
from the family cemetery. It’s so cool. I really get
caught up in this series. I think that J. D. Devers
is the best author ever."
"You know there is no J. D. Devers," Nicole
Hoffman spouted. "That’s just a made-up name.
They hire different writers to write those books."
"That’s called ‘ghost writing,’" Mrs. Blum
added.
"I knew that," Juniper said, clutching the book
with white knuckles. But she hadn’t really known.
Her heart sank like a yo-yo. She’d always imagined
J. D. Devers as an old-looking Mark Twain
fellow, writing on an ancient typewriter and surrounded
by candles, E.S.P. cards, and pictures of
astrological symbols covered in milky cobwebs.
And it was especially painful to learn the truth
from one of the Snotty Twins.
"Anyway, here’s the best part." She dangled
the pendulum in front of her. It was nothing
more than a jade-colored plastic ring attached
to a length of waxed purple string, but its presence
caused the kids to sit up at their desks. The
droopy fog had cleared, giving the air a perky
feel. Juniper had them.
"Each book comes with a special device that
lets you play along and guess the outcome.
Grave Dangers comes with a pendulum." She
opened the book and thumbed through to a
particular page. "Here’s how it works. At the
end of each chapter there is a set of clues. In
some of the books, the clues are written. In this
one, there are pictures. You hold the pendulum
over the page and concentrate."
She closed her eyes, letting the pendulum
hang limp over the page of clues. She didn’t concentrate
because she already knew the answer. It
would be easy. She’d read this particular book
three times. But for some reason, her arm tingled,
just as it did when she was doing real psychic
work. She cleared her mind, focusing on the
pendulum. In just a matter of seconds it started
to swing, slightly at first, then in large sweeping
motions. A few Ooooooos rose up from the class.
"The pendulum will swing toward a clue,"
Juniper continued. "That’s how you try to solve
the mystery along with the Psychic Circle." But
it didn’t swing toward the clue. Instead it heated
up, the string circling wide and counterclockwise.
Odd. Was the pendulum trying to tell her
something?
She stopped the swinging pendulum and laid
it down on the book. What was that all about? She
blocked the confusion and continued her report.
"I’m pretty good at it, myself. I’ve never missed
yet on solving a case before the end of the book."
She decided not to tell them about the tingling
sensation she has when she works with different
forms of divination. Or that it had happened
right then! Most of the kids already knew it was
her passion anyway, and a few even knew about
the Fortune Tellers Club.
"So . . . I’m going to donate Grave Dangers, and
three other Psychic Circle books, to Mrs. Thompson
for the new library."
Juniper quickly scooted back to her desk. She
was so glad the book report was over and that
hers was the last one for today. Her throat felt
like the Sahara, and she desperately needed a
drink of water—make that a gallon.
"Can I see that?"
Juniper turned in her desk and handed the
book to Caitlin Greeley, sitting kitty-corner
across the aisle. She watched Caitlin skim the
book with interest, pausing to read a sentence or
two. "Thanks," she told Juniper, handing it back.
"I’d loan it to you, but it’s for the library,"
Juniper said.
"That’s okay."
The bell rang, causing the usual hurried scuffling
and loud voices. Juniper gathered her things
for the next class. She was sure she’d done well
with the report, but still, something didn’t seem
right. She clutched the pendulum, then instantly
loosened her grip. Still hot . . . too hot. Why doesn’t
it melt the plastic? She glanced out the window
on her way to the door. Sunny and beautiful
out. Hmmm . . . why did she feel like a storm was
brewing? Something was definitely up. She could
smell it in the air.
The Assignment
Juniper waited, nervously flicking the pages of
the paperback book she held. When that didn’t
calm her, she fidgeted with the circular pendulum
that had come with it. She wanted to ease her jitters
but they kept building, stronger and stronger,
until she thought she might spontaneously combust.
She closed her eyes, thinking of her nerves
as computer data, even trying to envision a delete
button, but that didn’t work. Her anxiety simply
multiplied like email spam.
Regan Wells was finishing her oral book report,
and Juniper was next. "So that’s why it’s important
that I donate Buffalo Soldiers to our new
school library—as a tribute to my great-greatgreat-
grandfather. He served as a buffalo soldier
in the Civil War and I donate this book in his
name."
Mrs. Blum’s clapping aroused the drowsy class,
and a few kids joined in the applause. "Well done,
Regan." She consulted a list on her desk, scanning
it through her reading glasses. "Juniper. You’re
next."
Juniper clamored to the front, holding the
book and pendulum like a wad of tissues. She
wished she could dance the report instead of
speak it. She never got nervous during her dance
recitals. Slowly, she held up the book for the
class to see. Her mouth was completely dry, like
she’d been chewing on her pillow.
"When we were asked to donate our favorite
book for the new library, I sort of had a problem
picking just one. See, my favorite books are in a
series." The classroom snickering made her pause.
That’s when she noticed the book was upside
down. Flipping it around, she continued. "This is
Grave Dangers, the third book in the Psychic Circle
series. The third one is really the best of the series,
I think."
She looked around at the moon-faced kids
staring up at her. Some were nodding, obviously
familiar with the Psychic Circle. Others had eyes
glazed over from hearing too many oral reports
in one hour. They’d obviously shut out all new
incoming information for the day.
"The Psychic Circle is a group of teenagers
who each have different psychic abilities. Using
E.S.P. and other forms of mind-reading, they
solve mysteries. In Grave Dangers, they solve the
mystery of who’s really buried in a creepy old
grave marked ‘Glover Handlestein.’" More nods
from the kids who were actually listening.
"They also have lots of supernatural stuff.
Like in this book, they see zombies coming up
from the family cemetery. It’s so cool. I really get
caught up in this series. I think that J. D. Devers
is the best author ever."
"You know there is no J. D. Devers," Nicole
Hoffman spouted. "That’s just a made-up name.
They hire different writers to write those books."
"That’s called ‘ghost writing,’" Mrs. Blum
added.
"I knew that," Juniper said, clutching the book
with white knuckles. But she hadn’t really known.
Her heart sank like a yo-yo. She’d always imagined
J. D. Devers as an old-looking Mark Twain
fellow, writing on an ancient typewriter and surrounded
by candles, E.S.P. cards, and pictures of
astrological symbols covered in milky cobwebs.
And it was especially painful to learn the truth
from one of the Snotty Twins.
"Anyway, here’s the best part." She dangled
the pendulum in front of her. It was nothing
more than a jade-colored plastic ring attached
to a length of waxed purple string, but its presence
caused the kids to sit up at their desks. The
droopy fog had cleared, giving the air a perky
feel. Juniper had them.
"Each book comes with a special device that
lets you play along and guess the outcome.
Grave Dangers comes with a pendulum." She
opened the book and thumbed through to a
particular page. "Here’s how it works. At the
end of each chapter there is a set of clues. In
some of the books, the clues are written. In this
one, there are pictures. You hold the pendulum
over the page and concentrate."
She closed her eyes, letting the pendulum
hang limp over the page of clues. She didn’t concentrate
because she already knew the answer. It
would be easy. She’d read this particular book
three times. But for some reason, her arm tingled,
just as it did when she was doing real psychic
work. She cleared her mind, focusing on the
pendulum. In just a matter of seconds it started
to swing, slightly at first, then in large sweeping
motions. A few Ooooooos rose up from the class.
"The pendulum will swing toward a clue,"
Juniper continued. "That’s how you try to solve
the mystery along with the Psychic Circle." But
it didn’t swing toward the clue. Instead it heated
up, the string circling wide and counterclockwise.
Odd. Was the pendulum trying to tell her
something?
She stopped the swinging pendulum and laid
it down on the book. What was that all about? She
blocked the confusion and continued her report.
"I’m pretty good at it, myself. I’ve never missed
yet on solving a case before the end of the book."
She decided not to tell them about the tingling
sensation she has when she works with different
forms of divination. Or that it had happened
right then! Most of the kids already knew it was
her passion anyway, and a few even knew about
the Fortune Tellers Club.
"So . . . I’m going to donate Grave Dangers, and
three other Psychic Circle books, to Mrs. Thompson
for the new library."
Juniper quickly scooted back to her desk. She
was so glad the book report was over and that
hers was the last one for today. Her throat felt
like the Sahara, and she desperately needed a
drink of water—make that a gallon.
"Can I see that?"
Juniper turned in her desk and handed the
book to Caitlin Greeley, sitting kitty-corner
across the aisle. She watched Caitlin skim the
book with interest, pausing to read a sentence or
two. "Thanks," she told Juniper, handing it back.
"I’d loan it to you, but it’s for the library,"
Juniper said.
"That’s okay."
The bell rang, causing the usual hurried scuffling
and loud voices. Juniper gathered her things
for the next class. She was sure she’d done well
with the report, but still, something didn’t seem
right. She clutched the pendulum, then instantly
loosened her grip. Still hot . . . too hot. Why doesn’t
it melt the plastic? She glanced out the window
on her way to the door. Sunny and beautiful
out. Hmmm . . . why did she feel like a storm was
brewing? Something was definitely up. She could
smell it in the air.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SIZZLING HOT NEW BOOK!,
By Linda Joy Singleton "Linda Joy Singleton" (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Burning Pendulum (Fortune Teller's Club Series) (Paperback)
Dotti Enderle's FORTUNE TELLER'S CLUB keeps getting better! The cover of THE BURNING PENDULUM is spooky and intriguing, and the mystery involving the controversial topic of book banning is compelling.
Based on the author's own experience with censorship, this is an excellent book to start a discussion about the First Amendment and the consequences of book banning. In THE BURNING PENDULUM, Juniper is embarrassed when she tries to donate a book to her school library and a parent objects. Her embarrassment grows as her mother fights to protect her First Amendment rights. But it's Juniper who eventually solves this problem through research and fun detective work with her Fortune Teller Club friends. Another great installment of the Fortune Teller's Club! Don't miss it!!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy Grandpa,
By
This review is from: The Burning Pendulum (Fortune Teller's Club Series) (Paperback)
Nice book series for my Granddaughter. I was pleased to be able to find all the titles in this series available from one source.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book 7 In The Fortune Tellers Club Series,
This review is from: The Burning Pendulum (Fortune Teller's Club Series) (Paperback)
The Fortune Tellers Club is a delightful series by professional storyteller Dotti Enderle. This series, geared towards ages 9-12, features three best friends--Juniper Lynch, Anne Donovan, and Gena Richmond--who use divination to solve mysteries, explain relationships, and understand life experiences.
Avery School is opening up a brand new library, and students are giving oral reports on the book they plan to donate. Juniper Lynch, the truly psychic member of the Fortune Tellers Club, loves the Psychic Circle series. These books come with a fortune-telling device used to solve the mystery. Having difficulty choosing just one, she finally selects book 3 in the series--Grave Dangers. This particular book includes a pendulum, and Juniper explains the plot of the story, as well as demonstrates how to use a pendulum. The mother of one of Juniper's classmates complains to the principal and launches a community-wide campaign to expel Juniper, purge the school of "evil", and ban books such as Grave Dangers. Juniper, Anne, and Gena attempt to discern the motives of uptight, upright Mrs. Greeley and the fate of Juniper and the donated book by consulting the pendulum and tarot cards. The pendulum provides a clue that ends up shocking the FTC--and eventually the entire community. Based on the personal experience of the author, The Burning Pendulum is a bracing commentary on religious zealots who seek to ban books and ruin the reputations of others based on their fundamentalists views. I applaud Ms. Enderle for tackling this controversial subject. Beyond the insightful observations she makes through her richly drawn characters, The Burning Pendulum is a fascinating story about fear, hypocrisy, and prejudice--as well as the importance of the First Amendment. Highly recommended for young and old alike!
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Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
Juniper waited, nervously flicking the pages of the paperback book she held. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Psychic Circle, Grave Dangers, Caitlin Greeley, Kyle Morgan, Booger Boy, Joy Lynch, First Amendment, Snotty Twins, Avery Middle School, Dairy Treat, Fortune Tellers Club, Miss Lynch, Harry Potter, Nicole Hoffman, The Hierophant New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Juniper waited, nervously flicking the pages of the paperback book she held. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Psychic Circle, Grave Dangers, Caitlin Greeley, Kyle Morgan, Booger Boy, Joy Lynch, First Amendment, Snotty Twins, Avery Middle School, Dairy Treat, Fortune Tellers Club, Miss Lynch, Harry Potter, Nicole Hoffman, The Hierophant New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 8
books:
See all 8 books this book cites
6
books
cite this book:
See all 6 books citing this book
- Playing With Fire (Fortune Tellers Club) by Dotti Enderle in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Secrets of Lost Arrow (Fortune Teller's Club Series) by Dotti Enderle in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Hand of Fate (Fortune Teller's Club Series) by Dotti Enderle in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- The Magic Shades (Fortune Teller's Club Series) by Dotti Enderle in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- The Lost Girl (Fortune Teller's Club Series) by Dotti Enderle in Front Matter, and Back Matter
See all 8 books this book cites
- The Ghost of Shady Lane (Fortune Teller's Club Series) by Dotti Enderle in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- in Back Matter
- Book of Oceans (Diadem Series) by John Peel in Back Matter
- Book of Thunder (Diadem Series) by John Peel in Back Matter
- Book of Earth (Diadem Series) by John Peel in Back Matter
See all 6 books citing this book
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