SEVEN GHOSTS

Young finalists in a ghost story contest get a special tour of a haunted house.

Grimstone Hall was once an ancient English manor; now it’s a conference center, hotel, and venue for writing festivals. Jake and the other writing finalists are invited to tour the grounds to draw inspiration for a story they’ll each write about Grimstone. They explore, led by their guide, Mrs. Fox, who tells them stories of six children who died grisly deaths throughout the manor’s history. Jake seems to be the only one who notices strange occurrences—a puddle here, a silent, pale girl there. He assumes Grimstone’s employees are attempting to make the ghosts seem real, but the tale of the seventh ghost may hold the answers. Though short in length, this title packs a morbid punch with each child’s violent death (by gunshot, freezing, burning) and ends on a hair-raisingly creepy note. While the brevity of the ghost stories keeps the deaths from being handled with much depth, middle-grade readers will be hooked by the twists and turns (many of the tales involve dark and intriguing misdeeds). Sketchy illustrations sprinkled throughout add visual interest and are fittingly unsettling. Characters’ races and ethnicities are not specified, though many are described as being pale.

A quick, compelling read perfectly suited to its target audience.