Stumped

Fifteen-year-old Walter Stypes did not approve of his parents decision to move to a small town in rural Alabama. Nor did he approve of his father's unjust decision to make Walter dig up an old stump in the backyard of their newly purchased historic home. Admittedly yes, Walter had begged for years to have a private bathroom separate from "the unnecessaries," his three younger siblings, but having to clear a stump to make way for extensive house renovations was taking matters a bit too far.After all, it was Wade, the town bully, who had thrown the first book in the library. Walter had only acted in self-defense. Kenny, the creative and pretty girl who sat in front of Water in English, was his eye witness. But it was Woody, the stuttering oversized man/boy Walter had secretly recruited to be his personal bodyguard, who actually found the secret. The buried secret that would lead the unlikely trio on a quest to dig up the truth about an old town legend regarding a haunted tree in the cemetery.Stumped is a redemptive, yet humorous, coming-of-age story that champions the pursuit of goodness, truth, and beauty. Readers of all ages will treasure this heartwarming story about family, courage, and the meaning of friendship.