The Shadow by Kelly Green Page A

and shows much promise.” –John H. Manhold, award-winning novelist
     
    “ Borrowing Abby Grace is a modern day Quantum Leap for teens and tweens that boasts a fresh now voice, and which grabs you from the very first word. I dare you to stop reading once you’ve started.” –Angela Felsted
     
    “ Borrowing Abby Grace stands out because of its fresh, fun and unique concept. …I would love to know what’s in store for Abby next and that’s saying a lot considering the huge number of series books I’ve simply dropped after reading the first book!” –Violet Crush
     
    “The tale is clever, humorous, suspenseful, supernatural, and fun reading for adults and youngsters.” –Israel Drazin
     
    “As you fall deeply into Borrowing Abby Grace , you’ll find yourself hooked and yearning for more. Suspenseful, thrilling, and exciting! You’ll find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat.” –Jodie Baker, Uniquely Moi Books
     
    “Kelly creates a wonderfully fun, short story for ages 12+. This is a modern day Nancy Drew with a paranormal twist. Very funny! …The story is fresh and different … Now, I can’t wait to find out more about Abby. Looking forward to book 2.” –Maria Gagliano

Chapter One
    Wednesday, 9:56 PM
    T he first thing I realized when I woke up in the back of the van was that I had no idea at all how I’d arrived in the back of a van.
    The second thing I realized was that I couldn’t remember anything at all. It was as if my whole universe had Big-Banged itself into existence right there on the dark seat, and before that moment was nothing but swirling, empty space, like a screensaver.
    The third thing I realized was that I knew what a screensaver was, meaning that I hadn’t just been born. The concept of “trapped in the back of a van,” though unpleasant, was familiar to me, although the particular van I’d arrived in was entirely foreign.
    I looked at my wrists, which were tied together with some kind of tape, and recognized them as the wrists of a teenage girl, and for some reason that seemed about right. It was clear to me that I had walked the earth before, though I had no idea where, or as whom. I tried to form a memory in my head, to crystallize the image of a face, or a house number, or anything, but it was as if everyone traipsing through my memory had a paper bag over their head, and I’d also lost my glasses. Had I ever worn glasses? No idea.
    I probably have temporary amnesia from a head injury, I thought. This seemed like the best explanation, even though my head didn’t hurt at all.
    I sat upright in the seat and saw two men sitting in the driver and front passenger seats, both wearing navy-blue ski masks. At that point, I figured that whatever had led to me waking up in the back of the van with no memory probably wasn’t a good thing, and that it was about time for me to leave.
    The van was rolling lazily around the dimly lit curves of a suburban street with excellent landscaping. If you were ever going to jump out of a moving car, this would be the place to do it.
    I saw a man in shorts and knee socks standing at the end of his driveway, walking a Boston terrier. It occurred to me that I’ve always thought that Boston terriers look like a cross between a Dalmatian and an alien. Clearly, I had an identity, if I had opinions about dog breeds.
    Silently, I bit through the tape that was binding my wrists and unzipped my hooded sweatshirt. I latched my fingers around the handle of the sliding door of the van and pulled, like I was starting a lawnmower.
    “Where are you going!” hollered the driver, and he reached back with one arm and grabbed onto the hood of my sweatshirt. The passenger reached around and grabbed onto my sleeve.
    I threw my arms back, slipping right out of the hoodie, and dove out of the van and onto the street.
    This makes me sound like a superhero, which, clearly, I am not. Let me amend this: It was all a little more clumsy than that. I awkwardly