Emmaline Vance has lost her mother. Stricken with grief and determined to see his wife again, Emmaline's father begins work on what Emmaline calls his ghost machine. He disappears for hours, endlessly working, and days pass as if Emmaline isn't still alive and in need of her dad. She soon grows so resentful of the ghost machine and its hold over her father that she tries to destroy it, but accidentally figures out the secret to making it work instead. Like every great discovery, though, it comes at a price - one Emmaline isn't so sure is worth the reward. This is so much more than a simple ghost story. As in her previous work, The Curious Tale of the In-Between, DeStefano beautifully weaves fantasy with an increadible outlook on loss and how we deal with grief. Filled with haunting and striking prose, The Girl with the Ghost Machine will leave readers thinking about it for days later, and clinging onto the memories of those they love and have lost.  - Elisa 

Waldo is visiting twenty-five local businesses throughout our community this July! Find Waldo Local is a great summer vacation activity and a wonderful way to support local businesses; and this year, we've expanded the search to include places all over Riverside. 

Anyone who wishes to participate can pick up a "Find Waldo in Riverside" passport, which contains the names of all of the participating sites, and get their passports stamped or signed for each Waldo they spot. Collecting store stamps or signatures at twenty or more businesses will entitle diligent seekers entry into a grand-prize drawing on July 31, with the top prize being a six-volume deluxe set of Waldo books. And, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Where's Waldo? books, Waldo's friend Wenda will also be hiding here at Cellar Door.  There is no charge to participate, and the hunt lasts for the entire month of July! 

Literary Travelogue Challenge

Now through August 31

Traveling to a state, or multiple states, within the US over the summer? Even if you're staying in Riverside, check out the exclusive Literary Map and read the book suggested for that state - of course, you can read other states' books as well. Here's the challenge: if Cellar Door customers collectively read all fifty states (52 books),  we'll have a Literary Travelogue party in the late summer or early fall for all who fulfilled the challenge. 

Post your comments on the books, photos of you and your book in the matching state, or whatever else will add to our literary travels on Facebook. You can also post your photos and comments on Tumblr or Twitter using #cellardoorlittravel, or post photos to Instagram and tag us (@cellardoorbookstore). No matter where you decide to share your literary travels, we hope to have as much participation as possible!  Some of the books are kids' books, so involve the whole family. 

Of course, we have all of the books available for purchase. Let us know which book(s) you're reading and we'll mark them on the Literary Map! So far, we have travelers for Washington, Northern California, Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania!