About the book
2024 Whippoorwill Award Honor Book
2025–2026 MASL Gateway Award Finalist
From award-winning author Mindy McGinnis comes a thrilling and gripping YA mystery about a small town’s past and the secrets unearthed by way of two teen girls—and a podcast. Perfect for fans of Sadie, The Cheerleaders, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
A lifetime of hard work has put Lydia Chass on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind—until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating.
Bristal Jamison has a bad reputation and a foul mouth, but she also needs one more credit to graduate. An unexpected partnership forms as the two remake Lydia’s town history podcast to investigate the Long Stretch of Bad Days—a week when Henley was hit by a tornado and a flash flood as well as its first, only, and unsolved murder.
As their investigation unearths buried secrets, some don’t want them to see the light. When the threats escalate, the girls have to uncover the truth before the dark history of Henley catches up with them.
- Small Town Mystery: In a town where politeness is everything, Lydia and Bristal’s podcast starts asking questions about the one week everyone wants to forget.
- Teen Detectives: The valedictorian and the town troublemaker team up to earn a history credit, but find themselves in the middle of a dangerous investigation.
- A Decades-Old Murder: The town’s first and only homicide happened during a chaotic week of natural disasters. Now, someone will do anything to keep the truth buried with the victim.
- YA Suspense: As the girls get closer to the truth, anonymous threats escalate, turning their school project into a race for survival.
Editions of Long Stretch of Bad Days
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780063230385
- EBook
- ISBN 9780063230378
Read an Excerpt
2024 Whippoorwill Award Honor Book
2025–2026 MASL Gateway Award Finalist
From award-winning author Mindy McGinnis comes a thrilling and gripping YA mystery about a small town’s past and the secrets unearthed by way of two teen girls—and a podcast. Perfect for fans of Sadie, The Cheerleaders, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
A lifetime of hard work has put Lydia Chass on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind—until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating.
Bristal Jamison has a bad reputation and a foul mouth, but she also needs one more credit to graduate. An unexpected partnership forms as the two remake Lydia’s town history podcast to investigate the Long Stretch of Bad Days—a week when Henley was hit by a tornado and a flash flood as well as its first, only, and unsolved murder.
As their investigation unearths buried secrets, some don’t want them to see the light. When the threats escalate, the girls have to uncover the truth before the dark history of Henley catches up with them.
- Small Town Mystery: In a town where politeness is everything, Lydia and Bristal’s podcast starts asking questions about the one week everyone wants to forget.
- Teen Detectives: The valedictorian and the town troublemaker team up to earn a history credit, but find themselves in the middle of a dangerous investigation.
- A Decades-Old Murder: The town’s first and only homicide happened during a chaotic week of natural disasters. Now, someone will do anything to keep the truth buried with the victim.
- YA Suspense: As the girls get closer to the truth, anonymous threats escalate, turning their school project into a race for survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Long Stretch of Bad Days about?
2024 Whippoorwill Award Honor Book
2025–2026 MASL Gateway Award Finalist
From award-winning author Mindy McGinnis comes a thrilling and gripping YA mystery about a small town’s past and the secrets unearthed by way of two teen girls—and a podcast. Perfect for fans of Sadie, The Cheerleaders, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
A lifetime of hard work has put Lydia Chass on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind—until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating.
Bristal Jamison has a bad reputation and a foul mouth, but she also needs one more credit to graduate. An unexpected partnership forms as the two remake Lydia’s town history podcast to investigate the Long Stretch of Bad Days—a week when Henley was hit by a tornado and a flash flood as well as its first, only, and unsolved murder.
As their investigation unearths buried secrets, some don’t want them to see the light. When the threats escalate, the girls have to uncover the truth before the dark history of Henley catches up with them.
- Small Town Mystery: In a town where politeness is everything, Lydia and Bristal’s podcast starts asking questions about the one week everyone wants to forget.
- Teen Detectives: The valedictorian and the town troublemaker team up to earn a history credit, but find themselves in the middle of a dangerous investigation.
- A Decades-Old Murder: The town’s first and only homicide happened during a chaotic week of natural disasters. Now, someone will do anything to keep the truth buried with the victim.
- YA Suspense: As the girls get closer to the truth, anonymous threats escalate, turning their school project into a race for survival.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Long Stretch of Bad Days?
Children’s, Teenage and Educational > Children’s / Teenage: General interest > Children’s / Teenage general interest: Communities, places and peoples > Children’s / Teenage general interest: Girls and women
Where can I read a sample of Long Stretch of Bad Days?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780063230385
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Long Stretch of Bad Days?
Mindy McGinnis
Who is the Publisher of the book Long Stretch of Bad Days?
HarperCollins
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Long Stretch of Bad Days is available as paperback(ISBN 9780063230385) and ebook(ISBN 9780063230378)
Where can I buy Long Stretch of Bad Days online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Long Stretch of Bad Days from below
Where can I buy Long Stretch of Bad Days?