The Midnight Bell at Black Hollow School
Book One of The Black Hollow Chronicles At 12:07 on an ordinary Tuesday, a bell that has been silent for fifty years rings out over Black Hollow School.
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What’s inside
Page count
74 pages
Age range
Ages 7–10
Read-aloud time
~11 min
Values taught
Some mysteries ask for courage and curiosity in equal parts — investigate together, and help is always the right reason to explore.
Three sample pages
About this story
Alex is finishing his math problems when a deep bell rings out — DONG! The clock reads 12:07, and every student stops and stares at the old brick tower above Black Hollow School, because as Mrs. Henderson says, that bell hasn't rung in fifty years. Alex and his friends Jamie (with her homemade copper-geared watch) and Sam (with her ever-ready sketchbook) make a pact to investigate after school. At 4:30, when the halls are empty and the shadows seem to move on their own, they sneak through the back door, climb to the attic, and find a hidden door behind old boxes — and under a loose floorboard, a shimmering brass key carved with strange symbols. It fits the tower's ancient lock perfectly, and as it turns, a soft whisper comes from everywhere: 'Find us... help us...' Then the steep tower stairs spiral up past ancient stone walls pulsing with soft blue light. Adventure number one of the Black Hollow mysteries begins.
- Investigate — to search carefully for answers
- Mystery — something strange that needs explaining
- Shimmer — to shine with a soft, wavering light
- Symbol — a mark that carries a meaning
- Ancient — very, very old
- Pact — a promise between friends
- Tingle — a prickly excited feeling, like adventure starting
- Whisper — a voice almost too soft to hear
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After reading this, my daughter started asking about how lighthouses work and we ended up looking up videos together. Anything that gets her that curious is a win in my book.
The rhythm of this book is so soothing. It's become our Sunday-morning read. The river metaphor opened up a real conversation about listening to nature with my kids.
A beautiful, quiet story. On high-energy days my 6-year-old can't sit through it, but on calm evenings it's perfect. The language is genuinely lovely.
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