The Girl in the Blue Tie-Dye Shirt

A Mud Street Misfits Adventure

Children - Preteen
109 Pages
Reviewed on 10/30/2018
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

A Misfit herself, Beth’s fascination with all things “woo-woo” goes back to her childhood where she spent many hours in fantasy worlds of her own creation. As an adult, knowing there was more to life than just what we see with our eyes, she began an exploration of these captivating other realms. A love of writing and the desire to share her knowledge sparked the creation of many short stories. Now, Beth is excited to share her love of the unknown with a new generation of readers and fellow Misfits!

After long days working in an office, Brian spent many nights reading books and telling stories of adventures to his four children. Building off inspiration from his family, the stories became bigger and more animated and the request for stories became more frequent. Brian has always told his children to explore the world and chase their dreams. With encouragement and support from his family, Brian made the decision to follow one of his own dreams, writing down and sharing his stories with other Misfits!!

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Girl in the Blue Tie-Dye Shirt: A Mud Street Misfits Adventure is a paranormal adventure novel for preteens written by Brian O'Dell and Beth Lauderdale. What should have been an awesome after-school listening experience suddenly turned into something strange and frightening for Liam. Connor’s newest vinyl acquisition, a mint condition Allman Brothers album -- and not just any album, Eat a Peach -- was the epitome of Southern rock and definitely a treat to listen to. But as Liam relaxed on the living room floor of Connor’s home with the album jacket in his hands, something totally unexpected happened. He found himself in a strange, smoke-filled and funky-smelling bedroom, and he saw a girl in a blue tie-dye shirt kneeling there and crying. It was a huge relief when he found himself once again in Connor’s living room, but any interest in listening to the record had vanished after seeing that girl. Did that vision or whatever it was have anything to do with the biking mishap that left him with stitches on his temple and a raging headache? Liam had no idea, but soon he realized that he had to solve the mystery behind her continued appearances. Fortunately, his friends were ready and willing to help him do just that.

Brian O'Dell and Beth Lauderdale’s paranormal adventure novel for preteens, The Girl in the Blue Tie-Dye Shirt: A Mud Street Misfits Adventure, is a grand action and adventure lark that will delight anyone who still remembers being young as well as the authors’ targeted audience. Liam and his friends are a marvelous group of kids who complement each other so very well, and watching as they brainstorm and work together to find a solution is great fun. I loved the fact that the authors included both of Liam’s parents and their families as well as having one child with two moms. While the Mud Street Misfits will remind folks of young detectives of the past, such as the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew, the diverse backgrounds of the Misfits is a welcome touch that ensures that all kids feel included. The authors also address bullying and its harmful effects in this compelling and enjoyable story. The Girl in the Blue Tie-Dye Shirt: A Mud Street Misfits Adventure is most highly recommended.

Sarah Stuart

The Girl in the Blue Tie-Dye Shirt: A Mud Street Misfits Adventure by Brian O’Dell and Beth Lauderdale is the first book in The Mud Street Misfits series, and the adventure shows how the team of young detectives is formed. Liam plays bass guitar in the school orchestra. Music is the centre of his life, so he’s interested when his friend Connor asks him to go visit and listen to a vintage record album. Mom insists he takes his older sister, Molly. Ordinary youngsters with normal families, or they are until Liam falls from his bike and has a vision of a girl in a blue tie-dye shirt, and she’s crying. He’s concussed and has a headache. When it goes, will the girl stop haunting him, or is Connor right to tell him he has psychic powers?

The Girl in the Blue Tie-Dye Shirt: A Mud Street Misfits Adventure will have enormous appeal to preteens: families like their own; a mystery to be solved; the constant reappearance of a girl who can’t exist, but whose pleas grow more urgent; plenty of action; a bold hero, Liam, and a dramatic, unexpected, end. I believe it will intrigue parents, carers, and schools even more; it has so many subtle messages – respect for adults, the importance of honesty and friendship, responsibility accepted. Brian O’Dell and Beth Lauderdale have written a marvellous story in language that’s perfect for their target audience, but if you buy it as a gift, read it before you wrap it. The Girl in the Blue Tie-Dye Shirt is fun!

Marta Tandori

A header over the handlebars of a bike…painful headaches…and a world suddenly turned upside down set the stage for The Girl in the Blue Tie-Dye Shirt, the first installment in the Mud Street Misfits middle-grade fiction series by Brian O’Dell and Beth Lauderdale. After a week of rain, the last thing Liam should’ve been doing is racing his friend, Connor, on his bike. What Liam doesn’t count on is taking a header over his handlebars, needing stitches or being plagued with painful headaches afterwards. After all, Liam just wants to get on with his busy life. He dreams of a stint at Carnegie Hall and actually gets a step closer to achieving his dream when his music teacher announces that he’s nominated Liam for a special Honors Program. However, Liam has a disturbing vision of a sobbing girl wearing a blue tie-dye t-shirt a short time later at Connor’s house while listening to his friend’s new vintage Allman Brothers album. More visions begin to haunt him, causing Liam to fall off his bike once again during a camping trip and then to lose control of his instrument during music rehearsal. Liam has no clue as to what’s going on with his life as it begins to spiral out of control…

O’Dell and Lauderdale have created a great story and a terrific cast of characters in Liam and his small gang of misfits. The dialogue is age-appropriate and the transitions between dialogue and narrative flow seamlessly. There’s also plenty of adventure to keep readers engaged. Although The Girl in the Blue Tie-Dye Shirt deals with the mystery behind Liam’s visions, the authors keep the story grounded, allowing the events to build organically. And although Liam is hardly your average kid, thanks to his musical abilities, he’s nevertheless the perfect protagonist in that he’s likeable, vulnerable and the first to jump into the fray to defend his friends. His friends, on the other hand, have Liam’s back – even when facing a life-threatening situation and major grounding. The Girl in the Blue Tie-Dye Shirt effortlessly captures the essence and adventure of what it means to be a kid and is a great beginning to what promises to be an entertaining series.

Debby E

This story had me spellbound. Lots of twists and turns. The ending turned out to be very different than how I was picturing it, which was a good surprise. The characters are unique, and their 'misfit' status makes them completely loveable. It was a joy at the end when they all came together, gave themselves a name, and are already looking into another adventure together. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!