The Secret of Midway by Steve Watkins - ESSENTIAL

Watkins, Steve The Secret of Midway (Ghosts of War), 208 p. Scholastic, Inc, 2015.  Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some bullying).

Sixth grader Anderson and his friend Greg want to start a band and his Uncle Dex will let them use a room in his antique store’s basement.  Cleaning out the room, however, Anderson finds a great old trunk with an old Navy peacoat with an unmanned letter in the pocket - and it seems he has also picked up a ghost - the ghost of the sailor who used to wear the coat.  Anderson, Greg and the new band member Julie will have to help solve the ghost’s mystery before it become too late for him in any dimension.

While the action is centered around a ghost and the kids’ band, Watson display solid history skills and a great ear for plotting an excellent mystery.  The combination here of history and mystery is dynamic and engrossing.  The action is revealed a little at a time in just the right doses.  The kids’ school and home lives also read just right for their ages.  I am looking forward to the next book in the series with eagerness. 

EL, MS - ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS