Ghost Girl

Living with her older sister while their father looks for work, 11-year-old Zee Puckett loves exploring her sleepy mountain town’s graveyard and telling scary stories, especially to her best (and only) friend, Elijah. When Zee encounters a ghost on a school library trip, mean girl Nellie begins calling her "Ghost Girl," a name that becomes even more apropos when Zee realizes that she can see and talk to specters, just like her late mother could. A particularly cruel run-in with Nellie leads to a physical fight that attracts the attention of their school’s new arrival, Principal Scratch, a sinister, pale-skinned man attired in all black who wears a single red glove. After Scratch visits the homes of Elijah, Nellie, and Zee, encouraging each to visualize "what you desire most," the trio finds themselves targeted by terrifying, otherworldly dogs, amid other strange occurrences. Briefly raising themes of body positivity and feminism, debut author Malinenko writes an atmospheric tale that is rife with chilling moments and an affecting exploration of grief, but underdeveloped characters and a swift, tidy ending lessen its impact. Zee and Nellie are white; Elijah is Black. Ages 8-12. Agent: Rena Rossner, the Deborah Harris Agency. 

Copyright 2021 Publisher’s Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 3-7-Zee Puckett, who is white, loves to tell scary stories. After a stormy night, she convinces her best friend Elijah, a young Black boy, to go with her to explore the cemetery and listen to her latest tale. While there, they discover that more has blown into town with the storm than a few branches. They are chased by hounds that talk and have blood dripping from their eyes. Their new principal Mr. Scratch seems to know too much about people's darkest fears. And Zee has the ability to see ghosts, just like her late mother did. Principal Scratch somehow convinces the townspeople to visualize what they really want in life. When these things come to pass, Zee, Elijah, and Zee's bully Nellie are the only ones who recognize that they are illusions and the people are worse off, not better. The three understand that Principal Scratch is very dangerous, and stopping him is a matter of life and death. Zee is a likable character, and readers will root for her. There are some moments of symbolism that are never explained, which could cause some confusion but most likely will just add to the fright. This is not for young readers who say they want a scary story but actually mean they want suspense or an adrenaline rush with a ghost or two. VERDICT This is a chilling story that will delight upper elementary readers who enjoy truly creepy books.

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Ghost Girl is a grand buffet for any lover of spooky tales. Within its pages you'll find a misty graveyard, creepy hounds, terrifying spirits, moonlit chases—and a silver-tongued villain who will send chills down your spine. At the center of it all is a winning protagonist and a heartfelt message about staying true to yourself and the power of friendship. Read it with a cup of hot cocoa on a dark and stormy night!" —J. A. White, author of Nightbooks and the Shadow School series