Jasmine Is Haunted

by Mark Oshiro

Jasmine Garza has a a ghost has been following her for years, ever since her Papi died. Not that Mami will admit anything supernatural is going on. But even the ghost she won’t acknowledge makes real trouble, so Jasmine and her mami are moving (again) to a new apartment in East Hollywood. This time Jasmine is committed to living a normal life with normal friends.

Enter: Bea Veracruz and Jorge Barrera. They’re the only two members of Jasmine's middle school's Gay Straight Alliance and they’re already obsessed with all things supernatural. Bea wants to prove herself to her paranormal investigator parents and Jorge is determined to overcome his fear of the beyond. And when Jasmine confesses she’s been tormented by a ghost for years, they not only believe her, they’re thrilled!

Together they set out to prove that Jasmine’s not just acting out after her father’s death–ghosts are real and Jasmine is haunted. But not everyone agrees how to deal with the departed. As Jasmine’s hauntings increase in intensity, her resentment builds. Why is her Mami so secretive about her past? Why is she the center of such a terrible vortex of supernatural activity? And why hasn’t her Papi ever reached out to her since he passed?

In order to face her ghosts—both internal and external—Jasmine must come to terms with her own history.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, LGBT, Queer, Horror, Paranormal, Grief

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2024

About the author

MARK OSHIRO is the queer Latinx, Hugo-nominated writer of the online Mark Does Stuff universe (Mark Reads and Mark Watches), where he analyzes book and TV series. He was the nonfiction editor of Queers Destroy Science Fiction! and the co-editor of Speculative Fiction 2015, and is the President of the Con or Bust Board of Directors. When not writing/recording reviews or editing, Oshiro engages in social activism online and offline. Anger is a Gift is his debut YA contemporary fiction novel.

Reviews

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasmine is Haunted is an excellent Middle Grade novel that uses spooky ghosts as a way to explore grief and processing trauma. It also includes a non-binary side character, which is always exciting to find for this age range because it's infrequent! (hint- Mark Oshiro is a great resource for other MG books featuring non-binary and queer characters)

Jasmine's dad died suddenly 4 years ago and since then she and her mom have moved a LOT. And following her to every house is a creepy, shadowy ghost. Now she's starting at a new school and makes new friends after joining the GSA club. Friends who secretly investigate the paranormal! It's a charming book that also tackles heavy topics with compassion and an age appropriate blend of humor and seriousness. Definitely worth a read.

The audiobook is narrated by the incomparable Vico Ortiz who does a fantastic job. Love that they were picked for this! A perfect book to have on your radar for fall if you are a teacher, parent, or librarian. I received an audio review copy of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

[Raaven💖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I am a Mark Oshiro fan so this was an auto read. I love his writing style and where I have only read YA I was ready for a middle grade book by him. This deals with grief and how to successfully move on. Everyone around Jasmine had someone that they had lost and wanted to speak to. I liked jasmine and her family and I was fully invested in her friend group as well.

There were parts when it was slower but I still appreciated all the messages. This was such a sweet and short read. I found myself crying near the end. It was a very beautiful ending.

[Krissi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Tor publishing, and the author for providing me with an arc of this book. It was a cute book exploring and dealing with grief through interactions with spirits and developing new beginnings and friendships from the grief and their experiences. The pacing was very slow through and could have picked up some, especially in the middle of the story where it seemed to drag. However, it was still an enjoyable read.

[Emma Presnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, Mark you will be paying for making me almost cry in the middle of a college campus building

[Paige Stegman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley for this digital ARC!

Mark Oshiro's "Jasmine is Haunted" is an emotional exploration of grief and identity with the supernatural as the vehicle. The novel follows Jasmine, a teenager grappling with the recent loss of her father, who moves with her mother to a new town and into a house with a mysterious past. Jasmine is a complex protagonist: she is struggling with her grief, confronting the eerie occurrences in her new home, and navigating friendships as an eighth grader.

Middle grade readers will appreciate the age appropriate suspense and the adults in their lives will hopefully appreciate the life lessons woven through the text. The characters surrounding Jasmine in the book are from various backgrounds which adds richness to the storytelling. The Spanish phrases added in without explicit explanation make for a fun learning experience for those that don't already know what they mean.

