Water Ghosts

Water Ghosts is a nautical adventure, a story of the supernatural, and a trip into imperial China of long ago. James, a 15-year-old with a troubled past, must survive a disastrous voyage on a junk which he believes is under the control of malicious forces. Below deck, James meets Yu who is a shui gui; a water ghost of a young Chinese eunuch who drowned at sea six hundred years ago. Yu is intent on trading places with James. He's waiting for Good Fortune to pass over the exact place where he drowned, on Hungry Ghost Night when the gates of hell are opened. When that happens his power to take over James' body will be complete; Yu will become James will replace Yu deep in his watery grave. He holds James captive in the belly of the ship and tells him the story of Yu's tragic life. Just when it seems Good Fortune might be rescued, a fleet of Ming Dynasty warships rises up from the bottom of the ocean and attacks them. The battle for their lives is on as the teens fight the shui gui. James knows the ghosts are cowed by fire - but fire is what killed his father. It's teen against teen, teen against nature, teen against himself - and teen against ghost in this fast-paced psychological adventure with strong paranormal and historical elements.