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Not Quite a Ghost
From the award-winning author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy comes an unforgettable and deeply personal story of the ghosts that surround us—and the ones we carry inside. The house seemed to sit apart from the others on Katydid Street, silent and alone, like it didn’t fit among them. For Violet Hart—whose family is about to move into the house on Katydid Street—very little felt like it fit anymore. Like their old home, suddenly too small since her mother remarried and the new baby arrived. Or Violet’s group of friends, which, since they started middle school, isn’t enough for Violet’s best friend, Paige. Everything seemed to be changing at once. But sometimes, Violet tells herself, change is okay. That is, until Violet sees her new room. The attic bedroom in their new house is shadowy, creaky, and wrapped in old yellow wallpaper covered with a faded tangle of twisting vines and sickly flowers. And then, after moving in, Violet falls ill—and does not get better. As days turn into weeks without any improvement, her family growing more confused and her friends wondering if she’s really sick at all, she finds herself spending more time alone in the room with the yellow wallpaper, the shadows moving in the corners, wrapping themselves around her at night. And soon, Violet starts to suspect that she might not be alone in the room at all.
277 pages, Hardcover
First published January 16, 2024
81 people are currently reading
5822 people want to read
About the author
Anne Ursu
19 books850 followersAnne Ursu is the author of several fantasies for young readers, including THE REAL BOY, which was longlisted for the National Book Award, and BREADCRUMBS, which was named as one of the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly, Amazon, and School Library Journal. She is also the recipient of a McKnight Fellowship. She teaches at the Hamline University's Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and lives in Minneapolis. Her next book, THE LOST GIRL, will be out in February 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 489 reviews
December 27, 2023
In 1892, Charlotte Perkins Gilman published a short story called "The Yellow Wallpaper." We can interpret it to be about many things, but squarely placed among them is the fact that the unnamed narrator is suffering from post-partum depression and has been prescribed a "rest cure," which isn't helping. Viewed through this lens, Gilman's story is about how the medical establishment ignores or writes off women's pain and mental health, and that's the piece that Anne Ursu carries through into her middle grade retelling of the tale. Ursu's protagonist, Violet, has just started middle school, and that's not going very well. Her friend group is changing in ways she doesn't like or understand, her older sister is deep in the throes of teenage angst, and her family has just moved into an old Victorian house, where Violet has been made (by her sister) to take the isolated attic bedroom, which is covered in hideous yellow wallpaper. All of these things allow medical professionals to write off Violet's physical maladies as "hysteria" or "all in her head," an all-too-familiar diagnosis girls and women are given when they have an invisible illness.
But it's not all in Violet's head, not even the malevolent spirit hiding behind her wallpaper. The spirit, which shakes the paper and creeps along behind it like Gilman's woman in the wallpaper, is using Violet's infirmity to try to take over her body, but she's not the one who made Violet ill - that's a very important detail here. Violet really is suffering, and I love that her parents never stop believing her, even when doctors repeatedly try to dismiss them. And while the girl in the wallpaper is scary, the fact that most people think Violet is making up her physical condition is far more frightening - take it from someone who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at thirteen after years of being told to "stop being such a girl" by doctors, and who still has to fight with doctors who don't believe it's real thirty years later.
Although they don't use it quite the same way, Ursu's story is still about freeing yourself from the woman in the wallpaper. Where Gilman's narrator pulled it all down to become free, Violet acknowledges that the paper is there and frees herself from it with knowledge. But either way, the truth still remains: you can paper us over, but our pain will always bleed through.
But it's not all in Violet's head, not even the malevolent spirit hiding behind her wallpaper. The spirit, which shakes the paper and creeps along behind it like Gilman's woman in the wallpaper, is using Violet's infirmity to try to take over her body, but she's not the one who made Violet ill - that's a very important detail here. Violet really is suffering, and I love that her parents never stop believing her, even when doctors repeatedly try to dismiss them. And while the girl in the wallpaper is scary, the fact that most people think Violet is making up her physical condition is far more frightening - take it from someone who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at thirteen after years of being told to "stop being such a girl" by doctors, and who still has to fight with doctors who don't believe it's real thirty years later.
Although they don't use it quite the same way, Ursu's story is still about freeing yourself from the woman in the wallpaper. Where Gilman's narrator pulled it all down to become free, Violet acknowledges that the paper is there and frees herself from it with knowledge. But either way, the truth still remains: you can paper us over, but our pain will always bleed through.
February 27, 2024
So this book starts off all spooky, but then you get some other drama, and some mysterious (but kind of normal) stuff, and you get so involved in that you forget that this book is called Not Quite a Ghost, and you turn a page and something happens that makes you nearly drop a full glass of ice water on the sofa, because DAAAAANG. Then you take the book downstairs to read so that your husband is at least nearby so you won't just die of fright.
May 10, 2024
As a grown woman who reviews books for kids on the regular, I’ve picked up a trick or two in my time. For one thing, there are only so many stories out there to tell. To keep a sense of wonder in place, then, I like to dive into a book without knowing much about it apart from the author, the title, and what the cover looks like. I’m saying all this as a kind of weak excuse for why it took me as long as it did to figure out author Anne Ursu’s source material in her novel Not Quite a Ghost. It’s not like she hides it or anything. Right there in chapter one (more on chapter one in a minute) she describes a room with wallpaper that, “maybe once it had been bright yellow, but those days had passed long ago and now it had dulled and faded into something that was somewhere between mustard and vomit, or perhaps the color of an old bruise.” I mean, she might as well have hung a banner in the room reading, “We (Heart) Charlotte Perkins Gilman” and I still would have been a bit slow on the upswing. But once I did realize what Ursu was doing, it was too late. I was already so impressed with the writing, that there was hardly any room to be even more impressed with her literary references. Somehow, Ursu has managed to write a legitimately scary ghost story (sorta) that’s also about accusations of hysteria, invisible illnesses, and issues in middle school. Deft and accomplished, this book hits every button square on. And you don’t have to know a thing about The Yellow Wallpaper to enjoy it either.
Violet wasn’t 100% on board with her whole family moving into a bigger house, but she’d sort of come to terms with it. That is, before she saw her new attic room. Ugly? That doesn’t even begin to cover it. Covered in a sickly yellow wallpaper, it’s one of those rooms you simply don’t want to spend your nights in. On top of that, Violet’s friends at school are hoping to expand their friend group, much to her own chagrin. When a sleepover dare with those new friends turns into a full-blown illness, Violet doesn’t think much of it. But that illness doesn’t seem to be going away and tests aren’t revealing why. Will Violet ever get the help she needs if both her friends and her doctors think she’s faking? And now that she’s spending so much time in the creepy room, is there really something lurking behind the wallpaper? And is it something that wants her help or to hurt her even more?
This was a book I actually listened to on audio, and there are pros and cons to that method of reading. On the one hand, I get a lot more books read when I go that route. On the other, I worry that there might be details I’ll miss, or I won’t be able to properly appreciate the writing. If ever there was a book to alleviate those fears, it was this one. Folks, if you would ever like a crash course in how to write a first chapter, read the first chapter in Not Quite a Ghost. The chapter sets the scene, containing such sentences as, “A musty smell hjt her all at once, like a malodorous moat.” But for me, the kicker was the last few sentences in that chapter. Out of context, the final one still packs a punch: “Remember this when you think about who the villain is.” Sublime.
So let’s talk a little bit about how difficult Anne Ursu’s job is with this book. In her Acknowledgment section, Ursu mentions that she has been trying to, “figure out a way into this story for years.” Little wonder, since the author has to simultaneously make a multi-layered storyline that draws direct comparisons between women’s medical histories with what many women experience with the medical profession today WHILE ALSO writing a fun ghost story with a serious creep factor AND making it about middle school and changing friendships along the way. She must do all this, make the book coherent, and somehow keep the whole thing under 300 pages. I’ve tried to write middle grade novels before. You can have all the cool ideas and elements you want but unless you find a way to make the whole thing hang together in a comprehensive way, you’re just going to end up with random scenes with no throughline. OH! And while you’re at it, why not make the actual writing of the sentences thoughtful, memorable, and highly literary? Easy peasy, right?
Eventually I may just get to the point in this review where I’m just listing more things that I like. I like how the book acknowledges that it takes place in a post COVID-lockdown era. I like how the infection in Violet’s body mimics the infection in the house. I like that the color “Violet” and yellow (like the wallpaper) are complementary colors that normally cancel one another out. I like that a co-worker suggested this to a friend and that friend texted her back, “Ooo, it’s LITERARY!”. I like the relationship between the sisters. I like the fact that every time Violet watches a show it’s a real show (and usually one I watched with my own kids once too). I like that the book not only doesn’t shy away from its horror elements but doubles down on them. In short, I like a lot of things about it.
Naturally it can be difficult to keep oneself from comparing this book to other stories that are similar. It’s making obvious references to The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, of course. For my part, though, what I kept thinking about was the movie “Inside Out. There are some distinct similarities. A girl moves into a new home with her family and has to deal with middle school dramas. Her mother keeps asking her silently (or not so silently) to be happy and so the girl stuffs down her real feelings to do so, with consequences. You see what I’m saying. Bookwise, it’s a little trickier to find stories that mimic this one. When I was 10 or so, I was obsessed with ghost stories. Good thing too, since I was living in the era of Betty Ren Wright, Willo Davis, Mary Downing Hahn (who is apparently still going strong all these years later) and Scholastic Book Club Apple paperbacks. Putting aside the whole causation/correlation debate (did I love ghost stories because I found them or did I find them because so many kids like me loved ghost stories?) I do feel a little bad for ghost story loving kids these days. They’re out there, but sometimes they can be a little tricky to find. Even encountering this book, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be yet another befriend-the-ghost story or defeat-the-ghost story. I am happy to report that it is clearly in the latter category. So if you’ve a kid who loves creepy, you gotta sell them on this book. Honestly, just have them read that first chapter again. After that, they can check out anytime they like, but they can never leave.
On the one hand, the true secret to Ursu’s books, as far as I’m concerned, isn’t just how good the writing is. It’s also the fact that these are books that a kid would actually want to pick up. Over the years Ursu has honed her skills, and one can’t help but wonder if it was all leading up to this point. Not Quite a Ghost gives readers a little bit of everything they’ve come to expect from kids' novels, managing to keep the plot cohesive, coherent, and consuming along the way. With so many elements at play, you’d be forgiven for wondering if something weren’t bound to get lost. Nothing does. Not Quite a Ghost is masterful, referencing classic literature without ever turning itself into an inside joke for adults. But don't just take my word for it. Read that first chapter for yourself. It’s like everything we’ve seen before, and wholly and entirely new, both at once. An adept and superb novel.
Violet wasn’t 100% on board with her whole family moving into a bigger house, but she’d sort of come to terms with it. That is, before she saw her new attic room. Ugly? That doesn’t even begin to cover it. Covered in a sickly yellow wallpaper, it’s one of those rooms you simply don’t want to spend your nights in. On top of that, Violet’s friends at school are hoping to expand their friend group, much to her own chagrin. When a sleepover dare with those new friends turns into a full-blown illness, Violet doesn’t think much of it. But that illness doesn’t seem to be going away and tests aren’t revealing why. Will Violet ever get the help she needs if both her friends and her doctors think she’s faking? And now that she’s spending so much time in the creepy room, is there really something lurking behind the wallpaper? And is it something that wants her help or to hurt her even more?
This was a book I actually listened to on audio, and there are pros and cons to that method of reading. On the one hand, I get a lot more books read when I go that route. On the other, I worry that there might be details I’ll miss, or I won’t be able to properly appreciate the writing. If ever there was a book to alleviate those fears, it was this one. Folks, if you would ever like a crash course in how to write a first chapter, read the first chapter in Not Quite a Ghost. The chapter sets the scene, containing such sentences as, “A musty smell hjt her all at once, like a malodorous moat.” But for me, the kicker was the last few sentences in that chapter. Out of context, the final one still packs a punch: “Remember this when you think about who the villain is.” Sublime.
So let’s talk a little bit about how difficult Anne Ursu’s job is with this book. In her Acknowledgment section, Ursu mentions that she has been trying to, “figure out a way into this story for years.” Little wonder, since the author has to simultaneously make a multi-layered storyline that draws direct comparisons between women’s medical histories with what many women experience with the medical profession today WHILE ALSO writing a fun ghost story with a serious creep factor AND making it about middle school and changing friendships along the way. She must do all this, make the book coherent, and somehow keep the whole thing under 300 pages. I’ve tried to write middle grade novels before. You can have all the cool ideas and elements you want but unless you find a way to make the whole thing hang together in a comprehensive way, you’re just going to end up with random scenes with no throughline. OH! And while you’re at it, why not make the actual writing of the sentences thoughtful, memorable, and highly literary? Easy peasy, right?
Eventually I may just get to the point in this review where I’m just listing more things that I like. I like how the book acknowledges that it takes place in a post COVID-lockdown era. I like how the infection in Violet’s body mimics the infection in the house. I like that the color “Violet” and yellow (like the wallpaper) are complementary colors that normally cancel one another out. I like that a co-worker suggested this to a friend and that friend texted her back, “Ooo, it’s LITERARY!”. I like the relationship between the sisters. I like the fact that every time Violet watches a show it’s a real show (and usually one I watched with my own kids once too). I like that the book not only doesn’t shy away from its horror elements but doubles down on them. In short, I like a lot of things about it.
Naturally it can be difficult to keep oneself from comparing this book to other stories that are similar. It’s making obvious references to The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, of course. For my part, though, what I kept thinking about was the movie “Inside Out. There are some distinct similarities. A girl moves into a new home with her family and has to deal with middle school dramas. Her mother keeps asking her silently (or not so silently) to be happy and so the girl stuffs down her real feelings to do so, with consequences. You see what I’m saying. Bookwise, it’s a little trickier to find stories that mimic this one. When I was 10 or so, I was obsessed with ghost stories. Good thing too, since I was living in the era of Betty Ren Wright, Willo Davis, Mary Downing Hahn (who is apparently still going strong all these years later) and Scholastic Book Club Apple paperbacks. Putting aside the whole causation/correlation debate (did I love ghost stories because I found them or did I find them because so many kids like me loved ghost stories?) I do feel a little bad for ghost story loving kids these days. They’re out there, but sometimes they can be a little tricky to find. Even encountering this book, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be yet another befriend-the-ghost story or defeat-the-ghost story. I am happy to report that it is clearly in the latter category. So if you’ve a kid who loves creepy, you gotta sell them on this book. Honestly, just have them read that first chapter again. After that, they can check out anytime they like, but they can never leave.
On the one hand, the true secret to Ursu’s books, as far as I’m concerned, isn’t just how good the writing is. It’s also the fact that these are books that a kid would actually want to pick up. Over the years Ursu has honed her skills, and one can’t help but wonder if it was all leading up to this point. Not Quite a Ghost gives readers a little bit of everything they’ve come to expect from kids' novels, managing to keep the plot cohesive, coherent, and consuming along the way. With so many elements at play, you’d be forgiven for wondering if something weren’t bound to get lost. Nothing does. Not Quite a Ghost is masterful, referencing classic literature without ever turning itself into an inside joke for adults. But don't just take my word for it. Read that first chapter for yourself. It’s like everything we’ve seen before, and wholly and entirely new, both at once. An adept and superb novel.
January 26, 2024
“And sometimes something slips into an abandoned house. Something not quite knowable. Something that doesn’t belong there. The house sees it, and marshals its defenses. It was built to be a home for a family, but this… this is an intruder, and it doesn’t mean well. so it reacts in the only way it can think of. Maybe it doesn’t make any sense, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”
A beautiful middle-grade novel that combines the story of a girl who moves into a haunted house, with themes of friendship, family and chronic illness. Absolutely wonderful, highly recommend.
A beautiful middle-grade novel that combines the story of a girl who moves into a haunted house, with themes of friendship, family and chronic illness. Absolutely wonderful, highly recommend.
July 16, 2025
i loved the writing style, but i think this book tried to take on too many topics at once.
i felt like the ghost part of the story didn’t have enough substance; it sort of just got buried beneath other plot points.
”so, what was she? a ghost?”
”i don’t know. not really?”
”did she say what had happened to her? how she got in the wall in the first place?
”no.”
”i obviously have about nine thousand questions…”
YEAH, YOU AND ME BOTH, BUDDY 🤠😩
i felt like the ghost part of the story didn’t have enough substance; it sort of just got buried beneath other plot points.
”so, what was she? a ghost?”
”i don’t know. not really?”
”did she say what had happened to her? how she got in the wall in the first place?
”no.”
”i obviously have about nine thousand questions…”
YEAH, YOU AND ME BOTH, BUDDY 🤠😩
December 30, 2024
This was an interesting read and I'm not sure I've read anything like it before. It's not necessarily my favorite of the year, but it's clear why people have enjoyed it and why it's a huge contender to receive awards in January.
What Worked: Not Quite a Ghost had a few elements that I found to be both interesting and enjoyable. Even though I've read quite a few middle grade books, this is the first that I've come across where the author heavily explores the experience of a child with a illness that doctors have a difficult time diagnosing. I've had my own bad experiences with the medical industry, but it was particularly difficult reading a narrative where doctors wrote off Violet's illness and blamed it on her inability to adapt to change instead of digging further to provide her with the best treatment. The frustration experienced through the lens of her mother and the constant horrible feelings experienced by Violet were written so well and assisted me, as a reader, in connecting to them as characters. I also appreciated the fact that Ursu did touch on the difficulties that come with change and growth especially the evolution of close friendships. Middle school is so rough for so many children and Ursu created characters that fully encompassed those experiences.
What Didn't Work: This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I think that due to the structure and pacing of the story, I forgot that there was a "spooky" element to it. While this element was really there to highlight the contrast between a "haunting" and the terror of the medical community, I do think that it could have been woven into the context of the story a little better to give it a more seamless feel. It worked when it needed to work, but it almost felt as though I wanted it to be brought into the narrative a little earlier.
Overall, this was a good read and I'm definitely looking forward to checking out more book by Ursu in the future.
What Worked: Not Quite a Ghost had a few elements that I found to be both interesting and enjoyable. Even though I've read quite a few middle grade books, this is the first that I've come across where the author heavily explores the experience of a child with a illness that doctors have a difficult time diagnosing. I've had my own bad experiences with the medical industry, but it was particularly difficult reading a narrative where doctors wrote off Violet's illness and blamed it on her inability to adapt to change instead of digging further to provide her with the best treatment. The frustration experienced through the lens of her mother and the constant horrible feelings experienced by Violet were written so well and assisted me, as a reader, in connecting to them as characters. I also appreciated the fact that Ursu did touch on the difficulties that come with change and growth especially the evolution of close friendships. Middle school is so rough for so many children and Ursu created characters that fully encompassed those experiences.
What Didn't Work: This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I think that due to the structure and pacing of the story, I forgot that there was a "spooky" element to it. While this element was really there to highlight the contrast between a "haunting" and the terror of the medical community, I do think that it could have been woven into the context of the story a little better to give it a more seamless feel. It worked when it needed to work, but it almost felt as though I wanted it to be brought into the narrative a little earlier.
Overall, this was a good read and I'm definitely looking forward to checking out more book by Ursu in the future.
February 10, 2024
this book deals with the two scariest subjects possible: middle school and the american healthcare system
4 terrible wallpaper patterns out of 5
4 terrible wallpaper patterns out of 5
February 2, 2024
Audio. Potential mild spoilers. Given the glowing reviews, I'm going to be the odd reader out. Or listener, and perhaps that was part of the problem with this book, but only part. I expected a charming, clever story centering on Violet and whatever is "almost a ghost" in the wallpaper. Perhaps a little girl from another century, as misunderstood as Violet. I was very, very wrong. This book is disturbing on several levels. Violet's agency is almost non-existent, whether she's dealing with peer pressure (the leg shaving incident was almost masochistic and not at all humorous, if that was the intent) or the family move, where she's relegated to a creepy third floor attic bedroom for flimsy reasons that keep getting flimsier. Apparently, Violet's heroic journey is to convince everyone around her that she's not faking her mysterious illness...that may be the stuff of life, but it's not the stuff of classic children's literature. Her parents seem more like concerned wait staff than parents as they blithely go about their business, proffering platitudes and blending smoothies, as their daughter increasingly transforms into an invalid right under their noses. They leave her in the attic, not even suspecting maybe there's a mold problem that's making her sick (and the paint smell of the second-floor family bedrooms is, again, a flimsy excuse--maybe the family should have slept on the first floor and ghost busted the attic as a family). The ghost could have been enchanting, a little girl from another century sent to perhaps befriend Violet in her loneliness. We get a glimmer of hope with Will and his ghostly research project, and perhaps the two could have really turned into cute little research ghost busters, but no, that drops off, too.
While I understand that the story is based on the author's own early childhood health experiences, her cautionary tale of woe would have better been served as an adult memoir, or an adult horror novel, which this could easily have become. One where the Yellow Wallpaper link, which is only very loosely born here--unless we are to think that poor Violet is going mad as well as physically sick--might better be served. I kept wondering if this was a story about psychosomatic illness or Munchausen's.
The narrator is talented, but IMO, the ghost figure is narrated way too creepy; even I as an adult was looking over my shoulder listening to those sections. Or perhaps, raised on Narnia and The Wind in the Willows and Where the Wild Things Are, I am no audience for (apparently) the rather sophisticated dark tastes of modern Middle Grade readers. As other reviewers have mentioned, the narrative is very disjointed, a kind of kitchen sink approach as Violet oscillates between school and attic, becoming increasingly and disturbingly sicker and sicker with no diagnosis. And that's my primary problem with the novel--we don't know what is going on. Ever. There's certainly a place for a novel about children dealing with illness, yes, but hurry up and diagnosis the poor child, and then let's follow her journey to wellness or some acceptance of her condition. But not this poor lonely child, battling the unknown illness essentially on her own. At one point the poor little thing rightfully bemoans she is alone, unloved, friendless in the world--and stuck in an attic with a demonic figure. I found this plot device unendurable.
While I understand that the story is based on the author's own early childhood health experiences, her cautionary tale of woe would have better been served as an adult memoir, or an adult horror novel, which this could easily have become. One where the Yellow Wallpaper link, which is only very loosely born here--unless we are to think that poor Violet is going mad as well as physically sick--might better be served. I kept wondering if this was a story about psychosomatic illness or Munchausen's.
The narrator is talented, but IMO, the ghost figure is narrated way too creepy; even I as an adult was looking over my shoulder listening to those sections. Or perhaps, raised on Narnia and The Wind in the Willows and Where the Wild Things Are, I am no audience for (apparently) the rather sophisticated dark tastes of modern Middle Grade readers. As other reviewers have mentioned, the narrative is very disjointed, a kind of kitchen sink approach as Violet oscillates between school and attic, becoming increasingly and disturbingly sicker and sicker with no diagnosis. And that's my primary problem with the novel--we don't know what is going on. Ever. There's certainly a place for a novel about children dealing with illness, yes, but hurry up and diagnosis the poor child, and then let's follow her journey to wellness or some acceptance of her condition. But not this poor lonely child, battling the unknown illness essentially on her own. At one point the poor little thing rightfully bemoans she is alone, unloved, friendless in the world--and stuck in an attic with a demonic figure. I found this plot device unendurable.
July 30, 2023
Another brilliant book by a brilliant writer.
This was well-paced, layered, and—best of all—SPOOKY.
This was well-paced, layered, and—best of all—SPOOKY.
May 19, 2024
dare I say top 5 favorite of 2024?? this was everything?? I loved it so much??
March 3, 2024
Oh jeez, a real weeper for me. Sometimes you get sick and you don’t get better! Thanks to Anne Ursu for writing the book I wish I could have read a decade ago.
November 1, 2025
Not Quite a Ghost is an example of when the cover and title promised one thing, but the story delivered something quite different. Based on the eerie artwork, description, and the premise being a retelling of The Yellow Wallpaper, I expected a chilling, atmospheric ghost story from this one.
Unfortunately, that aspect fell flat. The supernatural elements felt underdeveloped and rushed, and I often forgot that a ghost story was supposed to be a big part of the book! I also found myself confused about how the supernatural aspects were supposed to work within the story’s world as there's really no development of this until the very end of the story. This was frustrating because it feels like this thread of the story was largely forgotten with no clear connection to events unfolding until the end where everything was so easily explained and resolved. I wanted so much more from this as again this is what the book is essentially being sold on, yet is almost nowhere to be found in the story!
That said, the novel shines in other areas. It offers thoughtful discussions about chronic illness, growing up, and the importance of supportive and genuine friendships. Violet’s family, in particular, was a highlight as they were loving, reassuring, and willing to fight for her. Those emotional and familial dynamics felt authentic and beautifully written. This was one of the most important aspects of the story for me because I think it might be one of the most impactful for children to understand the many forms support systems can take and when to let go of people who do not support you. Similarly, the way chronic illness was explored was very nuanced and is both appropriate and accessible for younger readers. The story helps readers to understand how to navigate these kinds of experiences with loved ones, but also explains the realities of chronic illness taking different forms and looking different to everyone who may experience them.
Ultimately, I still enjoyed the themes being explored in this story, but cannot help but feel a little disappointed. While it succeeds as a heartfelt exploration of illness and growing up, it doesn’t deliver on its promise as a ghost story.
Unfortunately, that aspect fell flat. The supernatural elements felt underdeveloped and rushed, and I often forgot that a ghost story was supposed to be a big part of the book! I also found myself confused about how the supernatural aspects were supposed to work within the story’s world as there's really no development of this until the very end of the story. This was frustrating because it feels like this thread of the story was largely forgotten with no clear connection to events unfolding until the end where everything was so easily explained and resolved. I wanted so much more from this as again this is what the book is essentially being sold on, yet is almost nowhere to be found in the story!
That said, the novel shines in other areas. It offers thoughtful discussions about chronic illness, growing up, and the importance of supportive and genuine friendships. Violet’s family, in particular, was a highlight as they were loving, reassuring, and willing to fight for her. Those emotional and familial dynamics felt authentic and beautifully written. This was one of the most important aspects of the story for me because I think it might be one of the most impactful for children to understand the many forms support systems can take and when to let go of people who do not support you. Similarly, the way chronic illness was explored was very nuanced and is both appropriate and accessible for younger readers. The story helps readers to understand how to navigate these kinds of experiences with loved ones, but also explains the realities of chronic illness taking different forms and looking different to everyone who may experience them.
Ultimately, I still enjoyed the themes being explored in this story, but cannot help but feel a little disappointed. While it succeeds as a heartfelt exploration of illness and growing up, it doesn’t deliver on its promise as a ghost story.
August 16, 2023
Violet's life is changing fast, new dad, new house, new year at school and for the first time ever, her own room. What for others felt like privacy and freedom, for Violet was like a silent creeper following her everywhere. Covind has impacted many people and the way things run. But when Violet gets sick this time around, it never seems to get better. Health problems that Doctors cannot diagnose are just another layer to her ever-increasing cake of issues. And the cherry on the top is her haunted room!
Though the book is targeted towards middle graders, it felt like a valuable addition to my library. The story talks about changing dynamics in friendships and family, new beginnings and keeping yourself together when the world thinks you are going crazy. The finale portion of the book (the doctor's part) is what felt like a must-have part. Many children have lost their personality and lives because most of the time adults and even doctors don't take them seriously. The messaging here is conveyed beautifully with a fictional touch to keep things interesting.
Though the book is targeted towards middle graders, it felt like a valuable addition to my library. The story talks about changing dynamics in friendships and family, new beginnings and keeping yourself together when the world thinks you are going crazy. The finale portion of the book (the doctor's part) is what felt like a must-have part. Many children have lost their personality and lives because most of the time adults and even doctors don't take them seriously. The messaging here is conveyed beautifully with a fictional touch to keep things interesting.
October 7, 2024
This book is SO beautiful. Oh Violet, I love you so much 💜💛
This MG retelling of The Yellow Wallpaper is incredible. I love Anne Ursu's insights into Middle-Grade life. I loved all the characters so much and loved the dynamics and heartbreaking interactions.
I loved that this book dealt with COVID and invisible illnesses while also being a horror story about a monster in the walls...
This MG retelling of The Yellow Wallpaper is incredible. I love Anne Ursu's insights into Middle-Grade life. I loved all the characters so much and loved the dynamics and heartbreaking interactions.
I loved that this book dealt with COVID and invisible illnesses while also being a horror story about a monster in the walls...
September 8, 2024
Ahhh, I’m feeling so torn over this book.
On the one hand, Ursu captures the most realistic depiction of an adolescence onset of chronic illness I’ve ever read. And I would know because this story—while it’s Violet’s—is also mine. The confusion, the helplessness, the failure of the medical system. I was reduced to tears (and even triggered a few times) because like Violet I’ve faced the accusations as an impressionable child that my struggles were “all in my head.” That I “wanted attention.” That I “wasn’t really sick.” The realness and rawness made this book an easy 10-out-of-10.
However… there was content I felt wasn’t (1) necessary to the story, and (2) not appropriate for middle grade. Examples being:
•several comments about a boy having two “dads”
•a girl had a sibling (gender unknown) who uses they/them pronouns
•repeated talks about using a ouija board to find ghosts
•a fortune teller booth at the school, reading fortunes with tarot cards
•lots of ghost talk
Content aside, the story is a powerful reminder that for those whose bodies may be “broken” with chronic illness, we still have a place in this world. A value. And a shoutout to Violet’s family for their supportiveness at every turn, especially her mother who is her daughter’s biggest champion and fighter—I’m so blessed my mum is like that. 💛
On the one hand, Ursu captures the most realistic depiction of an adolescence onset of chronic illness I’ve ever read. And I would know because this story—while it’s Violet’s—is also mine. The confusion, the helplessness, the failure of the medical system. I was reduced to tears (and even triggered a few times) because like Violet I’ve faced the accusations as an impressionable child that my struggles were “all in my head.” That I “wanted attention.” That I “wasn’t really sick.” The realness and rawness made this book an easy 10-out-of-10.
However… there was content I felt wasn’t (1) necessary to the story, and (2) not appropriate for middle grade. Examples being:
•several comments about a boy having two “dads”
•a girl had a sibling (gender unknown) who uses they/them pronouns
•repeated talks about using a ouija board to find ghosts
•a fortune teller booth at the school, reading fortunes with tarot cards
•lots of ghost talk
Content aside, the story is a powerful reminder that for those whose bodies may be “broken” with chronic illness, we still have a place in this world. A value. And a shoutout to Violet’s family for their supportiveness at every turn, especially her mother who is her daughter’s biggest champion and fighter—I’m so blessed my mum is like that. 💛
March 1, 2024
4.5 stars
I never thought that The Yellow Wallpaper could make such an amazing middle-grade novel, but oh boy it certainly does! I also loved all the The Haunting of Hill House vibes. The descriptions of the house were so well done, and this book became genuinely creepy near the end. Chronic illness as a haunting of the body and a haunting as a chronic illness for a house is just *chef's kiss*.
At the same time, this book does such a good job of showing how difficult it can be to grow up and how tricky navigating friendships in those times can be. I also felt that the way doctors ignore Violet's symptoms and assume it's just psychological was, unfortunately, very relatable.
Recommend, recommend!
I never thought that The Yellow Wallpaper could make such an amazing middle-grade novel, but oh boy it certainly does! I also loved all the The Haunting of Hill House vibes. The descriptions of the house were so well done, and this book became genuinely creepy near the end. Chronic illness as a haunting of the body and a haunting as a chronic illness for a house is just *chef's kiss*.
At the same time, this book does such a good job of showing how difficult it can be to grow up and how tricky navigating friendships in those times can be. I also felt that the way doctors ignore Violet's symptoms and assume it's just psychological was, unfortunately, very relatable.
Recommend, recommend!
June 30, 2024
Absolutely BRILLIANT.
September 14, 2024
A girl has hung out with the same friends since elementary school but as they enter middle school new friends join them and the friendships change. The protagonist gets sick, moves to a new house, and a nasty ghost begins to haunt. Intense and well crafted, this ends on a creepy note.
November 18, 2024
The Yellow Wallpaper, written for tweens?! SIGN. ME. UP.
This was so well-written. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Anne Ursu interpreted this story for a younger audience. If you’re a fan of the original Charlotte Perkins Gilman version, you’ll dig this. If you know any tweens that like a spooky stories, they’ll dig it too. This book also provides thoughtful representation for kids with long-term illnesses.
I must add… the main character being named Violet when violet is the complimentary color to yellow goes SO HARD and I just absolutely love when children’s authors are this badass.
This was so well-written. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Anne Ursu interpreted this story for a younger audience. If you’re a fan of the original Charlotte Perkins Gilman version, you’ll dig this. If you know any tweens that like a spooky stories, they’ll dig it too. This book also provides thoughtful representation for kids with long-term illnesses.
I must add… the main character being named Violet when violet is the complimentary color to yellow goes SO HARD and I just absolutely love when children’s authors are this badass.
June 21, 2025
I’ve got something to say about this one. The REALNESS. The NUANCE. And it’s THE YELLOW WALLPAPER for preteens? Chef’s kiss.
Beyond the themes of illness and disability, and more so, beyond the idea of spectral infestation, the book captures perfectly, to my memory, the experience of being in middle school, making friends, losing friends, going through changes both unwanted, yet entirely necessary.
Ursu has written a masterful story here. It’s the ordinary moments that rise up and make the most impact. Loved all of it, however, even the scary parts. Which lurk, and then arrive full force late in the book. 🖤🖤🖤
Beyond the themes of illness and disability, and more so, beyond the idea of spectral infestation, the book captures perfectly, to my memory, the experience of being in middle school, making friends, losing friends, going through changes both unwanted, yet entirely necessary.
Ursu has written a masterful story here. It’s the ordinary moments that rise up and make the most impact. Loved all of it, however, even the scary parts. Which lurk, and then arrive full force late in the book. 🖤🖤🖤
May 3, 2024
"She was alone, and she was sick, and she was haunted, and there was nothing she could do about any of it."
Not Quite a Ghost is a middle grade novel that very much reads like it was written for adults who read middle grade novels in mind, rather than middle grade readers, and I think this is why I ended up not caring for it.
The prose is lofty with metaphors and symbolism... not that middle grade readers can't appreciate symbolism, but it's a near-constant throughout the book, to the point that it feels like it's smacking you over the head with it, rather than coming across as organic or interesting. Rather than creating symbolism through the story, the prose slams it down in front of us, repeatedly. I kept thinking to myself, "I get it!!! It's a metaphor!!"
There is no "haunting" aspect until almost the end of the book. Sure, a creepy thing happens here and there, but it goes from "that wallpaper sure is creepy, having a bad dream about it" up until almost the end, when we suddenly are introduced to a completely new type of haunting aspect that felt 1) out of left field and 2) again, way too heavy on the metaphorical and symbolic side.
The story itself is threadbare and thin, and focused mostly on the protagonist's difficulties with suddenly getting ill after moving to a new house and starting middle school. The resolution was strange and didn't fit in with the rest of the story--especially since again, the "haunting" aspect goes from subtle and psychological to super super literal and yet unexplained in a flash--and contributed to the overall flat effect of the book.
I get what the author was trying to accomplish, especially with the details in their author's note, but it just wasn't done effectively.
There are a few pieces of evocative language that I really enjoyed (the above quote being one of them) but overall this was a letdown.
Not Quite a Ghost is a middle grade novel that very much reads like it was written for adults who read middle grade novels in mind, rather than middle grade readers, and I think this is why I ended up not caring for it.
The prose is lofty with metaphors and symbolism... not that middle grade readers can't appreciate symbolism, but it's a near-constant throughout the book, to the point that it feels like it's smacking you over the head with it, rather than coming across as organic or interesting. Rather than creating symbolism through the story, the prose slams it down in front of us, repeatedly. I kept thinking to myself, "I get it!!! It's a metaphor!!"
There is no "haunting" aspect until almost the end of the book. Sure, a creepy thing happens here and there, but it goes from "that wallpaper sure is creepy, having a bad dream about it" up until almost the end, when we suddenly are introduced to a completely new type of haunting aspect that felt 1) out of left field and 2) again, way too heavy on the metaphorical and symbolic side.
The story itself is threadbare and thin, and focused mostly on the protagonist's difficulties with suddenly getting ill after moving to a new house and starting middle school. The resolution was strange and didn't fit in with the rest of the story--especially since again, the "haunting" aspect goes from subtle and psychological to super super literal and yet unexplained in a flash--and contributed to the overall flat effect of the book.
I get what the author was trying to accomplish, especially with the details in their author's note, but it just wasn't done effectively.
There are a few pieces of evocative language that I really enjoyed (the above quote being one of them) but overall this was a letdown.
March 7, 2024
It was good and disappointing all at the same time. The writing is engaging and I appreciated the struggles Violet has with doctors.
My biggest problem with Not Quite a Ghost is I expected a spooky story between the title, cover, and description. I am always looking for spooky stories that will engage middle school kids because my students can not get enough of them. I would not recommend Not Quite a Ghost to those students because the spooky part of the story is truly lacking. I kept waiting for more to happen with the room, but it was all thrown in at the end and rushed.
This is one of those instances where the author threw a lot into the plot but did not fully flesh out the story. If the author had just focused on dealing with Violet's struggles of changes, middle school drama, and being sick. Nothing in this book is resolved (other than the ghost story, which was poorly executed) and it's so frustrating.
