TAXI GHOST by Sophie Escabase

 

Taxi Ghost by Sophie Escabase

Graphic Novel, Ghosts, Girls Coming-of-Age, Family

211 pages; 2024

Description

Publishers Weekly (June 10, 2024)

Escabasse (the Witches of Brooklyn series) suffuses this graphic novel tale of typical tween angst with a magical realism twist. Young Adèle is overwhelmed enough dealing with acne, awkwardness, and the start of her first period. But with her maturation comes an additional wrinkle: Adèle can now see ghosts. Over winter break, which she had hoped would be quiet and uneventful, Adèle meets a ghost hacker and persistent gentleman, whom she dubs Mustache Ghost. Her new acquaintance reveals that he belongs to a spectral club aiming to protect Montreal against ruthless developers- a principle that Adèle’s living grandmother also champions-and embroils Adèle in his plight. Adèle’s sarcastic yet kindhearted narration renders her struggles to balance her new abilities and the everyday challenges of growing up with perceptive relatability. Ghost characters are easily distinguishable in Escabasse’s expressive artwork, which depicts them in a soft palette of pinks and greens and adds a touch of surreality to the grounded metropolitan setting. In this empowering and fanciful ghost story, the creator tackles issues such as gentrification, the afterlife, and cultural traditions surrounding menstruation. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

My Comments

Early teen girls may like this. The plot is a bit forced for me, but the artwork is expressive and fits the storyline. Cute.

WHAT STAYS BURIED by Suzanne Young

 

What Stays Buried by Suzanne Young

Horror, Ghosts, Missing Children

2023; 264 pages

Description

School Library Journal Xpress (September 29, 2023)

Gr 6 Up-Calista Wynn sees dead people. But she won't much longer. Once she turns 13 (in a week), her ability to communicate with ghosts will disappear. In this middle grade debut, Calista must rush to use her powers to save the disappearing children in her town of Meadowmere, NY, before it's too late. Calista comes from a long line of mediums who can speak to ghosts but lose their powers on their 13th birthdays. With the help of the ghosts of her father and grandmother, Calista works to stop Edwina Swift, the evil "Tall Woman" who has taken numerous children, including Calista's sister Molly, to make herself more powerful. Young's suspenseful novel is dark; with seances, curses, mediums, and possessions, some readers may find aspects of the book terrifying. Yet, the novel also shows strong family bonds across generations and worlds, while overarching themes of the power of love, family, and friendship make this a solid entry into horror for adventurous readers. VERDICT Those with an interest in the occult will enjoy this book for the well-developed protagonist and solid plotting.-Rebekah J. Buchanan © Copyright 2023. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments

Another scary book! Seances (summoning and speaking to the dead), the occult, and a wicked witch who is stealing children's souls. The scary stuff is softened by strong family bonds and the value of caring about others. Good prevails in the end!

WHISPERING PINES by Heidi Lang

Whispering Pines by Heidi Lang & Katie Bartkowski

Trilogy/Book 1

Horror, Mystery, Supernatural

2020; 312 pages

Description

Booklist starred (August 2020 (Vol. 116, No. 22))

Grades 5-8. After her dad’s mysterious disappearance, Rae moves to Whispering Pines, Connecticut, with her sister and mom, who have seemingly forgotten about him. Rae, unable to forget, is certain something unusual led to his disappearance. She quickly learns that Whispering Pines is filled with strange happenings—disappearing children, random sinkholes, weird school rules. Some of the missing kids are eventually found in an even more frightful way: with their eyes missing. Rae befriends neighbor Caden, whose loneliness stems from his family’s supernatural business, and the pair investigate the occurrences in town and in the Watchful Woods nearby. As Caden and Rae uncover strange truths, they realize the bizarre events may be linked to a local energy company and the disappearance of Caden’s brother. Readers will feel chills from the prologue onward as they’re pulled into the darkness of Whispering Pines. Chapters alternate between Rae’s and Caden’s points of view, slowly unraveling each character’s mysterious past. Caden and Rae are both believable protagonists, admirable for the actions they take and the worries they carry, and readers will enjoy meeting the vast array of interesting side characters as well—and have to decide which ones to trust and which ones to suspect. A thrilling novel perfect for fans of Stranger Things and stories filled with mystery and suspense.