The story does start off building very slowly, as the author establishes Jasmine's grief, her adjustment to a new environment, and fleshes out the characters. This may require some patience from readers expecting immediate paranormal intrigue, but the emotional conclusion does pay off.

[Katie]

This is a soft DNF at 16% because my library book just expired. Turns out I can't read about grief/ghosts around elections, so I will come back to this one at a better time.

[Danika at The Lesbrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about ghosts, but it’s not very scary, so you can feel free to give this to kids who aren’t able to stomach horror: it really is mostly about grief and Jasmine’s relationships with her friends and family. I think it is a great pick for the younger end of middle grade readers.

It’s nice to be at a point with queer middle grade books that this can be such a taken for granted aspect: Jasmine, Bea, and Jorge are all queer, but that isn’t the focus of the story.

I’ve been following Mark Oshiro since before they published their first book, so I love seeing how successful they’ve become in the publishing world. If you have a chance to show up to one of their events—they’re doing a big book tour for this title—I highly recommend going!

Full review at the Lesbrary.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story of a perennial new kid who is still grieving her father’s death but also dealing with ghost stuff. Her mom doesn’t want to talk about it, which is isolating, and it makes it hard to have friends (see isolating). But the small queer club at school unofficially bills itself as the Gay Supernatural Alliance (I mean, there aren’t any straight kids in it…) and they aren’t scared off. There are lots of usual friend drama situations but with a supernatural flavor, and the way the emotions and the ghosts are integrated really worked for me.

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

“Jasmine is Haunted and so am I—by this book! Chocked full of tricks and treats, horror fans are in for a scary good experience with all the heart and emotion we adore in a Mark Oshiro story. And now I’m dying to join the Gay Supernatural Alliance!” —Terry J. Benton-Walker, author of the Alex Wise vs the End of the World series

[Belle DeFiore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you #NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book Jasmine is Haunted. This book is a poignant journey for a young girl, her family, and her friends. While I was slightly confused over the timeline at the beginning the rest of the book was very easy to follow. This book tackles the hard topic of grief and how people handle it at different stages in their life. Overall, this was a great middle grade read!

[Starr ❇✌❇ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: fatal car accident, family death (father, grandfather, sibling)
3.3

There's an interesting concept here- being haunted, by grief, but also by what your family won't tell you. I thought watching Jasmine go through ghost hunting, and deal with hiding things, was interesting to watch, and that te story as a whole was fairly sweet.

However, I think there was meant to be a big theme about avoidance and deciding to confront things, but it got really muddled with the charm, along with the layers of hauntings. It just didn't come together into a strong theme for me, including the aimless character arcs.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Interesting look at a girl whose father has been gone for four years, who has been plagued by ghosts. They cause all kinds of problems, so she and her mother move frequently. When she starts Kingsley Middle School, Mx. Chen invites her to join the GSA, which turns out to be the Gay Supernatural Alliance. Along with friends Bea and Jorge, Jasmine has to try to figure out what to do with all of the ghosts, and eventually finds that her purpose might be to reunite them with loved ones. Seances seem to be having a resurgence in middle grade literature.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Oshiro is an auto-read author for me, and I love middle grade horror/supernatural stuff, so of course I had to pick this up!

It was exactly what I wanted. I love and relate to the main character, who has been haunted for years now and is getting pretty fed up with the it! But then she meets and joins her school’s Gay Supernatural Alliance (!!!). Everyone in this book is queer — the 3 leads, Jasmine’s mom, her new friend Jorge’s dads, the teachers…it’s amazing.

This is both cozy and spooky. Perfect for late summer or fall. And I cried sooo much at the end.
[slight spoiler] I love how they actually get the parents involved. Intergenerational supernatural coalition!

My only complaint is the friendship stuff is a little over-telegraphed and repetitive. But it’s also really sweet! I love the resolution at the end.

It comes out October 1! Thanks so much to Netgalley for the arc.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read exploring grief in an age-appropriate way. I enjoyed the queer rep and I liked the characters in this story but the pacing is terribly slow while the climax, when it finally arrives, is very rushed and doesn’t allow the reader to reacquaint themself with the supporting characters who suddenly all appear. Jaz’s feelings are told, more than shown and I never felt emotionally engaged by her character.

