Hi friends, it’s October already and Halloween is not that far away!! In the corner of Auckland where I live, the neighbourhood goes all out in their spooky decorations. If you and your tween are into spooky stories of the ghostly variety, then the booklist below should have a good selection for you!! Delve slowly and carefully below… the layers of the supernatural await you…
This first read, Spooked: The Haunting of Kit Connelly by Paul Bryers (Hodder Children’s Books, 2013) gives a ghost story with a bit of a difference. We meet eleven-year-old Kit Connelly who has been saved from certain death by a ghost. A ghost who looks a lot like a teenage version of herself. Believing that she has very little time left to make her mark, Kit decided to do something life-changing, not realizing that her plan to save the world is about to take her on a nightmare journey. Despite the goosebumps I got half the time as I read this, I actually enjoyed the realistic view Paul Bryers has given us of Kit’s life. The way he untangled everything and explained it towards the end was done quite well. There are some themes that might be a bit mature for young readers but overall the story was a good one. If it’s all about ghosts… I’ll let you decide!!
A curious tale of the in-between by Laura DeStefano (Bloomsbury, 2015) takes readers into the life of orphan Pram Bellamy who has always been able to see the two worlds around her: that of the living and the dead. But here’s the thing; she prefers the company of the ghosts that only she can see, especially that of her best friend, Felix. Then Pram meets Clarence, a boy from school who has also lost a parent and is looking for answers. Together they arrive at the door of the mysterious Lady Savant, who may be able to see ghosts, too… and who promises to help them. But this spiritualist knows the true nature of Pram’s power, and what she has planned is more terrifying than any ghost. This was definitely an intriguing ghost story!! Highly descriptive and engaging, we have a story of friendship along with that of those family bonds. And one with ghosts!! I found myself enjoying the characters and trying my hardest not to read this at night!!
The next two titles, Ways to see a ghost (Templar Publishing, 2013) and Voices in stone (Templar Publishing, 2015) by Emily Diamond are about a particular young twelve-year-old girl Isis, the daughter of a fake psychic. In the first story she has to protect a loved one from a terrifying creature that has emerged from a dark place that even the spirits fear. We’re treated to a spooky but interesting tale of ghosts and the supernatural!! Told in two unique voices, the story unfolds from Isis’ narrative and Gray’s interview. Both narratives give a colorful narrative and eerie mix to the storyline. In the sequel, Isis and her friend Gray encounter frightening apparitions when a school trip takes a turn into the paranormal! With the powerful Organization trying to keep the answers secret, Isis will need all the help she can get – from the living and the dead – to uncover the astonishing truth. This sequel takes the pair of friends into a more dangerous adventure filled with more ghosts and suspense. Other than the hilarious seances in school and their parents’ relationship, what I liked the most from this story is the way the kids’ relationship grows. Both these were great reads if you like a good scare!!
In this next title, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill by Eva Frantz (Pushkin Press, 2018) we are transported into a gothic mystery set somewhere in the wilds of Finland. Twelve-year-old Stina is sent to be treated at Raspberry Hill Sanitorium, hidden deep in the forest. But as Stina explores the long, eerie corridors of her new home, she senses it is hiding a dark secret. Determined to solve the mystery, she edges closer to the truth – and soon finds herself in terrible danger. Set in the wilds of Finland during the late 1920s, this little tale sure did give me goosebumps. Stina’s voice is unique and gives us a sense of her unwavering hope that life will get better for her. I enjoyed the historical setting and allure of mystery this gave me. I found that Frantz has crafted an engaging tale of suspense and mystery with a great cast of characters in this read, even if I did read most of it during the day!!
The last story, The Painting by Charis Cotter (Tundra Books, 2017) takes us all the way to the coast of Newfoundland where we meet a cast of intriguing characters. Annie and her mother are always at odds since her mother needs order while Annie loves her art and daydreaming. When Annie finds a painting of a lonely lighthouse, she is immediately drawn to it. Then Annie’s mother slips into a coma following a car accident, and strange things begin to happen. Annie finds herself falling into the painting, where she meets Claire; a girl her own age living at the lighthouse. Claire’s mother, Maisie, is the artist behind the painting, and she and Claire have a difficult relationship. Struggling to understand the deep and mysterious connection she has with Claire, Annie finds herself missing her own mother and wonders what she’s gotten herself into!! This engaging and eerie story of ghosts and family was equal parts gripping and captivating. I loved all of the characters. The details of the Newfoundland landscape were quite exquisite and vivid in description. I felt Annie’s sadness quite deeply and was somewhat happy with the ending. Although not entirely a ghost story, it had an odd twist to your traditional time-slip novel.
I hope you enjoyed these spooky stories I’ve selected here for you. If you and tween have read any others, I’d love to hear from you!!
Stay safe and keep reading
Miss Mahee
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 