My Comments

Super scary. Ask your students, "How scary do you want?" That said, it's a great page turner, nail biter.

THE LAST HEIR TO BLACKWOOD LIBRARY by Hester Fox

 

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

Mystery, Ghosts, Gothic, Romance
Grade 8 and up

2023; 331 pages

Description

"With the stroke of a pen, twenty-three-year-old Ivy Radcliffe becomes Lady Hayworth, owner of a sprawling estate on the Yorkshire moors. Ivy has never heard of Blackwood Abbey, or of the ancient bloodline from which she's descended. With nothing to keep her in London since losing her brother in the Great War, she warily makes her way to her new home. The abbey is foreboding, the servants reserved and suspicious. But there is a treasure waiting behind locked doors: a magnificent library. Despite cryptic warnings from the staff, Ivy feels irresistibly drawn to its dusty shelves, where familiar works mingle with strange, esoteric texts. And she senses something else in the library too, a presence that seems to have a will of its own. Rumors swirl in the village about the abbey's previous owners, about ghosts and curses, and an enigmatic manuscript at the center of it all. And as events grow more sinister, it will be up to Ivy to uncover the library's mysteries in order to reclaim her own story--before it vanishes forever"--Provided by publisher.

My Comments

A great, shivery, gothic, romantic story. Highly recommended for a fun high school read.

THE SCREAMING STAIRCASE (LOCKWOOD & CO. BK #1) by Jonathan Stroud

 

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Lockwood

Horror, Ghosts, Supernatural

390 pages

Description

School Library Journal (September 1, 2013)

Gr 6-9-Lucy Carlyle relates the exploits of the teenage ghost-hunting agency, Lockwood & Co. The world is still reeling from an infestation of malevolent, deadly ghosts that can only be detected by Talented youngsters with rare psychic sensitivities. Anthony Lockwood heads his three-person team, including Lucy and George Cubbins, in their efforts to defeat the evil spirits-and remain solvent. A minor haunting that turns into a major problem leads Lockwood & Co. to a brooding mansion that has already claimed the lives of more experienced ghost hunters. Combe Carey Hall is "the most haunted private house in England. an ugly oppressive mongrel of a building," and the trio quickly realizes that the dangers they face have human as well as supernatural sources. Authentically spooky events occur in an engagingly crafted, believable world, populated by distinct, colorful personalities. The genuinely likable members of Lockwood & Co. persevere through the evil machinations of the living and the dead and manage to come out with their skins, and their senses of humor, intact. This smart, fast-paced ghostly adventure promises future chills.-Janice M. Del Negro, GSLIS Dominican University, River Forest, IL (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

My Comments

Fast paced, witty, scary (but just enough)!

GALLANT by V.E. Schwab

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

Horror, Gothic

338 pages

Description

Kirkus Reviews starred (January 1, 2022)
Seeking a place to call home, Olivia uncovers long-buried secrets after arriving at Gallant. Olivia Prior has always hoped for a place to belong and a family that cares for her. Instead, she’s isolated at Merilance School for Independent Girls, with its strict matrons, shunned by students who ostracize and torment her for being mute. Olivia uses sign language, taught to her by a now-departed matron (although nobody else signs); treasures the journal belonging to the mother she doesn’t remember; and can see ghouls. When she receives a letter from her uncle, Arthur Prior, inviting her to live at his manor, Olivia leaps at the chance. However, instead of the big, welcoming family she imagined, the opulent yet run-down Gallant only holds Matthew, her irritable cousin, and kindly caretakers Hannah and Edgar. Olivia unravels the ominous secrets of both her family and the house, where ghouls lurk around every corner and the dilapidated garden gate calls to her. The evolving relationships between Olivia and her found family shine, and themes of freedom, the self, and belonging are well depicted. The gripping writing and effective incorporation of horror elements, including haunting, inky artwork, are satisfyingly spine-tingling. Olivia’s use of sign language and her artistic talents, part of the exploration of the importance of communication, are skillfully incorporated into the overall story. Olivia and the main cast are White. Will hook readers with its gripping worldbuilding, well-rounded characters, and fantastic horror. (Fantasy. 12-adult)

My Comments
A little scary, but a great read with a positive ending - whew! Give to better readers who like a bit of a challenge.

