What do you think?
Rate this book
Mysteries of Trash and Treasure #2
The Ghostly Photos
New York Times bestselling middle-grade thriller author Margaret Peterson Haddix returns to the Mysteries of Trash and Treasure series as Colin and Nevaeh unravel a mystery from the 1930s and explore the emotions associated with death and dying. Colin and Nevaeh are great at finding things. After all, they found each other and became best friends—even though their parents are business rivals. They also found hidden boxes of secret letters, which led them to unravel mysteries about kids from the 1970s. But when they started Mystery Solvers Inc., they didn’t expect to be asked to find a ghost. Ree recruits them to investigate a series of old, spooky photos left behind in her family’s new house. The photos show a boy who looks totally see-through. And in some, he’s in a coffin. That’s not so odd for Ree, who lives above a funeral home. But when Colin and Nevaeh start investigating, they discover other sightings of the boy—and other secrets Ree is hiding. The more clues they find, the more they realize this mystery goes back to a time called the Great Depression. Will history, once again, help them solve the case?
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2023
13 people are currently reading
2176 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Peterson Haddix
121 books6,349 followersMargaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois.
She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.
Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.
She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.
Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 25, 2023
Okay this was a really good sequel. I like how it talks about topics like death and dementia without dumbing down the topics for kids but simplifying it in a way that is easy to understand and accept as a part of life. I also enjoyed the bit of a history lesson we got while learning about the great depression. This book is for younger ages than myself so take this rating with a grain of salt but I think I would have really gained a lot from this book if I had it growing up.
May 10, 2024
Good 👍
I liked it but I kept expecting something to happen with a big reveal about Colin's dad
(It never happened)
I liked it but I kept expecting something to happen with a big reveal about Colin's dad
(It never happened)
February 23, 2024
I think what these books have done is a REALLY good job of making the mystery SEEM like one thing and then the resolution being something completely different. I really enjoy that. It keeps you guessing and wondering what’s going to happen next and how it’s going to get solved. This is children’s mystery done really, really well.
February 28, 2024
Colin and Nevaeh are back at solving mysteries. This one takes them on a mission to figure out the meaning of some ghostly photos found in a funeral home. This adventure opens their eyes to some town secrets and some life lessons on aging and death. I love how Margaret again mixes in history and life lessons into an engaging children's book. Can't wait for the next one!
.
.
November 14, 2023
This story is fun and filled with mystery, yet it also tackles some very deep and important topics like a loved one's dementia and difficult family dynamics. I think kids will love it and parents too.
December 13, 2023
I don't like ghosts so I wasn't expecting to rate this so highly, but it was more a historical mystery than a ghost story and the end gave me all the feels.
There were a lot of dead bodies involved and I'm guessing my kids would find it too creepy, but I enjoyed it.
Ready for the next mystery!
There were a lot of dead bodies involved and I'm guessing my kids would find it too creepy, but I enjoyed it.
Ready for the next mystery!
October 27, 2023
Another fun addition to this series. I love the ties to past Haddix brings in while creating a interconnected present story.
September 5, 2023
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
After their adventures in The Secret Letters, Colin and Nevaeh are at the Groveview, Ohio Zucchini Festival, with a booth advertising their Mystery Solvers business. They are approached by a girl they don't know, Serena Lane, who has an unusual mystery that can only be discussed at her home. This happens to be the Lane-Rhodes Funeral home that her mother and step father run. After showing the two detectives pictures she found in the attic of two presumably dead boys in a coffin, Ree starts to act very oddly and tells them they have to go. Nevaeh overhears her talking to her grandmother, but when she and Colin return and pretend to be acting as a welcoming party from the school (in July!), teenager Ben and seven year old Melanie see through their act. At first, they pretend they don't know who Ree is, but it turns out that she is not supposed to be in Groveview and is hiding from her mother. Colin uses his research skills and manages to find out that the boy in the picture is someone who fell off the train in 1930 and was killed.
There are many interwoven facets in this book that make it very interesting, but also challenging to read. In addition to the primary mystery of the deceased boy, there are subplots about Nevaeh's relationship with her older sister Prilla, the death of Colin's estranged father, a little bit about the family business cleaning out homes, and a rich backstory about Ree's grandmother Hal and her involvement with the mysterious boy, as well as information about dealing with Hal's dementia.
The Groveview, Ohio setting is great, since it gives the children a lot of opportunity to roam around. The library is a helpful resource, and has a great librarian. My only quibble is that Ohio readers will know that the Zucchini Festival is always held in Obetz!
Ben and Melanie, along with their father, are portrayed as darker skinned, and struggle with being asked "where they're really from". The children model good behavior about treating others with respect, although they occasionally need help to get this right. There is helpful information about communicating with someone who has dementia as well.
