August Rain
by
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There was more. Letters from whistleblowers. A tape recorder with a labeled cassette: Operation August Rain. Nick stared at it. “A recording!” Oh my God! Oh my God! Suddenly, Nick stood straighter. “Did you hear that?” We froze. Footsteps. Outside. Slow, deliberate. Nick clicked off the flashlight. “Get down.” We ducked behind an overturned bench just as a beam of light sliced through the broken door. A shadow crossed the threshold—tall, broad-shouldered. The beam scanned the room. One heartbeat passed. Then two. The light disappeared. We waited a full minute before we dared move again. Mel’s voice shook. “Do you think it was him?” “I don’t know,” I said. “But someone knew we’d come.” Nick nodded grimly. “We need to get this out of here.” We wrapped the box back in the cloth, careful not to drop anything. I tucked Papa’s notebook into my jacket and looked back one last time at the empty depot. The truth was no longer buried. But now, the danger wasn’t either.
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About the Book
Twelve-year-old Marnie Price thought losing her grandfather was the hardest thing she’d ever face—until a mysterious crossword puzzle shows up in the mail, followed by a cryptic note, and eventually a key. Suddenly, Marnie is unraveling a trail of secrets left behind by the man she adored: a former World War II codebreaker whose past is far more complicated than anyone knew. With help from her cousin Mel, her brother Nick, and a classmate who may know more than he’s saying, Marnie begins decoding clues that lead her to a decades-old betrayal, a hidden operation called August Rain, and a secret that could change her family—and the country— forever. Set against the backdrop of grief, growing up, and a junior high production of Macbeth, this is a story about courage, truth, and the quiet strength it takes to speak up when it matters most. Maybe, just maybe, it’s also about finding hope, like an August rain, when you least expect it.
About the Author
Marlo Holly is a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature and an Oklahoma-based writer with a professional background in marketing and media. She loves music and currently serves on the board of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. When she’s not writing, you can find her listening to music, planning her next adventure, or spending time with her favorite people—her family. A proud mother and grandmother, she believes in the power of words to heal, connect, and uncover truth. Her writing is inspired by the beauty of everyday moments, the bonds that hold families together, and the quiet strength of young people learning who they are.