 

SCARY BOOKS! Mary Downing Hahn

Ghosts and Mysteries!

Mary Downing Hahn is the queen of downright scary...but just perfect for middle school. Always a winner. Can't keep her on the shelf so we keep her books stocked! Check out our library catalog to see the list of her books, or just go to Hahn in the middle school section of the library.

https://follett.eastchester.k12.ny.us/

GILDA JOYCE PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR: A Mystery by Jennifer Allison

Ghosts, Humor, Suicide, Families, Friendship, Mysteries and Detective Stories

321 pages.

Description

"Seeing an opportunity to use her psychic abilities, Gilda Joyce invites herself to San Francisco, where she visits her uncle and cousin, Juliet, communicates with the ghost in their old Victorian house, and learns family secrets." (Follett)

From the Publisher

"Ever since her father died, quirky Gilda Joyce has been working hard to sharpen her psychic skills. She's determined to communicate with spirits from the Other Side and become a crack investigator of spooky, twisted mysteries. After wrangling an invitation to visit relatives in San Francisco, Gilda discovers that her dreary, tight-lipped uncle and his strange, delicate daughter need her help to uncover the terrible family secret that has a tortured ghost stalking their home. From poignant to hair-raising and hilarious, this is a behind-the-scenes, tell-all account of the very first case in the illustrious career of Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator."

My Comments

I was surprised by the serious threads of death and suicide in this otherwise humorous book. Allison deftly addresses grief and loneliness in a quirky, funny girl. It is not a difficult read for middle school. Good to know, however, the issues it addresses. Well done.

ANYA'S GHOST by Vera Broshgol

Graphic Novel, Ghosts, Friendship

From the publisher:

"Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn't kidding about the "Forever" part . . .

Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who's been dead for a century.

Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya's normal life might actually be worse. She's embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she's pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend--even a ghost--is just what she needs.

Or so she thinks.
Spooky, sardonic, and secretly sincere,Anya's Ghostis a wonderfully entertaining debut from author/artist Vera Brosgol.

This title has Common Core connections.

Anya's Ghost is a 2011Kirkus Best Teen Books of the Year title.
One ofSchool Library Journal's Best Fiction Books of 2011.
One ofHorn Book's Best Fiction Books of 2011.
Winner of the 2012 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Young Adults (Ages 12-17)"

My Comments

Quick page-turner. Lessons about confidence, kindness, family, and love. A little mature so gauge your reader;  Anya has a habit of sneaking out of school to smoke cigarettes and cuts classes, and there are a few relationship incidents, but nothing beyond that. Overall, excellent! Highly recommended.

ZERO TO HERO by Henry Winkler

Fantasy, Ghosts, Bullies

170 pages, 2012

A short, fun story that empathizes with the challenges of middle school social complexities.

"Billy Broccoli is new to the neighborhood, and wants cool friends and a spot on the baseball team more than anything. But the one thing he never wanted is his own personal ghost. So imagine his surprise when he ends up sharing a room with Hoover Porterhouse, a funny ghost with a whole lot of attitude.
When an obnoxious school bully sets out to demolish Billy, the Hoove comes up with a plan for revenge. It’s all in the Hoove's Rule Number Forty-Two: Stay cool. And like it or not, Billy and the Hoove have to stick together if Billy ever wants to get in style, get even, and conquer the school." - from the publisher

SWEET MISS HONEYWELL'S REVENGE by Kathryn Reiss

Ghosts Fiction, Dollhouses Fiction, Families, Divorce, Friendship
435 pages
Grades 5-8
2004

"Zibby Thorne doesn't know what possessed her to buy an antique dollhouse--she doesn't even like dolls. But when her friends and family start having bizarre accidents clearly connected to the dollhouse, she can't ignore the menacing structure any longer.

Zibby is sure that one particularly creepy doll in a gray dress is somehow responsible for the trouble. She discovers the doll is controlled by the spirit of "sweet" Miss Honeywell, a vengeful governess who seeks to control Zibby and her friends from beyond the grave. They must find a way to stop Miss Honeywell before her wrath becomes deadly."

---The Publisher

A 'fun-scary' book that encompasses the difficulty of divorce and family love. A little long in the middle, but picks up and finishes with a satisfying ending.