Sarah Wiseley Croley
The Gray Lady
and the Underdogs
A coming-of-age mystery set in 1965 that explores friendship, courage, prejudice, and the power of seeing beyond first impressions.
About the Book
A Story of Friendship, Courage, and Hope
It is 1965, and eleven-year-old Ann Jones - sometimes mad, sometimes funny - moves with her divorced mother from a small town to the racially charged suburb of East Cleveland, Ohio. Burdened by an unsightly birthmark, Ann faces rejection and loneliness until she meets Essie, an elderly woman with gray skin who, at first glance, appears to have it even worse. Despite her appearance, Essie is the most positive person Ann has ever met. Before long, Ann is drawn into the mystery surrounding Essie's brother, who disappeared in 1910 along with the family's priceless diamonds.
At her new school, Ann is shunned by nearly everyone except Wanda, the first Black girl at Caledonia Elementary, and Quan, a Chinese immigrant who barely speaks English. They have one thing in common: no one wants to be their friend. Together, these unlikely classmates become amateur detectives, piecing together clues in the Gray Lady's decades-long search for the truth.
When a shocking, racially motivated attack is carried out against Wanda's family, Essie and the underdog detectives begin a hunt for those responsible. As they pursue the criminals, they discover they may also be closer than ever to solving the century-old mystery of the missing jewels.
Meet the Author
Sarah Wiseley
Sarah Wiseley grew up in East Cleveland, Ohio, where she began her writing career with an elementary school diary. She attended Caledonia Elementary and Laurel School, earned a BA in English Education from Case Western Reserve University and a Master’s in English at Cleveland State University. She has taught high school English at John Adams, JFK, and Beaumont, and English as a Second Language at the Orange Schools.
Sarah has written short stories and poetry all her life and was a freelance writer for Cleveland publications. Her Plain Dealer article, “The Witch in the Woods,” was the inspiration for this, her first novel.
Praise for the Book
Three young friends, each with their own personal issues, solve a years-old question and a more recent crime. This delightful story entertains, but also demonstrates what diverse children working in unity can accomplish.
For Readers & Educators
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Discussion Questions
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Get in Touch
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