*irrelevant side note: I was also deeply irritated by the conjugation of “them” as a plural when it’s intended to be a single personal pronoun. I have seen this repeatedly and is my primary reason for disliking the use of “they” as the default nongendered pronoun. Everyone seems to do this right now and I hope it fucking stops soon.*

Thank you to Tor Books who kindly sent me an ARC for review. It will be a welcome addition to a grade 6 class library with limited lgbtq+ inventory.

[Twainy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasmine and her mom have moved a lot. Being in middle school is difficult for a shy girl & her mom wants her to make friends.

This story was simply delightful.

The characters are mostly all LGBTQ.

Jasmine joins her new school’s GSA club. This is where she meets 2 friends, the only other members of the Gay Strait Alliance. The 2 other members had renamed GSA, the Gay Supernatural Alliance. The 3 friends have a connection, the supernatural.

Together they will find answers to mysteries both personal & external.

There were so many lessons shown in the actions of the 3 friends. They support each other & help uncover their truths. Such a cozy fun story with a side of the supernatural.

Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media. A wonderful book with so many positive vibes. Enjoyed the narration!

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

Jasmine Is Haunted is a charming story that tackles some heavy topics with compassion and a nice blend of humor and seriousness. The characters are fun, entertaining, likable and relatable! The friendship between the characters is sweet and so much fun! With a touch of spooky it's definitely a good book for this time of the year! This is a great addition to middle grade literature!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

I really enjoyed this story of grief and moving on and finding community who understands. This was intense and while I didn’t necessarily consider it scary, there is a lot of emotional stuff happening. Learning all the different stories of loss those around Jasmine have experienced and her coming into her own was so emotionally good. I really loved her friendship with Bea and Jorge and the community she was able to find and build after moving this fourth time. A really great story of grief, I’m so glad this book exists.

[Mimi Schweid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is SO SWEET!!! Have I returned to my teen/middle grade reading era? Only time will tell.

Jasmine, Bea & Jorge were an adorable trio and I absolutely loved seeing such supportive families and teachers in this book. This is a sweet and spooky read for the Halloween season!!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun! I did wish the ending was a little less abrupt, but I really had a lot of fun reading this. I know this is going to make some end of the year favorite lists!

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was MG Supernatural meets The X Files

So, I loved it and need another just like it

[seasalted.citrus (Topaz, Oliver) · Rating 4 out of 5]

update, April 2, 2025: decided to revisit this via Playaway, DNF’ed it for now. Getting to hear the voices of the Gay Supernatural Alliance has been fun, comforting even, but I’m finding the chapters a little more repetitive now that I can’t skim through their text, and the entire plot’s become very frustrating when I keep the ending twist in mind. I’ve also been very depressed as of late, and reading a book dealing with long-term grief isn’t exactly the best for my mental health. I hope to resume it at a later point, when I first read this book I was absolutely delighted by it and I don’t want to accidentally kill my interest.

If you want to see my actual review from January, scroll down.

••••••

One of those books I: a.) got from the bookstore before I even finished my library copy (my first book purchase of the year!! Yay), b.) struggled to read the further I got in, but not out of disinterest. The idea of letting go of the characters saddened me. (…But, after going through my own strange range of emotions, I was glad the journey was over. Look, I started getting attached to this book a la “Bianca Torre Is Afraid Of Everything 2023 coping mechanism”, and that was very fun until I got to the end and was once again slapped in the face by the paternal grief.)

First and foremost, I really adored the inclusivity of the cast. Especially the queer rep!! As someone who had very fluid gender expression in middle school, Bea resonated so heavily with me. I was even able to clock when they’d start using they/them pronouns because the outfits they’d wear were similar to ones I would wear on the days I presented more masc.🥺 (Bea just had the advantage of no jorts layered over patterned leggings. And having an actual beanie! I’d stuff my hair under a cap, lord.) It was so trippy to see myself reflected in a book like that! 🥹

(Besides that, though, I did also enjoy Bea as a character. Were the twists about the reasons for all their actions very predictable? Yes, but I think younger readers will enjoy piecing everything together. And I still thought they were interesting.) (And oh, Bea influencing Jasmine’s style too😭💕that moment with her in the pink dress was just so cute.)

The sense of community throughout was endearing, made even moreso by how new its solidity and the feeling of it is to Jasmine. I thought that the neighbors felt more developed than the middle school teachers, though, likely because their interactions with Jasmine could be a lot more casual. But also because they felt the most like people, even if their emotions and issues were still viewed with the limited understanding of a child.

