Ghost Light by Sara Farizan - ADVISABLE

Ghost Light (The Last Resort #3) by Sara Farizan, 208 pages. Scholastic, SEPTEMBER 2026. $18 

Content: PG (some danger, evil spirits) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Lisa and Teddy are involved with the Founder’s Day play being produced in honor of their town of Castle Hill, even though past plays have said to be cursed. What they don’t know is that one of the original founders, whose name has been erased from history, lingers as a ghost and gets angry whenever he hears the rewritten narrative. Plus, the kids know that the Fire Maiden has not been completely vanquished. They will not only need Rosteen’s help to conquer her for good, but also of Blight Howler, who they originally banished. It is a delicate balance to save not only themselves, but the whole town, too. 

Farizan skillfully picks up where Kelly and Warga left off. She brings humanity back to Rosteen, whom I only saw as a nuisance in book #2. The danger is nicely creepy without going overboard. 

 Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion - OPTIONAL

Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion, 384 pages. Delacorte Press, 2026. $20

Language: R (95 swears, 15 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (Romantic kissing and snuggling, underage drinking); Violence: R (Numerous on-page bloody and gruesome killings, descriptions of corpses, animal in peril, assault).

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Eight girls went missing on a school trip to Hollow Lake National Park. After 46 days, five return leading to many questions and few answers. As Evie and the other remaining “Lost Girls” try to navigate a return home, they are haunted by the three girls they left behind and what they did during their time in the wilderness. Now someone is coming after the survivors and those involved in the tragedy, picking them off one by one. Evie must decide if the only way to survive and protect the ones she loves means a return to the island and the horror it holds.

A paranormal horror that plays out in dual timelines. The overall plot is 

intriguing, but the execution is average. There are too many characters to 

keep track of, which leads to confusion as the reader attempts to keep 

track of who is in danger, who is missing, who is dead, and who is a 

suspect. The supernatural aspect never comfortably sits with the story 

causing a disconnect for the reader.

Reviewer: AEB

Finch House by Ciera Burch - ADVISIBLE

Finch House by Ciera Burch. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2023. $18

Language: G (no swears); Mature Content: G; Violence PG (children in peril)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS-ADVISIBLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

11-year-old Micah goes on a bike ride across town and ends up at Finch House, the crumbling Victorian ruin her Poppop says is off-limits. Much to her surprise, the house is fixed up and there are people living there. If there is the possibility of a new friend, the house can be off-limits anymore, right? The next day, Poppop goes missing and Micah finds herself back at Finch House. Her new friend, Theo, invites her in and Micah soon finds she cannot leave. Then the whispers start and the shadows grow. Micah must convince the house to give her back her Poppop and let them go.

A promising premise soon loses its way with too many plot points and messages to convey. On the surface, it seems like a story about a haunted house. However, this spooky tale rapidly gets dragged down by stories of lost children. Racism, difficult life changes, and friendship. There are too many plot holes and threads that go nowhere. Even though it is aimed at younger readers, they will notice the uneven story-telling and wish for a stronger resolution.

Reviewer: AEB

Haunted U.S.A. by Heather Alexander and Sam Kalda - ADVISABLE

Haunted U.S.A. by Heather Alexander, illustrated by Sam Kalda, 114 pages. NON-FICTION. Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2025 $25 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Haunted U.S.A. is a compilation of ghostly hauntings from all 50 states. The hauntings range from a weeping cemetery statue to marching warriors. 

This book is beautifully illustrated, with appropriately dark colors. Each story is only a page, with a full page illustration to go with it, which makes it very reader friendly. None of the ghost stories are too frightening, and they are a great jump start to researching more, since most of the stories are based on actual people or events. This book is a delightful read and would make a great gift for those who lean toward the supernatural. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer - ADVISABLE

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer, 427 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $15

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody violence and bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Teenager Mallory is a tour guide for the haunted House Saphir, the home of Bastien Le Bleu, a man who murdered several of his wives over a century ago. She’s also a con artist, along with her sister Anais, and together they run their family shop of fake magical treasures. During one of her tours, a young man named Armand, claiming to be a descendant of Le Bleu, asks for Mallory’s help in ridding his family mansion of Le Bleu’s evil ghost. Mallory and Anais are barely scraping by, so she happily takes Armand up on his generous offer to pay her for her assistance, thinking it will be easy money. Mallory soon learns that she’s in over her head and she’s put herself and Anais in danger.

The charming banter between Mallory and Armand is a lot of fun. The spooky setting is a perfect backdrop for the storyline. I enjoyed the mystery and the main characters, Mallory, Armand and Anais.

