One girl’s daring adventure turns into a long frightful night
lost on the water.
Forced to leave the California beach behind to spend the summer with her grandma in rural Tennessee, Dannie is certain this will be the most boring summer of her life. Things start looking up when a group of local kids, mistaking her short hair and boyish figure, invite her on their ‘no girls allowed’ overnight kayaking trip. Obviously, her grandma refuses to let her go. But Dannie suspects the real reason is that the woman is afraid of the lake, only she won't tell Dannie why.
Longing for freedom and adventure, Dannie finds an old rowboat hidden behind the shed and sneaks off on her own to catch up to her new friends. It seems like a simple solution … until everything goes wrong.
Dannie soon discovers this lake is more than just vast. It’s full of danger, family secrets, and ghosts.
Published by Fire and Ice YA Books
ISBN: 978-1-68046-655-3
Ebook discounted to $2.99 at Kindle Nook Smashwords
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and LULU (print)
If you'd like to support an independent book store, order through
Parnassus Books www.parnassusbooks.net/book/9781680466553 in Nashville (you can even request it be signed by me)
Add it to your Goodreads TBR list or Follow me at Bookbub
Librarians, this book is available at Ingram and in ebook through Overdrive
Lost on the Water is a Winner! 2nd place in the 2018 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards for Young Adult Fiction!
Winner! 2019 New Apple Summer Book Awards - Official Selection for Young Adult Books!
Winner! 2019 New Apple Summer Book Awards - Official Selection for Young Adult Books!
Who is Dannie?
Dannie is an almost 15-year-old girl who likes to keep her hair super short so it doesn't get in her face when she goes skate-boarding. Most of her friends are boys back in California, and that's just fine with her. She hasn't grown much of a figure, and she's okay with that, too. She prefers to wear over-sized T-shirts and boys' jeans. They're more comfortable and better for moving around. She thinks staying in a cabin by a lake would be fun if it were with her dad or her friends, where she could go jet-skiing or fishing. However, she's stuck on this lake with her grandma, and she predicts it's going to be a long, boring ten days of doing nothing. She's wrong about that.
Dannie is an almost 15-year-old girl who likes to keep her hair super short so it doesn't get in her face when she goes skate-boarding. Most of her friends are boys back in California, and that's just fine with her. She hasn't grown much of a figure, and she's okay with that, too. She prefers to wear over-sized T-shirts and boys' jeans. They're more comfortable and better for moving around. She thinks staying in a cabin by a lake would be fun if it were with her dad or her friends, where she could go jet-skiing or fishing. However, she's stuck on this lake with her grandma, and she predicts it's going to be a long, boring ten days of doing nothing. She's wrong about that.
REVIEWS!
"Did you love to tell ghost stories as a child? Did they scare you “half to death?” D.G. Driver has written a modern ghost story set in Tennessee. California girl Dannie (real name Danielle) looks and acts like a boy and is mistaken for one when she visits her grandmother in rural Tennessee. Family secrets are revealed and mysteries abound as Dannie becomes involved in an overnight camping trip with local teens. This story just might become your go to “ghost story” for your next camping or teen event. I guarantee you’ll remember it." Monday Morning Indie review
“Teenage angst, unreasonable parents, family secrets and ghosts – Lost on the Water by D. G. Driver has it all, and more… Intriguing and suspenseful, Lost on the Water is well suited to a young adult audience. As an adult, the theme of social pressure, the search for independence, and the hankering for adventure brought back bittersweet memories of being a teenager. This exciting period following the childhood magic of tooth fairies and Santa Claus, when teenagers want to believe that just about anything is possible, is the ideal setting for a feel-good ghost story. During this period, the innocence of childhood still fuels the imagination and makes for a fast-paced and dramatic story line with a heart-warming, homespun tone. I loved Dannie’s quick wit, sharp tongue and tough attitude; her strong female character is evident in her sassy comebacks and made me like her instantly. D.G. Driver’s Lost on the Water features adventure, humor, intrigue and just the right amount of romance for a YA novel – a spectacular combination!”
Reader's Favorite 5-star review
“This is a well-paced novel with a main character who feels like ‘that one girl you knew’ when you were that age. Or maybe you were that girl. She doesn’t fit in quite right, she’s sometimes stupidly stubborn, and she doesn’t exactly make good choices. But she’s a good kid. The supporting cast is a decent one as well…
The ghost story that the book surrounds is a sad one, but I liked the way everything worked out. I also liked the drama that wasn’t about the ghost story as well. I could feel the worry during those particular scenes, and could imagine it a little too well. Overall, Lost on the Water is a good, quiet read. Sort of like a mug of cocoa on a cold, dreary day when you can’t help but enjoy it...”
Sci-Fi and Scary review
"I love the cover for this book, it fits in so well with the story. The self-absorbed and blinkered teenage behaviour is captured very well. Dannie finds out to her cost things are not as simple as they appear, and what seems to be an exciting adventure can turn into a near disaster very quickly. Dannie didn’t understand why Grandma seemed scared of the lake, but out there alone in the dark, not knowing which way to go with the creepy feeling there’s something out there, Dannie begins to wish she’d had second thoughts about the camping trip. Family secrets combined with suspense and the supernatural ensure an enjoyable read."
Between the Lines review
"First, I'll say this is a beautiful cover that catches the spirit (no pun intended) of the more eerie moments of this novel. This is such a pleasurable read, a bit of a coming of age story, in which Dannie discovers family secrets and inner strength and courage she was unaware of... The vivid scenes with Dannie in the darkness, sensing she may not be entirely alone, are deliciously creepy and likely to raise the hairs on your neck.... Lost on the Water is a mesmerizing read combining suspense and danger with supernatural overtones, and is perfect for the lower end of the YA spectrum on up."
Books and Such review
"This is so much more than a ghost story. I was transported into a coming of age story with all the struggles and doubts you find yourself plagued with. You find ghosts not just haunting places but the ghosts that are hidden in families. This story offered so much more than I even know I wanted. I recommend you pick up your copy today."
Ally.is.Reading bookstagram review
"When I finished this book, I was thoroughly surprised and blown out of my mind. I love how D. G. Driver is able to make this book very feminist. For example, in Lost on the Water: A Ghost Story, the main character Dannie, a girl, goes to an all boys campout and does everything the boys do. Another thing I enjoyed about this book is how all the pieces fit together perfectly, like the boat Dannie rides in connects to her family's past. Overall, I love this fun, exciting, mysterious, fabulous ghost story."
Kid Book Reviewer
"Lost on the Water is a creepy and chilling tale filled with secrets, mystery, and intrigue. It is a very quick and easy read that will suck you in after just a few pages. The story might seem a bit innocent at first, but be warned, there’s more secrets and scares than meets the eye... While I am not an expert in ghost stories, I can say with certainty that a good one must be able to spook you. Lost on the Water did send many chills down my spine as it creeped me out. It is one of those stories that is perfect to narrate around a campfire in the middle of the night or to read in your bed while staying up past your bedtime. I finished Lost on the Water in just a few sittings, and I found myself intrigued and mystified by the possibility of a ghost plaguing Dannie and Center Hill Lake from the start. This book will get your heart pounding, your blood pumping, and your senses prickling."
LILbooKlovers review
"Did you love to tell ghost stories as a child? Did they scare you “half to death?” D.G. Driver has written a modern ghost story set in Tennessee. California girl Dannie (real name Danielle) looks and acts like a boy and is mistaken for one when she visits her grandmother in rural Tennessee. Family secrets are revealed and mysteries abound as Dannie becomes involved in an overnight camping trip with local teens. This story just might become your go to “ghost story” for your next camping or teen event. I guarantee you’ll remember it." Monday Morning Indie review
“Teenage angst, unreasonable parents, family secrets and ghosts – Lost on the Water by D. G. Driver has it all, and more… Intriguing and suspenseful, Lost on the Water is well suited to a young adult audience. As an adult, the theme of social pressure, the search for independence, and the hankering for adventure brought back bittersweet memories of being a teenager. This exciting period following the childhood magic of tooth fairies and Santa Claus, when teenagers want to believe that just about anything is possible, is the ideal setting for a feel-good ghost story. During this period, the innocence of childhood still fuels the imagination and makes for a fast-paced and dramatic story line with a heart-warming, homespun tone. I loved Dannie’s quick wit, sharp tongue and tough attitude; her strong female character is evident in her sassy comebacks and made me like her instantly. D.G. Driver’s Lost on the Water features adventure, humor, intrigue and just the right amount of romance for a YA novel – a spectacular combination!”
Reader's Favorite 5-star review
“This is a well-paced novel with a main character who feels like ‘that one girl you knew’ when you were that age. Or maybe you were that girl. She doesn’t fit in quite right, she’s sometimes stupidly stubborn, and she doesn’t exactly make good choices. But she’s a good kid. The supporting cast is a decent one as well…
The ghost story that the book surrounds is a sad one, but I liked the way everything worked out. I also liked the drama that wasn’t about the ghost story as well. I could feel the worry during those particular scenes, and could imagine it a little too well. Overall, Lost on the Water is a good, quiet read. Sort of like a mug of cocoa on a cold, dreary day when you can’t help but enjoy it...”
