GIRL FROM THE ASHES

As if being misjudged by adults and targeted by a bully aren’t enough, Carter John must also contend with a very angry ghost.

By contrast, Carter John’s best friend, Gianna, “never [gets] in trouble for anything.” Gianna is shorter than average and tired of people thinking of her as a “baby”; Carter John had a summer growth spurt, and between his height and his “new deep voice,” people are treating him differently. When the Black sixth graders decide to do their history project on astronaut Ron McNair, they go to the public library to do research. After they’re baited by bully Amanda, Gianna’s former friend, Carter John gets upset, and he’s unfairly singled out for discipline by the librarian. He feels intense anger—and then something strange happens: A bookshelf shakes, and a couple of books fall off it, hitting the librarian’s ankles. This is just the beginning of the odd events that plague Carter John, from hearing a strange song to fires breaking out. He and Gianna are determined to figure out what’s going on, and their investigations uncover a tragic chapter in their town’s history. Brown effectively incorporates information about Black history into her novel, which alternates between Carter John’s and Gianna’s third-person points of view. The story also sensitively explores relationships and the pain of being misunderstood. Fans of Tracey Baptiste and Mary Downing Hahn will find much to enjoy.

A spooky ghost story interwoven with fascinating historical elements.