I did not expect to like this book as much as I did! Horror is a tough genre for Middle Grade. Kids LOVE scary books, but it can be tough to strike the right balance between being age appropriate and just being hokey. This book finds that sweet spot while also telling a great story with a focus on family and overcoming limits set by yourself and others. 

 

Celeste is spending a week at her grandparents’ lake house with her brother and cousins, and of course creepy things start happening to her and then to her cousins. While Celeste is genuinely freaked out by everything, her family thinks she is just playing pranks on them and won’t take her seriously. As the week goes on, these incidents become more and more common as well as more and more extreme. The kids learn about a great aunt who passed away as a child and looked exactly like Celeste and begin to worry that she is haunting the family. 

 

This book is more than just a good ghost story. It explores family dynamics, the ripple effects of historical racism and segregation, and being honest with yourself and others about your fears. In fact, fear is a main theme of this book, but not just fear of the ghost. Each cousin has something they’re afraid of, and these details will make the book relatable to young readers. Kiddos who get scared easily should probably avoid this title (it is legitimately creepy!), but readers ready for some frights will love it. Grade 4+