Sci-Fi and Scary review
"I love the cover for this book, it fits in so well with the story. The self-absorbed and blinkered teenage behaviour is captured very well. Dannie finds out to her cost things are not as simple as they appear, and what seems to be an exciting adventure can turn into a near disaster very quickly. Dannie didn’t understand why Grandma seemed scared of the lake, but out there alone in the dark, not knowing which way to go with the creepy feeling there’s something out there, Dannie begins to wish she’d had second thoughts about the camping trip. Family secrets combined with suspense and the supernatural ensure an enjoyable read."
Between the Lines review
"First, I'll say this is a beautiful cover that catches the spirit (no pun intended) of the more eerie moments of this novel. This is such a pleasurable read, a bit of a coming of age story, in which Dannie discovers family secrets and inner strength and courage she was unaware of... The vivid scenes with Dannie in the darkness, sensing she may not be entirely alone, are deliciously creepy and likely to raise the hairs on your neck.... Lost on the Water is a mesmerizing read combining suspense and danger with supernatural overtones, and is perfect for the lower end of the YA spectrum on up."
Books and Such review
"This is so much more than a ghost story. I was transported into a coming of age story with all the struggles and doubts you find yourself plagued with. You find ghosts not just haunting places but the ghosts that are hidden in families. This story offered so much more than I even know I wanted. I recommend you pick up your copy today."
Ally.is.Reading bookstagram review
"When I finished this book, I was thoroughly surprised and blown out of my mind. I love how D. G. Driver is able to make this book very feminist. For example, in Lost on the Water: A Ghost Story, the main character Dannie, a girl, goes to an all boys campout and does everything the boys do. Another thing I enjoyed about this book is how all the pieces fit together perfectly, like the boat Dannie rides in connects to her family's past. Overall, I love this fun, exciting, mysterious, fabulous ghost story."
Kid Book Reviewer
"Lost on the Water is a creepy and chilling tale filled with secrets, mystery, and intrigue. It is a very quick and easy read that will suck you in after just a few pages. The story might seem a bit innocent at first, but be warned, there’s more secrets and scares than meets the eye... While I am not an expert in ghost stories, I can say with certainty that a good one must be able to spook you. Lost on the Water did send many chills down my spine as it creeped me out. It is one of those stories that is perfect to narrate around a campfire in the middle of the night or to read in your bed while staying up past your bedtime. I finished Lost on the Water in just a few sittings, and I found myself intrigued and mystified by the possibility of a ghost plaguing Dannie and Center Hill Lake from the start. This book will get your heart pounding, your blood pumping, and your senses prickling."
LILbooKlovers review
Read this excerpt from Lost on the Water, A Ghost Story
From Chapter Two:
Mom and Dad gave me some tight hugs and gave Grandma some uncomfortable ones. Shouting a few last-minute rules at me from the car windows, my parents drove off for their two weeks of European bliss. The sun was setting, and shadows covered the yard. What had looked like a huge piece of land in the afternoon now looked small and forbidding. Despite the humidity, I felt a swift cold breeze, and it made me shiver. I went inside.
While Grandma finished the dishes, I moseyed around the house looking at all her dusty knickknacks on the shelves, yellowed Reader’s Digest magazines, and original art on the walls. She had a lot of oil paintings of the lake and surroundings. The scribble at the bottom right corner of each looked like it might have been Hal Garrison, but I only guessed that it was my grandpa’s name because the pictures were in his house. If I’d seen them in a gallery or something, I’d have never figured out what the signature was supposed to be.
I stepped into the bedroom that would be mine for the next ten days. It wasn’t a huge room, but it was nice enough. All the decorations were very boyish, I thought. Pictures of boats had been neatly spaced on the wood-paneled walls. The bedcovers were faded shades of red, white, and navy blue with gold anchors on them. Even the lamp had a sailing theme to it, with a brass base that had a chain and anchor by the switch. I have to admit it didn’t seem to match Grandma’s style. I saw her as more of a lace and soft pastels kind of person. Maybe Grandpa decorated the room when Grandma was living in California, and she hadn’t taken the time to change it yet. Even so, why would Grandpa decorate the room like it was meant for a boy to live in instead of making it girlish for my mom?
My suitcase was on its side under the window. I walked over to it, thinking I’d get out my bag of deodorant and toothpaste and stuff and take it down to the bathroom. As I bent over to unzip the case, something out the window caught my eye. I straightened up, pushed the slightly open curtain all the way to the side, and looked out. My bedroom had a view of the front side of the garage and all the neighboring cabins in the distance. I noticed how the woods came up right behind the garage and then peeled back away to make room for the tourist village. It was getting pretty dark out there, and the shadows between the trees were thick.
My reflection in the window was see-through, and I wondered for a moment if that’s what I would look like if I were a ghost. I stared at myself in the glass and then through my own eyes to the yard beyond. Nothing out there moved at all, so I couldn’t think what had caught my eye in the first place. My right hand let go of the curtain, and the material swung back into place.
But I swear, for a split-second, before that curtain covered the window, my reflection changed. It was higher up, like I’d grown an inch or two. The hair was longer. The shoulders wider, like a teenage boy’s. My reflection was grinning, and I didn’t think that I was. What on earth would I be smiling about?
Quickly, I swiped the curtain aside again. Silly, really. That reflection showed plain old me, looking as dorky as I usually do. I wasn’t smiling.
Pretending that my neck hadn’t stiffened up as much as it just had, I pulled the curtains closed so tight, they overlapped. Forgetting all about my suitcase, I backed away from the window and right out the bedroom door.
From Chapter Two:
Mom and Dad gave me some tight hugs and gave Grandma some uncomfortable ones. Shouting a few last-minute rules at me from the car windows, my parents drove off for their two weeks of European bliss. The sun was setting, and shadows covered the yard. What had looked like a huge piece of land in the afternoon now looked small and forbidding. Despite the humidity, I felt a swift cold breeze, and it made me shiver. I went inside.
While Grandma finished the dishes, I moseyed around the house looking at all her dusty knickknacks on the shelves, yellowed Reader’s Digest magazines, and original art on the walls. She had a lot of oil paintings of the lake and surroundings. The scribble at the bottom right corner of each looked like it might have been Hal Garrison, but I only guessed that it was my grandpa’s name because the pictures were in his house. If I’d seen them in a gallery or something, I’d have never figured out what the signature was supposed to be.
I stepped into the bedroom that would be mine for the next ten days. It wasn’t a huge room, but it was nice enough. All the decorations were very boyish, I thought. Pictures of boats had been neatly spaced on the wood-paneled walls. The bedcovers were faded shades of red, white, and navy blue with gold anchors on them. Even the lamp had a sailing theme to it, with a brass base that had a chain and anchor by the switch. I have to admit it didn’t seem to match Grandma’s style. I saw her as more of a lace and soft pastels kind of person. Maybe Grandpa decorated the room when Grandma was living in California, and she hadn’t taken the time to change it yet. Even so, why would Grandpa decorate the room like it was meant for a boy to live in instead of making it girlish for my mom?
My suitcase was on its side under the window. I walked over to it, thinking I’d get out my bag of deodorant and toothpaste and stuff and take it down to the bathroom. As I bent over to unzip the case, something out the window caught my eye. I straightened up, pushed the slightly open curtain all the way to the side, and looked out. My bedroom had a view of the front side of the garage and all the neighboring cabins in the distance. I noticed how the woods came up right behind the garage and then peeled back away to make room for the tourist village. It was getting pretty dark out there, and the shadows between the trees were thick.
My reflection in the window was see-through, and I wondered for a moment if that’s what I would look like if I were a ghost. I stared at myself in the glass and then through my own eyes to the yard beyond. Nothing out there moved at all, so I couldn’t think what had caught my eye in the first place. My right hand let go of the curtain, and the material swung back into place.
But I swear, for a split-second, before that curtain covered the window, my reflection changed. It was higher up, like I’d grown an inch or two. The hair was longer. The shoulders wider, like a teenage boy’s. My reflection was grinning, and I didn’t think that I was. What on earth would I be smiling about?
Quickly, I swiped the curtain aside again. Silly, really. That reflection showed plain old me, looking as dorky as I usually do. I wasn’t smiling.
Pretending that my neck hadn’t stiffened up as much as it just had, I pulled the curtains closed so tight, they overlapped. Forgetting all about my suitcase, I backed away from the window and right out the bedroom door.
Links to more about Lost on the Water...
This is a post from my Write and Rewrite Blog about ghosts I've witnessed in real life, and it includes another excerpt from Lost on the Water - A Ghost Story. http://www.dgdriver.com/write-and-rewrite-blog/the-ghosts-ive-seen-in-middle-tennesee
An interview about Lost on the Water and my writing life at DaxWrites blog https://www.daxwrites.com/interviewing-donna-g-driver/
This is a post from my Write and Rewrite Blog about ghosts I've witnessed in real life, and it includes another excerpt from Lost on the Water - A Ghost Story. http://www.dgdriver.com/write-and-rewrite-blog/the-ghosts-ive-seen-in-middle-tennesee
An interview about Lost on the Water and my writing life at DaxWrites blog https://www.daxwrites.com/interviewing-donna-g-driver/