The ethnicity is mixed and the main characters cue white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Ride or Die by Delilah Dawson - ADVISABLE

Ride or Die by Delilah Dawson, 210 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2025. $18

Content: PG (scares only)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

8th grader Brie has been trying to reinvent herself since her family moved.  She has been invited to the most exclusive birthday party and if she can get in with the school’s mean queen she has it made.  Instead, she finds herself the target of bullying and intimidation and is locked behind a walled off section of the amusement park.  A place rumored to be haunted since the deaths of a group of young park goers years ago. Brie runs into some other kids inside the park - and danger.

Dawson knows her middle grade horror. She ramps up the danger and the tension without being gross or bloody. I’ll happily add this to a horror display and recommend it. 

The characters are white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy - OPTIONAL

Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy, 336 pages. Harper Collins, 2025. $23

Language: R (100+ swears, 15 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

When their dream summer internship implodes on the day they were supposed to be leaving their po-dunk town, 18yo Sully is devastated.  As the most out and proud gay person in Hearst, the other being Brad, or “Bread” as Sully prefers to call him, Sully has been proudly waving the queer flag. To console himself he buys a rare and valuable bag at the local thrift store - which comes complete with a ghost. Rufus, the ghost, also grew up in Hearst as a gay man in the 1950’s.  He has no idea how he became tied to the beautiful bag. As Brad drives Sully around town investigating the mystery, Sully begins to learn more about his nemesis and about the secrets hiding in his own town.

Fans of Murphy will probably love the chaos that Sully brings to the page.  I do love how the author’s used Rufus’s history to highlight history and challenges of being gay in the 1950’s. Whether student readers will appreciate the history - I don’t know.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

 

The Phantom Academy by Christine Virnig - ADVISABLE

The Phantom Academy by Christine Virnig, 261 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $20. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Finn is dead. When he reaches the fork in the road, he chooses the lonely path through the woods and finds himself at the Phantom Academy - a school for new ghosts to learn how to navigate the afterlife. Finn is desperate to get back to his family.  When he learns that most ghosts hang out on the not-dead side, Finn convinces some of his classmates to help find the way.

Sometimes it is nice to have a ghost story that isn’t about the scares and hauntings. Virnig brings another dimension to afterlife stories and I hope she will explore further.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The House Next Door by Ellen Oh - ESSENTIAL

The House Next Door by Ellen Oh, 192 pages. HarperCollins, SEPTEMBER 2025. $19

Content: PG (fighting against  evil supernatural creatures)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Something bad lives in the house next door to 12yo Rory - something that hurt his friend Joey years ago. Admonished and guided by his Japanese grandfather, Rory has never stepped foot in that house again - and anyone who does move in, moves out fast! Then 12yo Jack and his little sister Mina move in and Rory feels compelled to help them avoid the fate of the others. With the help of the ghosts of Hazel and her brother Timothy, they may just have a chance.

Ellen Oh has given us a well-crafted, intense ghost story with hardy and creative characters. I love the page count - at under 200 pages, you can get a lot of readers. The Japanese (Rory) and Korean (Jack) cultures are well-represented, not just thrown in. But I wouldn’t expect less from Oh. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

AJ Torres and the Treasure of Captain Grayshark by Jose Pablo Iriarte - ESSENTIAL

AJ Torres and the Treasure of Captain Grayshark by Jose Pablo Iriarte, 190 pages. Random House, 2025. $18

Content: G (ghost pirates arguing)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

11yo AJ and his best friend Jayden have found a mysterious gold coin washed up on their Florida beach. Could this be part of the rumored treasure of Captain Grayshark? AJ hopes it si and that they can find the rest, because his parent’s diving business isn’t doing so well and Jayden’ may be moving because his mother has lost her job because of the economy. When the ghost of the actual Captain Grayshark also shows up in pursuit of his treasure, the boys enlist Andrea’s help - she is their own age and considers herself a ghost expert.

What a fun adventure! Amongst all of the pirates, ghosts, and treasure hunting, AJ and Jayden have a some very honest moments, where AJ learns that Jayden’s life is not about making AJ happy - a hard life lesson, but very well rendered. I haven’t read the companion novel, Benny Ramirez and the Nearly Departed, but I didn’t need to. Now I am looking forward to, I hope, more Iriarte ghost novels!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly - ADVISABLE

The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly, 240 pages. Scholastic, SEPTEMBER 2025. $18

Content: G (mild danger, threats)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Lila’s life has been uprooted. The grandpa she never met has died and her family has relocated to Grandpa Clem’s Castle Inn to get it ready to sell.  But something happens on the way there and now Lila can see ghosts? Teddy, the next door neighbor, and Caleb, Lila’s little brother, are there to help her figure out what’s going on - especially after Clem contacts her and tells Lila that he was murdered!

Great cover that should draw some kids in. The drama gets quite tense when the kids get close to the final answers they need - with the whole final being very satisfying.  While I was annoyed by Lila’s tentativeness early on, she grew nicely. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga - ADVISABLE

A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga, 224 pages. HarperCollins, 2024. $20.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

11yo Rami is having a rough 6th grade year. His friend group has kicked him off their lunch table, telling him he's weird, and he's feeling like he doesn't fit in anywhere. But when a painting is stolen from the museum, and his mother is considered one of the suspects, Rami rekindles a friendship with Veda, a girl from school who is obsessed with True Crime. Oh, there's also a ghost in the museum that only Veda and 

Remi can see, and she may be the key to solving the crime and clearing Rami's mom's name. 

Rami is a worrying kind of kid, but he sure makes some bad decisions when he's with Veda. The trouble adds to the story though so I'm not complaining. A fun mystery with a lot of suspects - not just Rami's mom. Rami's family is from Lebanon, Veda's is from India. 

Lisa Librarian  

The House Next Door by Ellen Oh - ADVISABLE

The House Next Door by Ellen Oh, 192 pages. HarperCollins, September 2025. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (the children are clawed, and there is talk of eating the youngest, the monster battle is intense, and the kids do have to kill things.) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Rory lives next door to a haunted house. Years ago his best friend Joey was seriously injured when he fell down the stairs in the house and his family eventually moved. Now Rory sees ghosts walking around inside, and sinister eyes watching him. His grandfather came for a visit from Japan and showed Rory how to spray holy water around the house to protect himself. Now, a new boy, Jack, and his sister Mira have moved in. Jack doesn't believe in ghosts, but Rory knows someone needs to protect Mira, and he knows just what to do 

First of all, Ellen Oh must be a connoisseur of fine Japanese and Korean food because all the dishes sound fantastic and now I'm craving Korean Fried Chicken. With more adults than kids in the story, I had a lot of names to keep track of, and the main job of the adults seemed to be to cook all the food. Jack is smart, and had some great ideas on defeating what was in the house. Good build as well to the final battle. Keeping some salt near me for the next few nights just in case. Jack and his family are Korean, Rory is Japanese. 

Lisa Librarian 

Spirit Service by Sarena and Sasha Nanua - OPTIONAL

Spirit Service by Sarena and Sasha Nanua, 320 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2025. $18 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

7th grader Raveena wants to save her school’s art program, but she and her three BFFs are having a hard time coming up with a service project to help them win a school-wide contest, which would restore funding to a couple of programs. At a local antiques store, Raveena is literally shocked by a pink rotary phone, which then rings, and the voice on the other end turns out to be an actual ghost. The girls may have the edge they need - help spirits pass on, make money, and win the contest. 

 The four girls on the cover look multi-cultural, but that’s about the extent of their culture. The town they live in is founded by and embraces spiritualism, so that isn’t a big leap for them. I like the reviewers that compare the book to Babysitters Club meets Ghostbusters. Nothing earth-shattering here to read, but reasonably enjoyable. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Hungry Bones by Louise Hung - ADVISABLE

Hungry Bones by Louise Hung, 328 pages. Scholastic, 2024. $20. 

Content: G (ghost present, but not the death and destruction indicated on the cover)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

13yo Molly has been getting “the zaps” since she was a little girl. “The zaps” meant that she could read bits of history in objects and feel ghostly presences. She and her mother have moved around the country, leaving when people start looking at Molly with suspicion. Their latest move is to her mother’s home town - unfortunately their home has  a resident ghost - Jade. Jade has been dead for over 100 years, and she needs human food to stay sane - or she turns into a hungry ghost - an evil spirit. Though Molly ignores Jade at first, Molly gets drawn into Jade’s story and decides she will do what she can to help her.

Jade’s story is not as evil as the cover would indicate. Besides the ghost story, Hung touches on the Chinese after life, reconciling with family, and getting a parent to listen to a child who deserves a voice and answers. Also includes information about how the Chinese were treated in the American West during and after the joining of the Transcontinental Railroad. I do think 50-75 pages could be trimmed from the story, which would make this more appealing to a wider variety of readers. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Exit Nowhere by Juliana Brandt - ADVISABLE

Exit Nowhere by Juliana Brandt, 309 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2024. $18.

Content: G (ghosts, mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Since her best friend deserted her, Barret Eloise has become withdrawn from the school social scene - only surfacing to answer every teachers’ questions correctly to show off her one skill.  Forced into a group project with sadi former best friend, the school sport star, and the also smart Wayne, the quartet decide to investigate the Rathfield Manor - the local haunted house, where it is said people disappear. Now they are locked inside and tormented by the ghost of a young boy, who dares them to try to win his games. 

