Caitlin Kelly provides a spookily entertaining yet tender rendering of this middle-grade story about courage, friendship, and the power of stories. Every Halloween, Beckett Elementary's sixth-grade students engage in the chillingly serious Bellwoods game. If they win, the town will be safe for a year; if not, a vengeful ghost will torment them all. In a clear, youthful voice, Kelly describes Bailee Heron, who courageously volunteers to play the game despite worries about her family and insecurity about her ability to succeed. Kelly skillfully shows Bailee's character growth as she moves from tentative to confident, making heroic choices for her community, despite the cost to herself. Kelly's portrayal of the genuinely creepy specter in the woods adds to the spine-tingling pleasure of this ghostly coming-of-age story.
(Supernatural. 9-13)Pub Date: July 18, 2023
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797162454
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Jeff Ebner's youthful voice and careful pacing are well suited to this middle-grade horror audiobook. Rory has avoided the house next door ever since he and his best friend encountered the malevolent spirits that eventually caused his friend's family to move away. So when Jack's family moves in, Rory will do whatever it takes to protect them, especially Jack's little sister. Beyond the supernatural encounters, Ebner keeps listeners grounded when Rory and Jack share aspects of their Japanese and Korean cultures, especially foods. Ebner smoothly differentiates characters as Rory and Jack, along with a couple of friendly ghosts, work together to figure out what kind of creatures lurk in Jack's basement and how they can fight back.
(Horror. 8-13)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
Duration: 4 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063460072
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Joy Regullano captures the voice of 11-year-old Lila Clement, who reluctantly travels to Ohio with her family after her estranged grandfather's death. Her parents must settle his estate, which includes the mysterious inn Grandpa Clem owned. Soon after Lila and her brother arrive, strange occurrences begin, and Lila starts seeing ghosts. Terrified yet curious, she investigates the inn's history and discovers that Grandpa Clem may not have died naturally. Determined to uncover the truth about what happened, Lila sets out to save the town and bring peace to her ghostly friends. Regullano delivers a captivating performance, skillfully voicing characters of different genders and ages with varying accents. Her ability to convey suspense and fear is deliciously eerie--it's sure to thrill young fans of supernatural stories.
(Paranormal. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
Duration: 4 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798225000745
Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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