Lois Ruby explores themes of the supernatural and mysterious, often setting her narratives in historically significant or reputedly haunted locations. Her writing delves into the unknown, blending suspense with the unexplained to captivate young readers. With a keen interest in ghostly phenomena, she brings an element of eerie wonder to her stories. Her distinctive approach weaves together elements of history and the uncanny, creating tales that linger in the reader's imagination.
Sixteen-year-old Lorelei is not happy after her family moves into an old bed-and-breakfast in Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaNand that is before she meets the Civil War ghost, Nathaniel, who needs her help, and discovers that some of the hotel staff are not what they seem to be.
Set against the backdrop of a family renovation project in Lawrence, Kansas, a 12-year-old girl named Dana uncovers a poignant diary belonging to a Quaker woman. This diary reveals the woman's courageous efforts in sheltering runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad, intertwining Dana's modern-day life with a rich historical narrative. Through this discovery, themes of bravery, compassion, and the struggle for freedom emerge, offering Dana a deeper understanding of her own family's history and the enduring impact of the past.