My biggest problem with Not Quite a Ghost is I expected a spooky story between the title, cover, and description. I am always looking for spooky stories that will engage middle school kids because my students can not get enough of them. I would not recommend Not Quite a Ghost to those students because the spooky part of the story is truly lacking. I kept waiting for more to happen with the room, but it was all thrown in at the end and rushed.
This is one of those instances where the author threw a lot into the plot but did not fully flesh out the story. If the author had just focused on dealing with Violet's struggles of changes, middle school drama, and being sick. Nothing in this book is resolved (other than the ghost story, which was poorly executed) and it's so frustrating.
October 31, 2024
perfect cozy, spooky Halloween read. this book reminded me how much I hate gym class…and how much I love my mom.
January 28, 2026
I liked this book, and I love this author. I love that her realistic fiction/fantasy you can identify with.
I just wish we could learn more about the ghost/poulterguiest.
I just wish we could learn more about the ghost/poulterguiest.
September 15, 2024
I absolutely LOVED this book, it has such an interesting plot and I sat down and couldn't put it down. 5/5 stars for sure!
April 17, 2024
I never miss an Anne Ursu book, and this one was nothing short of amazing. It's part horror story (I had to stop reading at 11:30 one night!!), part heart-wrenching (but totally relatable) middle school friend drama, and 100% authentic and touching.
What truly sets this book apart from the typical middle grade is how it highlights the "invisible" illnesses that many people (kids and adults) suffer from daily and for whom there is very little relief, help, or sympathy from doctors or the general public.
This book is so wonderful and important and a true joy to read.
What truly sets this book apart from the typical middle grade is how it highlights the "invisible" illnesses that many people (kids and adults) suffer from daily and for whom there is very little relief, help, or sympathy from doctors or the general public.
This book is so wonderful and important and a true joy to read.
September 5, 2023
Anne Ursu has a way of weaving together beautiful prose with down-to-earth dialogue and description, and is the only author who could pull off telling a story about chronic illness in the most page-turning way possible. I loved this book, and I’m sure middle school readers will, too.
January 12, 2025
Not Quite a Ghost is just so good.
June 14, 2024
Middle school drama + a creepy ghost = Not Quite a Ghost
I loved this story that starts about creepy when Violet, her older sister, Mom, stepdad and baby brother move into an old house in Minneapolis. The upstairs room that Violet gets as her own has old wallpaper and a musty smell. Even though the room is not welcoming, Violet grows accustomed to it. The story turns into a middle school friendship story as Violet starts 7th grade. Her friends Paige and Ally think the three of them should have a squad and have a slumber party with Quinn and Kennedy. They play truth or dare and things go away from there. Violet isn't sure how she fits in with these two pairs. She experiences bouts of weakness and fatigue which are keeping her from fully participating in school. Is there something physically wrong with her? Is it all in her head? Is she an attention seeker? The story turns on us again for the lost quarter of the book. Back to the creepy upstairs room and what's really happening behind that old wallpaper. Is what or who is behind it what is causing Violet ailments? Can the ever weaker Violet defeat it? Or will she become its victim?
If you live in Minneapolis, you're going to love this story and its Easter eggs. The elementary schools are all named after Minnesota authors. Or if you had doctors dismiss your aliments and/or have unexplainable symptoms, this book for is you. And lastly, give this to patient readers who are fans of creepy ghost stories.
A huge THANKS to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this title.
I loved this story that starts about creepy when Violet, her older sister, Mom, stepdad and baby brother move into an old house in Minneapolis. The upstairs room that Violet gets as her own has old wallpaper and a musty smell. Even though the room is not welcoming, Violet grows accustomed to it. The story turns into a middle school friendship story as Violet starts 7th grade. Her friends Paige and Ally think the three of them should have a squad and have a slumber party with Quinn and Kennedy. They play truth or dare and things go away from there. Violet isn't sure how she fits in with these two pairs. She experiences bouts of weakness and fatigue which are keeping her from fully participating in school. Is there something physically wrong with her? Is it all in her head? Is she an attention seeker? The story turns on us again for the lost quarter of the book. Back to the creepy upstairs room and what's really happening behind that old wallpaper. Is what or who is behind it what is causing Violet ailments? Can the ever weaker Violet defeat it? Or will she become its victim?
If you live in Minneapolis, you're going to love this story and its Easter eggs. The elementary schools are all named after Minnesota authors. Or if you had doctors dismiss your aliments and/or have unexplainable symptoms, this book for is you. And lastly, give this to patient readers who are fans of creepy ghost stories.
A huge THANKS to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this title.
September 11, 2024
Literary Merit: 5/5 Themes for this novel include medical inclusion, coming of age, and bravery. All three of these were done beautifully and were perfectly woven into each other to the point where I wasn't sure of the lesson until the end. The plot added to the themes and kept me hooked the entire time. I loved the characters and how they were described, there was not much growth. However, all of the characters felt real and authentic.
Originality: 5/5 I have never read the yellow wallpaper, but this middle grade retelling felt unique and gripping.
Accuracy: 5/5 Characters and plot are clear and consistent.
Clarity: 5/5 The balance between spooky and realism was perfection.
Total: 20/20
Age Range: BL grades 4-6, PW ages 8-12, KR ages 8-12
Originality: 5/5 I have never read the yellow wallpaper, but this middle grade retelling felt unique and gripping.
Accuracy: 5/5 Characters and plot are clear and consistent.
Clarity: 5/5 The balance between spooky and realism was perfection.
Total: 20/20
Age Range: BL grades 4-6, PW ages 8-12, KR ages 8-12
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