The Secret Dead Club

by Karen Strong

The Baby-Sitters Club meets Stranger Things in this eerie middle grade novel about friendship, fitting in, and the afterlife, following a girl who discovers she’s not the only one at her new school who can see ghosts.Wednesday Thomas sees ghosts. But that doesn’t mean she has to talk to them. After a terrifying experience in an Arizona state park with a wicked ghost, Wednesday and her mother Olivia sell their RV and move back south to the family home in Alton, Georgia. Wednesday’s determined not to use her gift anymore—until she meets a group of girls who also know about the spirit realm. There’s free-spirited Miki Okada and Southern belle Danni-Lynn Porter who seem to know about the ghosts who roam the school’s hallways, popular girl Alexa Scott who tells Wednesday to stay away from Miki and Danni-Lynn and not draw attention to herself, and mysterious neighbor Violet Delgado who died last year but still haunts the house across the street. Wednesday feels these girls have some kind of shared history, but it isn’t until Miki gives her an official invitation to the Dead Club that she starts to understand there’s a lot more going on with the ghosts in Alton and the girls who can see them. And when another malevolent ghost threatens to harm Wednesday, it will take the help of new friends both living and dead to save her and banish the evil being to the spirit realm where it belongs.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Horror, Ghosts, Paranormal, Mystery, Audiobook

237 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 20, 2024

About the author

Karen Strong is the critically acclaimed author of several books for young readers. Her work has been praised by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and School Library Journal and has received recognition as a Southern Book Prize finalist, Ignyte Award finalist, and BCCB Blue Ribbon selection. Find her online at karen-strong.com.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing is really good and the characters will stay with you!

I love the unlikely friendships and the paranormal parts.

No story telling here cos I really do not want you to know about the story. Go into it blindly. And yes, it’s PERFECT for this spooky season!

[Terry J. Benton-Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An enchanting story about friendship and loss that’s equal parts touching and terrifying, and a must-have for horror enthusiasts. Get ready for a scary good time!” —Terry J. Benton-Walker, author of Alex Wise vs the End of the World

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

For middle graders looking for a scary read.

[Jaroda · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and surprising, would be a good fit for elementary readers not quite mature enough for Ophie's Ghosts.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun ghosty book to start off the season!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Wednesday has always seen ghosts, and has spent her childhood helping them move on, but when an evil ghost attacks her in Arizona, where she and her artist mother Olivia are living in a travel trailer, her mother decides it would be safer to come home to the Callahan House is Alton, Georgia. Wednesday's father is doing a medical residency in London, and her parents are divorced. The house was where Olivia grew up. She was raised by her grandmother, after her mother perished in a fire, and the grandmother worked as a spiritualist. The house has been haunted since the 1940s by Caleb Callahan, whose father was possessed by a ghost and killed Caleb and his sister, but Caleb is a banisher, who can dispatch ghosts. This is all news to Wednesday, who is understandably a bit shaken by the evil ghost experience. Normally, she would be fine seeing ghosts at school and in the neighborhood, but now she is wary of teacher Laura Tarkington, who was killed in a car accident, and Violet, who lived across the street and died of meningitis. The girls at school are friendly, and Miki Okada and Danni-Lynn Porter invite her to eat lunch with them. When the two figure out that Wednesday can see ghosts, they invite her to their secret group, which only discusses group business off school grounds. It's the "secret dead club" and they need Wednesday because they had a falling out with the previous medium, Alexa, who has warned Wednesday away from the group. Not only that, but Violet was the medium before that. Something is up with Violet's ghost, and the girls realize that she is trapped in her house, when the Leehans now live. Luckily, they are on vacation and Olivia's friend Jasmine is watching the house and has the keys. Will Wednesday and her friends be able to get rid of the evil ghost who has Violet in its clutches, and generally smooth over the problems with the local spirits?
Strengths: It goes without saying that if a middle grade character moves, chances are very good that it will be into a house that is haunted. I liked that this had a bit of a twist, with Callahan House being a home that had been in the family since 1966, with protections in place for paranormal activity because of the inherited predisposition towards being attuned to it. I was glad that Miki and Danni-Lynn were welcoming, even though they were still grieving their friend. The official book, on which the club members have to swear their allegiance, is Mary Downing Hahn's Wait Till Helen Comes! The mother and family friends were around enough when Wednesday needed them, but distracted enough that she could have a little freedom. This got a bit scary at the end, with murderous ghosts running rampant, but that's what my middle school students like.
Weaknesses: It was a little odd that Wednesday called her mother Olivia, but I suppose that is the tradition in some families. Also, there was an intriguing bit dropped about Olivia's grandmother being one of the first Black owners of property in the neighborhood is 1966; I would have enjoyed learning more about this period in history and the experience of a neighborhood being integrated.
What I really think: I don't think that I would buy this book for an elementary school; Caleb's death was fairly brutal, and I can see this being a bit much for younger readers. It's a great choice for morbid middle school readers who enjoyed Senf's The Clackity, Poblocki's Ghost Hunter's Daughter, or Young's What Stays Buried.