My favorite parts were the information about the Great Depression, and cultural practices about funerals and treatment of the dead. The way that the family members in Groveview tied into the mystery was very interesting, and the funeral parlor setting is not all that usual for middle grade books. Hand this to readers who like the mystery and friend relationships in books like Souder's Coop Knows the Scoop and The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle, or Currie's It Found Us.
After their adventures in The Secret Letters, Colin and Nevaeh are at the Groveview, Ohio Zucchini Festival, with a booth advertising their Mystery Solvers business. They are approached by a girl they don't know, Serena Lane, who has an unusual mystery that can only be discussed at her home. This happens to be the Lane-Rhodes Funeral home that her mother and step father run. After showing the two detectives pictures she found in the attic of two presumably dead boys in a coffin, Ree starts to act very oddly and tells them they have to go. Nevaeh overhears her talking to her grandmother, but when she and Colin return and pretend to be acting as a welcoming party from the school (in July!), teenager Ben and seven year old Melanie see through their act. At first, they pretend they don't know who Ree is, but it turns out that she is not supposed to be in Groveview and is hiding from her mother. Colin uses his research skills and manages to find out that the boy in the picture is someone who fell off the train in 1930 and was killed.
There are many interwoven facets in this book that make it very interesting, but also challenging to read. In addition to the primary mystery of the deceased boy, there are subplots about Nevaeh's relationship with her older sister Prilla, the death of Colin's estranged father, a little bit about the family business cleaning out homes, and a rich backstory about Ree's grandmother Hal and her involvement with the mysterious boy, as well as information about dealing with Hal's dementia.
The Groveview, Ohio setting is great, since it gives the children a lot of opportunity to roam around. The library is a helpful resource, and has a great librarian. My only quibble is that Ohio readers will know that the Zucchini Festival is always held in Obetz!
Ben and Melanie, along with their father, are portrayed as darker skinned, and struggle with being asked "where they're really from". The children model good behavior about treating others with respect, although they occasionally need help to get this right. There is helpful information about communicating with someone who has dementia as well.
My favorite parts were the information about the Great Depression, and cultural practices about funerals and treatment of the dead. The way that the family members in Groveview tied into the mystery was very interesting, and the funeral parlor setting is not all that usual for middle grade books. Hand this to readers who like the mystery and friend relationships in books like Souder's Coop Knows the Scoop and The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle, or Currie's It Found Us.
September 25, 2023
A boy and a girl want to solve a mystery regarding some mysterious photos.
12-year-olds Colin and Naveah have yet to have any new mysteries to solve after their first successful one. At the Zucchini festival, they encounter a strange girl named Serena, who prefers to be called Ree. Ree wants them to solve if a ghost of a boy from the Great Depression has come back to haunt her house, which is a funeral home. What will Colin and Naveah make of this strange mystery, and what changes will they face along the way?
Margaret Peterson Haddix has done an excellent job with this book; so far, I like this one best. Though I have yet to read the first one, I understood perfectly what was happening.
Masterfully blends genres of mystery and historical fiction. It's an incredible story with great characters and a setting in a small town with a spooky yet interesting funeral home.
This book made references to the Great Depression and dementia, which, unfortunately, Ree's grandmother suffers from (I can relate since my grandfather suffers from Alzheimer's:<).
Colin is a shy and thoughtful character. He reminds me of George Karim from the Lockwood & Co. series in the research department. Naveah is an energetic and curious character. She is also very peppy. Ree is mysterious and a little harsh at times.
Give this book to anyone who loves a gripping mystery novel with historical twists.
Happy Reading, Paige 📚 ❤️
Thank you to the publisher for sharing this mysterious book with me!
12-year-olds Colin and Naveah have yet to have any new mysteries to solve after their first successful one. At the Zucchini festival, they encounter a strange girl named Serena, who prefers to be called Ree. Ree wants them to solve if a ghost of a boy from the Great Depression has come back to haunt her house, which is a funeral home. What will Colin and Naveah make of this strange mystery, and what changes will they face along the way?
Margaret Peterson Haddix has done an excellent job with this book; so far, I like this one best. Though I have yet to read the first one, I understood perfectly what was happening.
Masterfully blends genres of mystery and historical fiction. It's an incredible story with great characters and a setting in a small town with a spooky yet interesting funeral home.
This book made references to the Great Depression and dementia, which, unfortunately, Ree's grandmother suffers from (I can relate since my grandfather suffers from Alzheimer's:<).
Colin is a shy and thoughtful character. He reminds me of George Karim from the Lockwood & Co. series in the research department. Naveah is an energetic and curious character. She is also very peppy. Ree is mysterious and a little harsh at times.
