Ghost Books

Happy almost-Halloween! I hope you enjoy these eight middle grade ghost books to celebrate spooky season 👻 These books explore magic, family history, grief, and culture in beautiful and paranormal ways...

 

Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland

Ophelia's life is in turmoil. She and her mother are uprooted from their happy life in Georgia when a horrible act of racism takes her father away from her. Now it's no longer safe to stay in Georgia, so Ophie and her mother have to move to Pittsburgh, the steel city, to find work and lodging with relatives.

But as she enters Pittsburgh, Ophie learns that she has a special power. She can see ghosts.

Keeping this secret from her mother is hard, especially since Daffodil Manor, the mansion where Ophie and her mother have found work serving a wealthy white family, is filled to the brim with ghosts. These ghosts, and one of them in particular, are waiting on earth for their purpose to be fulfilled. And they think it's Ophie's duty to help them.

One thing that I love about a lot of the books on this list is that they put BIPOC characters in a fantasy or surreal setting, which is unfortunately still relatively rare; this book in particular touches on important Black history and ties in the fantastical elements very well.

 

The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf

Suraya is delighted when her dead grandmother's pelesit becomes her first friend. Pink, as she names the ghost, is equally content with Suraya, who is the first person he has ever cared for. For many years, Suraya and Pink are inseparable...but Suraya still longs for human friends, as other children always try their best to avoid her.

When Suraya starts at a new school and meets Jing, Pink is happy for her...at first. However, his pride soon turns into envy, and then to malice, as Suraya spends more and more time with Jing. Suraya and Pink must learn to control Pink's dark side before it's too late.

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year! Suraya and Pink’s friendship is very complex and well-developed, and the author really makes you love the characters. I also love the setting: I’ve never read a book set in Malaysia, so that perspective was really fun to read.

 

 

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

When Catrina's family moves to the spooky seaside town Bahía de la Luna, she's positive that she's going to hate it. Cat's little sister Maya has cystic fibrosis and the sea air will benefit her lungs, so Cat sucks it up and stays quiet. When Cat and Maya meet their neighbor, Carlos, they discover that there is something weird about their town: there are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is elated, but Cat's doubtful. This isn't something she wants anything to do with, but she's going to have to cope with it--for her sister's sake.

This is definitely one of my comfort books; Raina Telgemeier’s illustrations are cheerful and really make you live in the scenery. The story is very cute and cozy and it’s the perfect book to curl up with on an autumn night.

 

Séance Tea Party by Reimena Yee

Lora is determined not to let go of her imagination. Her friends seem to be drifting away, becoming more interested in sports, fashion, and other things that Lora has no need for. When Lora's séance tea party brings her to discover Alexa, a ghost haunting her house, the two girls--one alive and one dead--become fast friends. But what happens when Lora starts to change--and Alexa can't?

I really loved this book. It has a touching message about the pains of growing up, and the author uses the ghost to put this theme into perspective. 

 

Sheets by Brenna Thummler

Marjorie Glatt lives and works in her family’s laundromat, doing most of the work while her depressed father copes with her mother’s death. Some days she feels like a ghost--at school, where she sits alone, and at home, where she’s stuck running the family business. And it doesn’t help that the ambitious Mr Saubertuck keeps coming over and demanding that the Glatts sell him their store.

But one day, Marjorie meets a real ghost--Wendell, an eight-year-old boy who doesn’t yet fit in in the afterlife. Wendell can only take corporeal form under a sheet, and when he enters the laundromat, he tends to cause problems. Soon Marjorie is struggling to keep her family’s livelihood alive single handed--but maybe she doesn’t have to be alone. 

This story touches on grief, independence, and loneliness, and the author handles all of these themes with care. If you read this book and enjoy it, make sure to check out the sequel, Delicates. 

 

If you need some more books to get you in the Halloween spirit, check out this list of witchy middle grade!