Gardner - The Journal of Angela Ashby

Other books by Liana Gardner

7th Grade Revolution

Speak No Evil

Awards

7th Grade Revolution

Silver Medal in Middle Grade Fiction

2018 Nautilus Book Awards

Winner in Best Use of Social Media in Book

2018 Digital Book World Awards

Winner in Pre-Teen Fiction (Ages 10-12)

2018 American Fiction Awards

Finalist in Juvenile Fiction

2018 Silver Falchion Awards

Finalist in Best Book (Childrens)

2018 Digital Book World Awards

Finalist in Childrens Fiction

2018 International Book Awards

Honorable Mention in Childrens Fiction

2018 Hollywood Book Festival

The Journal of Angela Ashby

Honorable Mention in Childrens Fiction

2018 Hollywood Book Festival

Speak No Evil

Finalist in Young Adult Fiction

2019 International Book Awards

The Journal of Angela Ashby

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2018 Liana Gardner

All rights reserved.

Cover and Interior Illustrations by Sam Shearon

www.ghliterary.com/clients/sam-shearon/

Title Treatment by Scotty Roberts

www.ScottAlanRoberts.com

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher, except where permitted by law.

ISBN: 978-1-944109-70-7

Published by Vesuvian Books

www.vesuvianbooks.com

For Sammie

With great power comes great responsibility.

~ Voltaire

Chapter One - The Carnival

I have great power.

Thats what she told me. The old fortune-teller at the school carnival.

I thought I had done the right thing ... with the magic journal she gave me. But nothing could prepare me for what happened next.

Or, for what I unleashed.

M y cutoffs inched their way up and tried to give me a wedgie. I tugged at the hem in an attempt to make them longer before I knocked on the door. Id grown so much, none of my clothes fit.

Mrs. Chan opened the door and smiled. Come on in, Angela. Mallory isnt ready yet.

I strode through the door. Is she in her room? Can I go back? Not waiting for her answer, I hurried to Mallorys room and knocked before throwing the door open.

Everything in the room was princess pink, from the wall color to the bedspread and pillow shams, to the carpet underfoot. Boy band and movie posters covered every available inch.

Mallory sat on the stool in front of her vanity, brushing her hair, but still wore her pajamas.

She shook her brush at me. One day youre going to burst in on me, and Im not going to be decent.

I snorted. Like youre ever ready on time. And if it happens, Ill gouge my eyes out.

She eyed my shorts and opened her mouth.

I held up my hand. One word about my shorts, and we can talk about the four-year-old pink of your room.

Her mouth snapped shut and she frowned. Im going to redecorate.

Yeah, like she hadnt said that fifty times before.

She gathered her hair into a ponytail to brush the ends free of tangles.

I plopped on her bed. Mom hasnt had time to take me shopping and Dad hasnt given her the money yet. Mom and I always had so much fun shopping for new clothes before school started. Except this year. Because of the divorce.

Mallory opened her closet and searched through the rack.

A spurt of irritation flared as she struggled to pull the clothes apart. She had so many, shed outgrow them before she wore them even once. Too bad I wasnt the same size ... I could borrow half her wardrobe and shed never notice.

Oh. She faced me and put one hand on her hip. We have to take Kirky with us because Dad cant watch him today. She sighed and went back to the task at hand.

I kicked my feet back and forth. No problem. I like your little brother. Hes so cute.

Having a younger brother is not all fun and games. She glanced at me over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow. He can be a pain sometimes.

Mallory didnt know how lucky she was. She at least had a whole family, while mine had been torn apart. Id always wanted a baby brother or sisterbut that was never gonna happen now. Dad had left Mom and me and married Holly-the-homewrecker.

I fell back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Hurry up, already. By the time youre dressed, the carnival will be over.

I searched for pictures in the lumpy surface, like indoor cloud gazing. A dragon with wings unfurled stood next to a howling wolf.

Why are you always in such a hurry?

I stopped looking for images in the cottage-cheese ceiling bumps and thought for a moment. I guess because I dont want to miss out on anything.

Ill be back in a couple minutes. Try not to explode with impatience because I dont want to have to clean up the mess.