Brandt gives us a good game-based ghost story, but adds depth with Barrett Eloise’s insecurities, while also giving her the tools she needs to grow more depth.  Also, the solution to the haunting problem is its own layer - not just an evil spirit out to kill everyone. In fact, I am very impressed by other small details that Brandt nurtures into the overall story.

The characters are white, with one African American. One character has two dads.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong - OPTIONAL

The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong, 240 pages. Simon , 2024. $18

Content: PG (talk of evil spirits)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Wednesday and her mom have moved to Arizona to the house that Mom grew-up in. Ever since Wednesday had a run-in with an evil spirit, she and her mom realized that they need the safety of the family home, which is protected by a spirit from the family who built the house. Wednesday falls in with Miki and Danni-Lynn, two girls who believe in ghosts, but can’t see them. They convince Wednesday to act as their medium to contact their friend Violet who passed away almost a year ago - and who they know is still in her old house. 

Lots of talks of ghosts and evil spirits.  Wednesday’s family has inherited ghost powers, so they know what can happen.  The girls as a group are kind of pushy to Wednesday and their club seems annoyingly formal (though remember having a similar, not ghost related club, at the same age, but ours feel apart as a club pretty fast). Anyway. A little spooky, a little girl drama. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith - OPTIONAL

Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith, 367 pages. Delacorte Press (Random), 2024. $20

Language: R (23 swears, 30 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Sex is off the page, but a lot of talk about it); Violence: PG (Fighting, death and paranormal activity)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

This story follows Meg, a 16yo who joins her old friends for a Halloween weekend at a crumbling estate full of secrets, tension and eerie local legends.  Things start to get weird fast.  The townspeople say there is a haunted lake, Meg has some disturbing visions, and her chilling past refuses to stay buried.  The twin siblings, Lottie and Seb, are rich, intense and totally unpredictable, keeping both Meg and readers guessing.  As friendships crack and the supernatural creeps in, the line between what is real and imagined starts to blur.  It is suspenseful, mysterious and full of drama in the best ways.  This book is perfect for fans of ghost stories, elite schools, and slow-burn thrillers that mess with your head.

My favorite part about this book was the setting, with the crumbling mansion, creepy woods and an eerie lake.  It was a little bit of a slow start but as the tension built between characters and the supernatural, I was hooked. I liked the dynamic between Meg, Lottie and Seb.  I just couldn't decide who was deceiving who, and I was a little frustrated with Meg's passive behaviors.  If you are wanting a fast-paced horror with a lot of twists, you may be disappointed.  But if you are up for a gothic, moody story with unsettling secrets, you will enjoy this book.

The characters in this story are all assumed to be white.  This book focuses more on class than ethnicity.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

I Will Never Leave You by Kara A. Kennedy - OPTIONAL

I Will Never Leave You by Kara A. Kennedy, 343 pages. Delacorte Press (RandomHouse), 2024. $20

Language: R (17 swears, 19 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Lesbian relationship, drinking); Violence: PG-13 (death, verbal abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Maya finally decides to end her toxic relationship with her manipulative girlfriend, Alana, during a hike in California's Antelope Valley.  Soon after, Alana goes missing and Maya becomes the prime suspect while battling guilt over what happened.  But when Alana's ghost begins haunting her, Maya realizes their connection is far from over.  The vengeful spirit demands Maya's help in possessing their friend Rowan, or face terrifying consequences.  As Maya fights to break free from Alana's grip, she must confront the lingering effects of abuse and trauma.  

Kennedy explores love, control and the struggle to reclaim one's identity. This book was very frustrating and compelling to read.  Maya and Alana's relationship was extremely toxic, and it was frustrating to see Maya remain trapped in Alana's influence, even after her death. The novel definitely portrays the type of relationship to avoid. I really enjoyed the supernatural elements as well as the bond Maya eventually develops with her sister. The mystery kept me engaged and the twist at the end genuinely caught me by surprise.

The characters in this book are white.

Jessica Nelson Librarian

I.R.L. by Jenny Goebel - ADVISABLE

I.R.L. by Jenny Goebel, 176 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $15

Content: G (tense with mild danger, ghosts)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Lucy moved to Alaska with her scientist mother in October and has been doing online school with her classmates, because of the icy, snowy danger. When school is supposed to be IRL, (in-person), all she finds is a burnt out husk of a building.  What is going on?  Then she stumbles upon the graveyard - each tombstone bearing the name of one of her classmates. Something sinister happens and something sinister wants Lucy! 

A nicely tense horror book with a believable (usually) plot - I loved the idea of ghosts using Zoom to go to school. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS