You’re Celebrating Spooky Season Pt. 5

I've got ghosts and witches for you this year

Hi friends,

Banned Books Week, a chance to celebrate our right to read and to stand against efforts to take books out of public libraries, began yesterday. This year, Silent Book Club, Libro.FM and more than 450 libraries and bookstores are hosting “read-ins” for book lovers to come together and show their support for books that are under attack. Find a read-in near you here.

Several years ago, when I first launched this newsletter, a few of you reached out to ask for book recommendations for spooky season. Since then, I’ve used the first week of October to spotlight books perfect for the Halloween season. As I said in my first Spooky Season Spectacular, I think even if you’re not breaking out your decorative gourds or planning an elaborate Halloween costume, you’ll still find something to enjoy with these picks.

And, now, what to read if …

You Know Who You’re Going to Call (if You See a Ghost)

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller

It’s 1875, and Alva Webster has returned home to New York after her husband’s sudden death — with a reputation so scandalous even her parents won’t see her. Ava has a plan, though. She’s purchased a dilapidated Hyde Park manor and has secured a deal to publish a book detailing her restoration efforts. With any luck, she’ll rehab the home and her reputation.

Sam Moore, a celebrated inventor, becomes enchanted with Alva after a chance meeting in a restaurant. He grows even more fascinated by the scandalous widow after learning her new home is rumored to be haunted. He’s spent years studying the paranormal, in between installing gas lights in cities across the country and inventing new contraptions, and recognizes this as his chance to finally communicate with a ghost.

Alva doesn’t believe in ghosts — she’s seen enough horror from people — and rebuffs Sam’s effort, until a series of unexplained events scare off her construction crew. The foreman agrees to return only if someone proves the ghost is gone or non-existent, forcing Alva to accept the inventor’s help. Sam then sets out to win over both Alva and the ghost.

Diana Biller, author of Hotel of Secrets, my favorite historical romance of the last five years, expertly threads the needle between Sam’s joyful lightness and the darkness in Alva’s past. Most compelling, to me, is the way she shows how they make each other better people. A joy to read, even in its tenser moments.

You Want a Ghost Story for the Whole Family

Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega

Claribel Ortega’s Ghost Squad is a delightful middle-grade novel starring Lucely Luna, a 12-year-old who can see spirits, including the deceased members of her family who live with her and her dad. When helping her dad with his cemetery ghost tour business, Lucely sees an evil spirit attack her grandmother’s ghost. The assault leaves her grandmother weakened, and the other family spirits fearful they will be harmed next.

After their teacher shares the legend of a powerful witch coven that once lived in their city, Lucely and her best friend Syd set out to save the Luna family ghosts by finding — and casting — the coven’s powerful spells. Unfortunately, the incantation they cast doesn’t help the good spirits; instead, it attracts more deadly ghosts to their home. The two preteens join with Syd’s grandmother, a powerful witch named Babette, and her fat black cat, Chub, to expel the evil spirits and save their community.

Ghost Squad is a lot of fun, especially in its back half (the first half has a lot of setup) and would make an excellent pick for a family read-along. I particularly loved that Lucely and Syd brought a trusted adult on their adventure, instead of trying to save the world on their own. The tweens are at the core of the story, but Babette (maybe my favorite character) guides them through it. It’s a nice twist on the traditional, kids-save-the-world story.

Bonus recommendations: My pal Sarah Miller has rounded up Halloween books for kids and has a special edition of ghost books too!

You’re Breaking Out the Witch’s Hat for Halloween

Death on the Caldera by Emily Paxman

As soon as I heard this book described as “Murder on the Orient Express with witches,” I put it on my TBR, and I was not disappointed.

As he boards the luxury train, Kellen Linde is keeping a few big secrets. One, he’s secretly the next king of Halgyr, and with his father’s death imminent, he’s set to take the throne shortly. Two, his younger sister and traveling companion, Davina, has latent witch powers — a dangerous situation in a society that hunts sorceresses.

When the train engine explodes, Davina’s powers come to life, just as the passengers, now stranded on a caldera filled with volcanic magic, are looking for a witch to blame for the disaster. Even worse, someone is murdering the remaining passengers, and Davina keeps waking up with memory loss. To prevent his sister from becoming the top suspect, the Linde siblings begin to investigate the murders and learn they’re not the only passengers keeping potentially deadly secrets.

As Julie Leong, author of The Teller of Small Fortunes, said “Bursting with rich characters and explosive intrigue (literally), Death on the Caldera produces a rare alchemy in its blend of magic, murder, and mystery. A smart, thrilling debut!” I completely agree. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I’m hoping we get a book two soon.

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