Ten original stories based in African-American history combine supernatural elements with an oral style that reads like traditional storytelling. Whether it's the mysterious disappearance of a slave being sold away from his family, or the ghostly revenge of a man lynched by the Ku Klux Klan, all of these well-written stories are satisfyingly eerie, exactly right to be told and re-told during the "dark-thirty" -- the half hour just before nightfall. (Ages 7-12)

This Newbery Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Award Winner from beloved author Patricia McKissack offers a “stellar collection” of “ten original stories, all with a foundation in African-American history or culture” (School Library Journal).
 
In that special half-hour of twilight—the dark-thirty—there are stories to be told. Mesmerizing and breathtakingly original, these tales are inspired by African American history and range from the time of slavery to the civil rights era. With her extraordinary gift for suspense, Patricia C. McKissack has created a heart-stopping collection of lasting value, a book not quickly forgotten.
 
An ALA Notable Children’s Book
An NCSS-CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
An IRA Teachers’ Choice