[Debra Gaynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Dead Club
Karen Strong
In this tale we meet Wednesday Thomas. Wednesday has a unique talent or curse. She can see ghosts. Her mother, Olivia, is an artist and they lived in an RV until a belligerent ghost attacked Wednesday. Olivia decided it was time to sell the RV return to their home at Callahan House in Alton, Georgia. Wednesday’s mother and father are divorced; her father is in London where he is serving as a medical resident in London. Callahan House is where Olivia grew up; she was raised by her grandmother a psychic. Callahan House is haunted. Caleb Callahan is a banisher, in the 1940s a ghost killed Caleb and his sister. But Caleb sent the ghost packing. The experience in Arizonia left Wednesday shaken and nervous and leery of seeing ghosts.
Laura Tarkington was a teacher at the school; her spirit still lingers in the school. She was killed in a car accident. Violet Delgado died last year of meningitis; her spirit still lingers in the house across the street from Wednesday.
Wednesday makes friends at her new school and was surprised to discover a group of girls that know about the spirit world. Miki Okada and Danni-Lynn Porter asks Wednesday to sit with them for lunch. They ask Wednesday to join their secret club, the Dead Club. One of their previous members, Alexa, warned Wednesday to stay away from Miki and Danni-Lynn. Violet was the group’s medium before her death.
Violet’s spirit cannot leave the house, an evil spirit has captured her; the Dead Club must rescue her.
This is a great book for middle school students. It is well written, and the characters are well developed, multifaceted, and diverse. Miki and Danni-Lynn are friendly and welcoming. I thought it odd that Wednesday called her mother by her name. Wednesday had a strong support group; both her family and friends were there for her.
Thank you NetGalley for providing the book for review.

[TheCloudRunner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is perfect for the Autumn and spooky season. It was definitely atmospheric and had lots of Halloween vibes. Danni Lynn was my favorite character while I couldn't stand Miki at all. Good grief that little girl was annoying. Selfish, pushy, stubborn, and then some! I'm glad she wasn't the main character because I would have DNf'd. Wednesday as the MC was just okay. I really couldn't get behind the idea of a child calling all the adults in her life by their first names only, including her mother. No "Mr." or "Mrs." either. Just, *insert name* and that was it. That didn't sit well with me, though it wasn't a dealbreaker for my reading.

Overall, the book was quite the adventure. A middle grade ghost story perfect for the spooky season. It does get a bit dark though as there is ghost possession happening in this book. So, those of you that have younger readers, maybe be aware of that. I'm an adult so, clearly not the target audience, and I have no idea what kids find to be scary or not scary these days. I just know that if I were between the ages of 9-12, my parents wouldn't have let me read this book lol.

There is also a part of the book where the chapters go from first person to third person and it was a very jarring switch, in my opinion. It then switches back to first person. I understand why the author did it, but it was still jarring and I didn't like it.

Overall, a very okay book.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Secret Dead Club has all the makings of a great spooky read. It has a reluctant hero, a diverse friendship group, and a mission to stop a wicked ghost. The history behind Wednesday's family house is perfectly gruesome which works for middle-grade readers. It just took too long to get into this story.

At the 30% mark, I was still unsure if I would enjoy this by the end. The whole thing with Wednesday calling her mom Olivia was strange. How the story introduces lodestars (a gift that helps mediums escape wicked ghosts) as a memory didn't really work. There could have been an interesting connection with Wednesday and the Callahan ghost throughout the story but he only appeared at the end. The friendship dynamic was okay. The reasoning behind forming the Dead Club brings that emotional pull into the story but I didn't quite care for the members. Danni-Lynn's dad is going to jail but nothing happens with that storyline. Miki was a little too much. I can understand her motivations and hard-headedness but that didn't make me like her. Alexa was actually the most interesting side character but we hardly got to see her. I feel like there should have been more interactions with ghosts and a better way for Wednesday to form these new friendships. The pacing overall felt off to me as well.

I did like how Violet, the dead ghost from across the street, created an emotional and memorable ending to the story. She was what brought everyone together. Overall, I think The Secret Dead Club had a lot of potential but there were a little too many missed opportunities. However, I can see how readers who prefer stories with friendship drama and some supernatural elements would enjoy this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing me with a copy of The Secret Dead Club in exchange for an honest review.

[Jamie Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wenesday Thomas returns home to Alton, Georgia where she was born to live in her nana's hanted house. Her mother, Olivia, a traveling artist made this decision after Wednesday had a near-death experience with a wicked ghost, protected by her Lodestar. Olivia hopes that, like many of their family, Wednesday will outgrow her ability to see and interact with ghosts, but that isn't the case. Upon arriving at her new middle school, it doesn't take long for Miki and Dani-Lynn to realize Wednesday's gift and induct her into the Dead Club in hopes she can help them reconnect with their friend, Violet, who died. Things turn dark as a new wicked ghost is seeking to possess Wednesday, wanting her powerful gift for itself, and Wednesday, the Dead Club, and ghosts gear up to fight against this old, powerful vengenful spirit. Though the paranormal aspects are right up the alley for paranormal and horror fans, the scary moments are juxtaposed agaisnt middle-school, coming-of-age moments filled with tight, solid friendships and strong family connections.

[Kass D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so cute. I loved how diverse the characters were, and it was not force. right away this novel, explains to you where this gifts comes from and the fact that is not a secret. I enjoyed this, because it didn’t feel like a coming of age thing, and the fact that Wednesday’s family was pretty knowledgeable and accepting of this gift. While also understand her hesitations and drawbacks with the gift. The spookiness was perfect for the audience, middle grade. The way this book was establish, I am hoping we do get more because it was a little rush and I think it has potential to go in different adventures with these characters. My other issue was that sometimes the characters read older than their ages. Besides that, I will be buying this physically when publish and will recommend to clients during spooky season.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Dead Club by Karen Stong is the story of a girl named Wednesday who sees ghosts, and helps them move on. But now an evil ghost has attacked her. She is shocked by the behavior as she has never met an evil ghost.

When she meets two other ghosts -- a teacher who died in a car accident, and girl named Violet who died of meningitis -- Wednesday finds that she is now wary. Will they be evil too?

Soon Wednesday has made new friends at school and they invite her to join their secret club, the secret dead club. But a third girl has warned her to stay away. But she joins the club, and now they are working to get rid of the evil ghost who has trapped Violet.

I enjoyed the story, though I thought the description of Caleb's death was too much for younger readers.

Thank you @simonkids for my #gifted copy!

[BooksThrillJessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spooky paranormal middle grade read, but not for the faint of heart. The beginning chapters set the mood for a creepy book that will scare young readers who love to read novels about things that go bump in the night.
As friends bond together to set the wrongs of the past right. They must battle an evil entity in order to set the spirit of their friend free, but she is not the only soul that is trapped in the old haunted house across the street.
I was not expecting this book for younger readers to be so fearfully mesmerizing. Definity not for young readers who can be scared easily by ghosts, hauntings and demons.

*Thank you to Karen Strong, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wednesday and her mother Olivia move to their family house. Yes, it's haunted, but it's not a novelty. She comes from a family of women who have helped ghosts move on. Attending a new school and making new friends, she discovers that the girl across the street is a ghost but not who they think she is. There is evil to be banished, strong friendships to build, ghosts to save and help to move on.
With a foot on the "other side," Wednesday is the perfect medium who hopes her gift doesn't disappear just yet with her womanhood.
I like the vibes. I felt like I was watching a Halloween spooky movie that could become one of those we watch every year during the holiday.
It can be read as a standalone, but I wish there would be another volume soon.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you see dead people?

The Dead Club was formed because a former friend died, and the other girls wanted to find her ghost.

Wednesday has always seen ghosts. As she travels around the country with her mother, she comes across a bad one, so her mother thinks it is time to settle down.

It is in this new down that she meets the other girls of the club, as well as local ghosts. They want her to join the club to see if she can help Violet, the member that died.

But there are bad ghosts in this town too. And Wednesday has to be careful which ghosts she talks to.

Good story. I was trying to guess who was disguised as the bad ghost, and got it completely wrong. I like it when a book throws out red herrings. Good story. Kept me reading, and throughly enjoyed it.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars but rated up to 4 because I liked it better than her other book Eden's Everdark

Wednesday and her mom have been living in an RV and traveling around the country. But after an experience with a wicked ghost in Arizona, they return to their family home in Georgia. There, Wednesday makes friends with 2 girls who invite her to join the Secret Dead Club. But there are a lot of ghosts in her new town, including one in her own house and another across the street...

This is a great read-alike for The Clackity, and Wait Till Helen Comes (actually referenced in this book). It's a perfect middle grade horror book with suspense and creepiness but also friendship and family. I would have liked to have seen a better developed character for secondary Alexa.

[Megyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a new middle grade horror book about a girl who can see ghosts. Wednesday moves to a new town and she tries to adjust to her new life and make new friends all while seeing ghosts.

This was a fun read! I loved the spooky elements throughout. I felt like it was spooky enough but not too much where it will scare kids too bad. I also liked the real stuff sprinkled in like friendship. I liked the writing and the characters a well.

I think a lot of kids will enjoy this book!

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[MG · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun, spooky middle grade novel. I thought the ghosts were just the right amount of creepy for middle grade readers.

I liked all the characters and thought the friendships were realistic. The world building could've been a bit stronger, but I don't think that will matter to the book's target age group. I know I really would've loved this book when I was about nine or ten. I could see this becoming a popular series for kids who like to be slightly scared.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

[yujin ꩜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is such a gem! it perfectly blends spooky and heartwarming vibes, with just the right amount of mystery. the characters are so diverse and relatable, and i loved how the story celebrates being different while keeping the ghostly, halloween-esque atmosphere. it’s fast-paced and engaging, but what really stuck with me was the theme of friendship and acceptance. strong shows how you can find your place without fitting in, and that message felt so real and comforting. five stars for sure!

[Janet Broder · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very poorly laid out. There were so many allusions to previous incidents I thought there had been a previous novel. The content was also very intense and I would be very cautious about recommending it to anyone under 12. I liked the personalities of the characters and the diversity shown.

[A. Curley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received an ARC of The Secret Dead Club from the author.

I enjoyed The Secret Dead Club SO much. There is a wonderful and intriguing cast of characters, a page turning plot, and just enough spook for a (non-horror reading) reader like me. I had a lot of fun trying to unravel the mystery and I really enjoyed the friendships and ghosts (even the scary ones)!

[Erica Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great novel by Karen Strong. This book is filled with so many of the things I love: ghosts, Halloween, diverse characters, a celebration of differences, a heartwarming message of acceptance, and a loving nod to family and friends.

Fast paced and thoroughly engaging. This book kept me interested throughout.

[Kilian Whitlock-Boganski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that it included multiple characters that could do what our main character could, that way she had people to relate to. I also liked the suspense near the end and the description. But, I think it started slow and a bit boring at first. There were some boring parts inside the book, but it did get more interesting after.

[J.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Secret Dead Club" is a well-paced story of friendship, acceptance, and found family. The ghostly scene is set in the opening pages, and stays with you. This is a properly spooky story, and it kept me reading 'just one more chapter' before going to bed. It probably would have scared me silly when I was ten, but I truly enjoyed this read.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kenetria’s dead and not thrilled about it. But instead of moving on, she ends up in a secret ghost club for kids with unfinished business like, say, solving her own murder.

Spooky, funny, and full of heart, this one’s got ghostly twists, creepy clues, and a fierce heroine who refuses to rest in peace. Think Are You Afraid of the Dark? meets The Graveyard Book with a lot more sass.

[Megean Mertens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect 4-6 grade book for Halloween! A very fun and spooky story with acknowledgment of the struggles of African American citizens, especially during the 1950’s in the south. There’s also themes that relate the power of “girls supporting girls.” Loved it! It was sold in my library’s book fair and I was able to recommend it to a few of my students.

[Angela Sandoval · Rating 4 out of 5]

The paranormal aspects of this story are both interesting and perfectly intense and scary. The friendship story is solid and heartfelt. This book is the best of both worlds and I will highly recommend it to our middle school readers who are looking for a scary story.

[Jeni · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up.

[E C · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*