A gently spooky ghost story that’s equal parts funny and heartfelt.
A tween boy begrudgingly agrees to help the ghost who’s haunting his family’s vacation rental.
Twelve-year-old Barnaby Vargas was looking forward to a fun summer of gaming with his friends, but instead, his parents are dragging him and his younger brother, Leo, to the beachfront town of Sunnyside for three weeks to help their grandfather, who will be moving in with them. When they arrive at Warner Place, the home they’re renting for their visit, Barnaby discovers that his room is already occupied by someone—the ghost of a boy named Maxwell Warner, who died in 1984 and wants Barnaby out of his room. After several unsuccessful attempts to banish Maxwell’s spirit that only seem to increase the ghost’s power, Barnaby agrees to help him resolve his unfinished business in exchange for leaving him alone. As Barnaby digs through Maxwell’s past, he forms a tentative friendship with the ghost and learns more about Sunnyside. The mystery surrounding Maxwell’s death is compelling, with well-balanced moments of humor. Badua deftly weaves in complex themes of family, friendship, and community organizing. Barnaby’s character growth is touching, as is the new bond he develops with Leo as they work together to help Maxwell. Though the story wraps up rather quickly, with some threads left unresolved, the ending is heartwarming. Barnaby and his family are Filipino American.
A gently spooky ghost story that’s equal parts funny and heartfelt. (Paranormal. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780063347076
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Storytide/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Supernatural mystery meets generational drama with hopeful endings for all.
Eleven-year-old Frank must solve a supernatural mystery to save his new home.
As fifth grade comes to an end, Frank Fernández is looking forward to finally staying put in Alabama for a second year, as promised, after a childhood spent following his parents’ home renovation work all across the country. Frequent relocation has made Frank wary of forming friendships or making plans, but his hopes for more stability are temporarily dashed when his parents announce plans to renovate a lighthouse in the Florida Keys, near where his mother grew up and his father’s home country of Cuba. Papi promises this will be their last move, though: The lighthouse will be theirs. But from their first day on Spectacle Key, things seem to go wrong: Tensions rise between his parents, and Frank’s hopes of a forever home are under threat from seemingly supernatural forces. In order to put down roots, Frank and new ghostly friend Connie, a White girl with freckles, must discover what secrets the island is hiding, uncovering Frank’s own family roots along the way. Frank is a fan of horror—he names his new Great Dane puppy Mary Shelley. But though there is some mild peril to be found, rather than a ghostly thriller, this is an appealing, lightly spooky family drama with valuable lessons for those who would hide from a difficult past instead of confronting and healing generational trauma.
Supernatural mystery meets generational drama with hopeful endings for all. (Supernatural. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-06-313481-2
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun
It’s been 42 days since the Monster Apocalypse began, and 13-year-old Jack Sullivan, a self-proclaimed “zombie-fighting, monster-slaying tornado of cool” is on a quest to find and rescue his not-so-secret crush, June Del Toro, whether she needs it, wants it, or not.
Jack cobbles together an unlikely but endearing crew, including his scientist best friend, Quint Baker; Dirk Savage, Parker Middle School’s biggest bully; and a pet monster named Rover, to help him save the damsel in distress and complete the “ULTIMATE Feat of Apocalyptic Success.” Middle-grade readers, particularly boys, will find Jack’s pitch-perfect mix of humor, bravado, and self-professed geekiness impossible to resist. His sidekicks are equally entertaining, and it doesn’t hurt that there are also plenty of oozing, drooling, sharp-toothed monsters and zombies and a host of gizmos and gadgets to hook readers and keep them cheering with every turn of the page. Holgate’s illustrations play an integral role in the novel’s success. They not only bring Brallier’s characters to life, but also add depth and detail to the story, making plain just exactly how big Rover is and giving the lie to Jack’s “killer driving.” The marriage of text and illustration serves as a perfect example of what an illustrated novel can and should be.
Classic action-packed, monster-fighting fun (. (Graphic/horror hybrid. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-670-01661-7
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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