Give this book to anyone who loves a gripping mystery novel with historical twists.
Happy Reading, Paige 📚 ❤️
Thank you to the publisher for sharing this mysterious book with me!
November 5, 2025
Following their success in solving a mystery from the 1970s, through discoveries made while helping their families with their junk collecting/house decluttering businesses, Colin and Nevaeh set themselves up as mystery solvers. Their first client, Ree, seems very cagy and on edge, not wanting to talk to them unless they meet her at her new home--which happens to be the town's funeral home. And what she wants to show them fits the scene--it's photos that show a boy who appears see-through in some photos, and in a coffin in others. What's going on? As Colin and Nevaeh investigate, they realize that everyone involved is hiding something--Ree, her grandmother who is afflicted with dementia, and Nevaeh's recent ancestors, among others. The mystery traces to the 1930s, and the Great Depression. But right in the middle of working on the mystery, tragedy strikes from a completely unexpected quarter. Will Colin and Nevaeh be able to continue their detection?
I loved the first book in the series, and enjoyed this one as well, though I did kind of guess what secret people were holding onto after a while. I still enjoyed the book, though, with the mystery of Ree being most intriguing at the start. I also liked how Colin and Nevaeh helped each other, and how they thought about each other in terms of how they were changing and how they could best support each other. Their families were also interesting, with lots of flaws mingled with good intentions. This was a good follow-up to book one.
I loved the first book in the series, and enjoyed this one as well, though I did kind of guess what secret people were holding onto after a while. I still enjoyed the book, though, with the mystery of Ree being most intriguing at the start. I also liked how Colin and Nevaeh helped each other, and how they thought about each other in terms of how they were changing and how they could best support each other. Their families were also interesting, with lots of flaws mingled with good intentions. This was a good follow-up to book one.
February 22, 2024
Middle grade historical mystery. After meeting in book 1 of the series, Colin and Neveah have officially joined together to solve the town's mysteries. They are advertising in a booth at the zucchini festival when a strange girl shows up at their booth. She has pictures she wants to know are not of ghosts, but she seems a bit spooked herself. She invites Colin and Neveah back to her house to look at the photos, which turns out to be the local funeral home. Ree, short for Serena, just moved in with her blended family.
Colin and Neveah are intrigued by the photos, which do seem to show a ghostly presence. Colin takes pictures of them on his phone and strikes gold when one shows up in a reverse image search-- from a story about their hometown in the 1930s. There was a young boy who fell off a train and died. Colin knows there must be more to the story, so he keeps digging. Ree wants to know how her grandmother is connected to the story, but it's hard to know with her grandmother's dementia sometimes.
The three kids work together and end up solving the mystery. Colin also gets some bad news, and it is awesome to see how his friends pull together to help him cope. There are notes in the back about the Great Depression as well as resources for kids who feel like running away is their only option. Looking forward to the third book in the series.
Colin and Neveah are intrigued by the photos, which do seem to show a ghostly presence. Colin takes pictures of them on his phone and strikes gold when one shows up in a reverse image search-- from a story about their hometown in the 1930s. There was a young boy who fell off a train and died. Colin knows there must be more to the story, so he keeps digging. Ree wants to know how her grandmother is connected to the story, but it's hard to know with her grandmother's dementia sometimes.
The three kids work together and end up solving the mystery. Colin also gets some bad news, and it is awesome to see how his friends pull together to help him cope. There are notes in the back about the Great Depression as well as resources for kids who feel like running away is their only option. Looking forward to the third book in the series.
December 9, 2023
Colin and Neveah are back to solve another summer mystery in the second book of the Mysteries of Trash and Treasure series. Once again there are old photos and old letters pointing to mysterious happenings in the past. This time the main events were during the Depression. Here are some great points about this series:
📷Both Colin's mom and Neveah's family are in the decluttering business. They help folks fix, sell, donate their stuff. Recycling!
📷Colin and Neveah learn about the Great Depression as they solve the mystery and do a good amount of research at their local library. Hurray for libraries!
📷Teamwork makes the dream work. In different situations, Colin and Neveah recruit friends and family to get help. At times multiple generations are working together.
📷Some of the kids in this book live above a funeral home. There are tips in the story and in the Author's Notes about dealing with death.
📷Margaret Peterson Haddix did extensive research to write this book. There are some helpful additional facts in the Author's Notes to supplement the book information and in her Acknowledgements.
Looking forward to the next book. After reading this one I have an idea about what our two trash and treasure sleuths will be working on.
📷Both Colin's mom and Neveah's family are in the decluttering business. They help folks fix, sell, donate their stuff. Recycling!
📷Colin and Neveah learn about the Great Depression as they solve the mystery and do a good amount of research at their local library. Hurray for libraries!
📷Teamwork makes the dream work. In different situations, Colin and Neveah recruit friends and family to get help. At times multiple generations are working together.
📷Some of the kids in this book live above a funeral home. There are tips in the story and in the Author's Notes about dealing with death.
📷Margaret Peterson Haddix did extensive research to write this book. There are some helpful additional facts in the Author's Notes to supplement the book information and in her Acknowledgements.
Looking forward to the next book. After reading this one I have an idea about what our two trash and treasure sleuths will be working on.
November 2, 2023
First, I like that there are cliffhangers. They are really good ones, too. But there is also cursive and Kindergarten though 4th grade usually don't know cursive or cannot read it.
Also, when Collin's dad dies, his mom got ruthless, which isn't that nice. When his friends help him with his grief, it really shows friendship (which ship is the best kind of ship? Friendship!). I mostly think that the real lesson of the story is caring for others and in times of hardship you can always live. It also shows something in the Great Depression, which is a very important part of our history. It also shows that great mysteries can always be solved and most mysteries are found in tombs and graves.
This would be a great book for someone in 4th grade or younger, if they know cursive.
Written by 4th grader, Egan
Also, when Collin's dad dies, his mom got ruthless, which isn't that nice. When his friends help him with his grief, it really shows friendship (which ship is the best kind of ship? Friendship!). I mostly think that the real lesson of the story is caring for others and in times of hardship you can always live. It also shows something in the Great Depression, which is a very important part of our history. It also shows that great mysteries can always be solved and most mysteries are found in tombs and graves.
This would be a great book for someone in 4th grade or younger, if they know cursive.
Written by 4th grader, Egan
November 25, 2023
Colin and Nevaeh are shown photos of two boys that look like ghosts. The girl showing them the photos says her grandma keeps speaking about the ghosts. But there aren't really ghosts, are there? Colin and Nevaeh begin researching the photos as they also begin to develop friendships with the family that lives in the funeral home.
This is a fun story, but it also touches on some heavy topics: abuse, dementia, loss of a parent, and grief.
This is a fun story, but it also touches on some heavy topics: abuse, dementia, loss of a parent, and grief.
July 25, 2025
4 1/2 stars. A deeply satisfying friendship and summer mystery. Set in south central Ohio, two kids, with opposite personalities find themselves cooperating to solve a hundred year old mystery about depression era ghost boys. What I love about this series is the clever plotting, the drama, the flirtation with sensational theories and storylines, but the firm grounding in exciting realistic history.
October 4, 2023
Colin and Navaeh are looking for a new mystery to solve. One a little more challenging than finding the neighbor's keys. They end up with one that involves funeral homes, graveyards and ghost boys from the Depression Era, all the while dealing with their personal issues of friendship and family ties.
Loved it. Did I read Prilla's eulogy outloud? Yes. Did I cry during it? Yes.
Loved it. Did I read Prilla's eulogy outloud? Yes. Did I cry during it? Yes.
August 24, 2024
This is the second book in the Mysteries of Trash and Treasure. I liked it even more than the first!
The mystery has many twists and turns and many characters are connected. However, it takes time for that to come out.
I am anxious for the next mystery to come out.
The mystery has many twists and turns and many characters are connected. However, it takes time for that to come out.
I am anxious for the next mystery to come out.
September 26, 2023
I like the first book a lot better.
Want to read
June 22, 2024A
November 20, 2024
Good and yes
December 26, 2024
This was a great continuation of the mystery duo! But I was also impressed with how well Haddix wove in growing up trials.
February 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Fun story, good characters and storyline.
April 18, 2025
This is a fun series. In addition to the investigations taken on by our intrepid tweens, it also deals with some weighty issues (eg dementia, deception, historical facts regarding the Depression).
April 18, 2025
Really great book i would read thia a million times over agian
Read
June 26, 2025Great book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2025
Our two favorite trash recovery agents are back and being brough into a new mystery involving two dead boys, ghost and new friends.
September 29, 2025
This mystery was great and I liked being back in this world. Really solid historical elements in this realistic fiction metal grade read
December 7, 2025
I didn't like this one as much as the first one. I still enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters and the book held my interest for the most part.
December 28, 2025
I liked the "ghosts" but the talk of death was excessive.
September 29, 2023
Interesting story-a mystery involving some old photos, a funeral home, some kids, the great depression, and a grandmother with a secret. This is the second book in the series (but could probably be read without reading the first). It was an interesting story; great for middle grades, but my husband and I enjoyed it too. Great for families to read (or listen to). We enjoyed the narration on the audio book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews