Freeing Linhurst: (Book 1)

by Al Cassidy, Al Cassidy (Illustrator)

Overview

A Journey to Uncover the Truth Linhurst State School and Hospital, the abandoned mental asylum in the small town of Spring Dale has been shrouded in mystery as long as Jack Alexander can remember. Before her untimely passing, his mother - an investigative journalist for the local paper - had begun to inquire about the truth behind its crumbling walls. Devastated, Jack is determined to uncover the truth about Linhurst no matter what. As he digs deeper, Jack unearths powerful secrets that have long been buried by patronizing adults and a modern day plot that threatens to destroy the property in just days and erase the memories of those who once called Linhurst home. Working against the clock - and the better judgement of his best friend Celia - Jack slips into the abandoned property...on Halloween night. What they discover could destroy Linhurst forever or spark a revolution that could change the future of Spring Dale.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780692872345
Publisher:	Al Cassidy
Publication date:	04/07/2017
Series:	Freeing Linhurst , #1
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.72(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Al Cassidy has been interested in characters and stories from a very young age. Growing up, his father's work in sales and marketing took the family of six all over the US-from Florida to California, Minnesota to Utah, and everywhere in between. Having to adapt to new places and relationships on the fly made him a talented observer, and he learned to quickly hone in on the defining characteristics that make each person, place, and situation unique.

By age three, Cassidy was learning to draw animals, people and materials. This began a great enthusiasm for crafting characters based on observations gleaned throughout his travels and using them to tell stories.

He pursued the arts through high school and college, graduating second in class from The Art Institute of Philadelphia then diving into the working world, merging his skills as an artist with communication in business. He learned the ropes of branding, marketing and advertising while working with agencies whose clients included nationally recognized brands, small businesses, musicians, individuals and everyone in between. After 15 years primarily serving for-profit clients, Cassidy chose to redirect his focus to non-profit organizations.

Like the characters in his childhood comics, Al Cassidy believes each person has a certain something that sets us apart, and that we all have something valuable to contribute to society. This belief was the drive behind the creation of Freeing Linhurst. Having witnessed firsthand the prejudice those with intellectual disabilities face, he observed the many conflicting lenses people view the crumblin

Editorial Reviews

As a whole, the pacing of the book is solid, the characters are entertaining, and the plot is unpredictable. For a story targeted at young readers, it isn’t overly simplistic and the prose is well-edited. The personalities of the 9^th graders are captured surprisingly well, as are their interactions and emotions during those developmental years. A mystery with a creepy mental institution at its center isn’t the most unique premise for a novel, but Cassidy paints his novel with colorful characters, and an important message.

The entire tale is exciting and mysterious, yet also gives readers plenty to think about once the last chapter comes to a close. Al Cassidy delivers a powerful and relatable book in Freeing Linhurst that will be memorable for children and adults alike.

From the Publisher