Of course, though, the Gay Supernatural Alliance was a prime example of character community I loved to read about! Their banter was oftentimes silly, but their friendship also felt authentic (age-typical anxieties, and arguments included). I did appreciate that while there was oftentimes conflict that came with a trio of kids with unmanaged grief trying deal with literal and metaphorical ghosts, none of it was toxic enough to make the GSA’s bond feel fragile. They were just hiccups that could be (and were) addressed and fixed.

I think in the middle, when the ghosts are just starting to be tracked but there’s not exactly a way to communicate with or trap them yet, that the chapters can get a bit repetitive. I didn’t have much of an issue with it because I thought the plot was exciting, but I can see other readers tuning out. Some other qualms I can think of are that some of the dialogue felt a little awkward—especially when it referenced modern slang, and that the ending was very “I know! We’ll use the power of friendship😃” LOL… Also, Spanish speakers (especially Mexican-Americans) correct me if I’m wrong, but some of the Spanish felt awkwardly placed?😭

I feel tempted to add more thoughts, but I don’t really have the bandwidth for it. Not now, probably not even in the future. Point is: I enjoyed this, and I’m glad to have this as a second book of the year. Makes me even more peeved that I couldn’t make it to Mark Oshiro’s book tour when they were literally in my state man

[Karis · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC!~~

This was cute, but that's the most I can say about it.

It's very easy to empathize with Jasmine. She's navigating grief and middle school friendships while being haunted, and Oshiro does a good job in showing how badly these things affect her. She gets mad, she is constantly confused, and she doesn't know how to talk to the adults around her, specifically her avoidant mom, about it. Jasmine really felt like a fully realized protagonist.

I also really liked how Oshiro portrayed Jasmine's relationships. Between her growing friendship with the GSA and the adults eventually getting involved, Jasmine had a great support system by the end of the book. I really like element in fantasy YA where adults do get involved and help their kid in need; it grounds the story closer to reality while providing good parental/adult figure representation for the kids reading this.

One thing that I didn't like was the story's pacing. Despite the book's ~250 page length, the story takes the slow approach in order to build up the characters and setting. Normally, I'd like that, but it got repetitive by the halfway point. Additionally, the explanation of the paranormal was given at the second to last chapter, and it was way too easily resolved for it to be emotionally satisfying. I won't say what it was, but I just found it kind of bland.

All in all, this was a good book, but the slow, repetitive pace and climax were lacking for me, personally.

[Kristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book contains homosexuality and gender ideology propaganda not appropriate for children it also contains talk of witchcraft seances and grief so beware religious parents also deals heavily with the issues of grief which most young children would not be able to handle recommend ages 18+

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of "Jasmine is Haunted" by Mark Oshiro in exchange for an honest review.

Jasmine Garza is haunted. No one else realizes it, but it's true, and it's ruining her life. The strange haunting disrupts her life to the point where she struggles to make friends and she and mother are forced to move often. It's been like this since her father died in a terrible accident. Now facing yet another new school in yet another new neighborhood, Jasmine is lost, tired, and afraid.

Things start to change, though, when she joins the GSA club at school. (GSA stands for Gay Supernatural Alliance.) There, she meets Bea and Jorge, fellow LGBTQ students who happen to be obsessed with tracking down the supernatural. After some tentative and secretive conversations, Jasmine confides in them and Bea and Jorge join in her quest for answers.

But things get worse before they get better. Until now, the haunting was disruptive but suddenly the haunting incidents are happening everywhere. In her new home, at school, and at Jorge's home too. When Jasmine finally confesses everything to her mother and aunt, she learns more about her family history but even that only helps a little. It will take everyone - her mother and aunt, Bea's parents, Jorge's parents, the school librarian, the next door neighbor, the neighborhood fruit vendor and a street musician - EVERYONE to finally solve the mystery of Jasmine's haunting and help her find some peace.

It's a fantastic story. The haunting provides a framework for discussing bigger issues: how grief affects memory, friendships, and family relationships. It's at times scary and thrilling, at times melancholy. The conclusion is plausible and satisfying. Jasmine, her family, and her friends, are all wonderful and relatable; they're likeable despite their flaws and mistakes. "Jasmine is Haunted" is framed well for the intended audience; it's all about middle schoolers who are starting to step into their own independence but still need the assist from their parents.

Happily, the central conflict is NOT related to many of the characters being LGBTQ. While central to the story in that this group of kids is figuring out their identities, it's not the source of fear or pain for anyone. It's simply the way things are and that is such a relief.

Highly recommend this story for readers who want a middle grade ghost story that ends well and anyone looking for a story where a community comes together to save the day. It's just so, so, so good.

[Kitty Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main theme of this book is that healing from loss takes time, courage, love, and a little bit of the supernatural. Jasmine Garza is a nonbinary middle schooler who has been followed by poltergeist activity since their papi died four years ago. Now, they are living with their mami in East Hollywood and desperately wanting a normal school experience. After inviting a potential friend over and experiencing the ghostly aftermath, Jasmine is left lonely and wishing for a normal life. However, spooky knocks, floating objects, and unexplainable things keep occurring. When Jasmine joins the school’s GSA (Gay Supernatural Alliance), they meet two new friends- Bea, their parents are paranormal investigators, and Jorge, someone with their own ghost fears. Together, they go on a journey to investigate Jasmine’s haunting. Eventually, Jasmine’s titi Selena comes to stay with the family, and with their help, they uncover a secret that explains why Jasmine is a magnet for these restless spirits.
Oshiro’s writing weaves a beautiful description of grief, identity, and family secrets into a haunting story about coming into one’s own self. I love the elements Oshiro included like how Jasmine’s own turmoil is reflected in the paranormal events she’s experiencing. From the knock-knock scares, to eerie whispers, this book is spooky, heartfelt, and so real. I found myself relating to Jasmine’s fear of making friends when everything else in your life feels unstable. It’s just to show that the friendship with Bea and Jorge truly highlights those found-family vibes (and the representation is casually awesome). Something that really stood out to me is the emotional payoff when the adults of the story, Jasmine’s mami and titi finally opened up; something so powerful and healing for all of the children in us. If someone is looking for ghostly mysteries with an emotional journey, this is the read I would recommend. Although it is a standalone, I would still highly recommend it.

[Amanda Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasmine Garza and her Mami have moved many times over the last few years. Life has been tough since Papi died suddenly and left the two of them alone. Jasmine also has a secret - she thinks ghosts follow her wherever she goes and it is really starting to get old. When they move to their newest home in East Hollywood, Jasmine is not convinced they will be there long. She doesn’t even think making friends is important because she will just leave them again. However, she stumbles across two students, Bea and Jorge, who invite Jasmine to be a part of their club - the Gay Straight Alliance or secretly known as the Gay Supernatural Alliance. As Jasmine starts opening up to Bea and Jorge, she discovers the power of friendship and having people who listen to her and believe her. But when things start to get more intense, not everyone can agree what needs to be done to help Jasmine and the ghosts who accompany her.

Mark Oshiro tells a story about a girl who is lost. She doesn’t know how to live without her Papi and the only thing she has to remember him by is a locket given to her right before he died. Oshiro allows the reader to step into the role of a middle school girl, struggling through the normal concerns faced by every middle schooler PLUS a girl who has lost her father, moves a lot, and is haunted. I was invested in her ups and downs, really hoping she would find something to make her happy. I enjoyed the realistic friendship issues between Jasmine, Bea, and Jorge as not everything is easy when making friends. Vico Ortiz does a great job with different voices to express the characters and their personalities, especially honoring the hispanic voice. The book also touches on topics middle schoolers are faced with in school like gender identity and same-sex marriages.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasmine is starting another school. Her mom has found a place closer to work so that is the reason they moved. It is only Jasmine and her mom as her father/husband died due to an accident. They move a lot because of the noisy trouble making ghosts who keep following Jasmine. At her new school, Jasmine finds unexpected friends to help with her problem, as the GSA (the Gay Supernatural Alliance) are eager to investigate this new paranormal activity. Together, Jasmine and her new friends set out to discover the cause of her haunting, before the dark shadow spirits grow too powerful. Why are ghosts following Jasmine? Will her new friends be able to solve Jasmine’s ghost problem?

The novel is funny, fast-paced and spooky. It is also heartfelt as there is the lingering grief of those the dead leave behind. and the the novel shows the importance of family, friends, and community in helping that grief. Jasmine’s community is queer and multiethnic, with strong Latino representation. There are spanish phrases adding texture and are easily understood for those who don’t know the language (like me). The complicated characters all hold their own secrets, just as Jasmine holds her secret. They find the same freedom she does in letting those secrets go. I love this book. I enjoyed and understood Jasmine’s friends who do their best to help her. Jasmine is a great character. Seeing her reactions to unexpected experiences made me realize how complicated life at her age can be. This is a great book to read during Halloween. It’s a good book to read at anytime.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Amanda Shepard (Between-the-Shelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Thanks to Tor and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Jasmine is Haunted by Mark Oshiro to review! Mark Oshiro is definitely an auto-read author for me, and their middle grade is excellent. Some of my favorite middle grade books, honestly! If you're into the supernatural and ghost hunting, you'll love the story Oshrio has spun in this one.

From the beginning, Jasmine feels lost. Since there's been a ghost haunting her, it's been hard for her to make any friends. However, it's the supernatural that helps her to find new friends at her new school. Bea and Jorge, though cautious at first, welcome Jasmine into the fold. Through the three of them, they make a little community in tune with the supernatural. I loved the way both things went hand in hand throughout the story.

The way that Oshiro writes the ghosts felt like a fresh take on the idea, especially with Jasmine's family history. There's a bit of a mystery at the core of the plot, tyring to figure out why exactly Jasmine is seeing these dark ghosts. The idea of ghosts is also woven into Jasmine's culture, and it's very well written.

In addition to being about the supernatural, this book is also about healing from losing someone you love. All of the characters are connected by loss in some way, and they all need each other to help move forward. It also shows how building community can help with the grieving process.

All in all, if you're looking for a middle grade ghost story for spooky season, definitely pick this one up!
----
Review to come!

[Kerry Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If she was a spirit, she certainly wouldn't be tormenting a family like hers over and over again. Didn't ghosts have better things to do? Weren't there actual evil people to haunt? She would absolutely spend her afterlife playing endless pranks on people who made the world worse."

My 10 year old daughter picked this book out on a trip to Barnes & Noble and as soon as she finished it she insisted I read it too because she loved it so much.

When she started reading, I was very happy when the book prompted some questions from her and we had several discussions about the prefix Mx. in Mx. Chen and what does queer mean and what is non-binary? I'm always happy to discuss these topics with her so she learns more about the wonderful diversity in our world.

This is a charming and emotional story that explores trauma and grief through the lens of a ghost story. It deals with very profound subjects but never feels heavy and is never too scary. I love how Jasmine and her mom create community around themselves. I enjoyed the Gay Supernatural Alliance and their journey of friendship and ghost hunting.

My one critique is that I wish this had been written in first person from Jasmine's perspective, instead of third person. The way it is written, it's all Jasmine's voice anyway, and it made the third person language distracting. The story would have felt that much more immediate and intimate if it had been in first person.

But all in all, this is a pleasing, slightly spooky, emotional ghost story with great diverse representation.

[aaera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS AUDIOBOOK.

This story reminded me that grief is rarely linear, healing is often messy, and the ghosts that haunt us aren’t always the ones we see. Jasmine’s journey is tender, raw, and so beautifully written. She’s afraid, angry, hopeful, brave, and just trying her best to survive the weight she’s been carrying alone. And watching her slowly learn how to trust others again? Absolutely gut punching in the best way.

Bea and Jorge are the friends I wish every kid had: supportive, joyful, weird in the most wonderful ways, and fiercely loyal. Their GSA meets ghost hunting energy is EVERYTHING. And the representation?? A non binary side character in middle grade fiction???? yes, PLEASE. More of this. Always!!!

Mark Oshiro balances spooky tension with warmth and humor so perfectly. The haunting is creepy enough to thrill young readers, but the emotional core hits with empathy and honesty. This is the kind of middle grade book that sticks with you long after you finish, wrapping you in the soft awareness that grief can feel monstrous, but you don’t have to face it alone.

And the audiobook? Vico Ortiz knocks it out of the park. Their narration brings Jasmine’s fear, hope, humor, and determination to life so vividly. Absolutely phenomenal casting.

Themes & Tropes: Found family, Queer friendships, Ghosts as grief metaphor, Paranormal investigation vibes, Healing after loss, Middle grade identity exploration

Thank you, Mark Oshiro and NetGalley, for the audio ARC. I adored every moment of this powerful little book.